Current job, management

TC: $150k

3 days in office hybrid (3 hour round-trip commute on a good day and $15 fare)

PTO: 32 days

New opportunity, non-management

TC: $120k

Fully remote

PTO: 15 days

Taking a paycut, but I'm going to have more time for my family and myself. I've also been looking for a way out of management for a while.

Including admin stuff, checking emails, meetings etc. From 8am-6pm how much are you guys actually working? Are you staying busy the full 8 hours outside of the lunch break? Is there any downtime to chill and talk with coworkers?

Edit: meant to clarify no timesheets as in no billable hour system

Avoid merging with Doane. The promises made during early discussions have not materialized, and the internal systems are in complete disarray. Teams are already signaling burnout, and based on current turnover patterns, most staff will be gone within three months. The managing partners in Ontario are bullies, lack empathy despite promising "support" without defining it. These mergers are meant to pad the unit value for variable partners on the backs of others.

Look at recent industry mergers (Collingwood, Midland, Kitchener, Guelph to name a few): offices shuttered within weeks, entire departments walked out, and in some cases the mergers had to be reversed because the integration was so poorly managed. Doane is following the same trajectory — fast talk, empty commitments, and no operational stability.

If you’re considering a partnership, protect your people and your clients. Doane is not a safe bet.

So for context, I’m extremely underpaid. $72K Senior tax analyst at a top 10 firm in Canada. Have my CPA and done part of the in depth tax program

Current role: $72K, still a year away from a manager promotion, 4 days in office 1 day WFH, pay for my CPA in depth program. Only pro I see is the bigger firm name and I feel like I’m learning a lot from the tax planning side

Job offer: Senior accountant with a tax specialization $105K-$110K (Still TBD), fully remote, also pay for my CPA studies. They are telling me that a manager promo is 6-12 months from the start date which I assume would result in another pay raise.

I know this sounds like an obvious decision but should I be concerned with the smaller firm name and /or the exposure I get with the tax planning work a local firm would do versus a mid sized?

Also, what are the downsides to full time remote jobs?

I'm in tax. I just started a new job where the company is *extremely* pro AI. They have weekly meetings about how to use it, they put returns into it, I could tell the hiring manager used it to write her emails to me when I was in the hiring process, etc.

I'm a big fan of AI. I think it saves a lot of time on research (before verifying the source of course) and getting help with Excel formulas when I have some obscure problem. But I don't think it actually saves time for absolutely everything.

I use AI to help me automate my workpapers as much as possible in Excel. I used AI to help me write Power Automate flows to automate some license tracking. But I use it as a tool to help me with *other*, more efficient (IMHO) tools. And I prefer to do my own writing because I think AI writing is just disingenuous.

The funny thing is that at my last company, they never used AI and I was the one that introduced everyone to Copilot and talked about the ways it was useful. So it's a total 180 from this new company.

So how do I handle this when they constantly push me to use it for EVERYTHING? Do I keep my mouth shut since I'm new? Do I just casually bring up reasons why AI might not be the best tool for a particular task?

It feels like I would be trying to convince religious people that God may not exist.

I just got off the phone with a recruiter. I am a Controller and wanting to make the jump to VP of F or CFO sometime in the near future. Recruiter gets right to the pitch:

Series B company....raised in 2021 and in 2025 37M total.

They are cash basis and need to do an accrual conversion. They do roughly 30k transactions a month in 17 states.

They are on QBO and signed a contract to move to NetSuite Q1 2026.

They do payroll in house...this seat would do it.

This seat is new. Someone from the VC firm was handling mediocre accounting and reporting until now.

They want a comprehensive board deck built.

They want a 5 day close from 20 currently.

They want a robust 2026 budget by service line to be presented in mid Q4.

They want this person to mentor 2 staff accountants.

They want the books to be audit ready for 2026 and interim starts in 4 weeks.

They are remote but want 1 week of the month to travel to San Fran.

They require minimum 60 hr weeks with Saturday afternoons reserved for status update calls with the CEO. The recruiter specifically said if you watch college football on Saturday's this isn't the right fit.

They asked me what I make. I declined to say. I asked for the budget for the role. They enthusiastically say 185k which falls flat on me. I asked what the bonus structure is. There is none. I asked what the equity would look like. They said it's contingent to be discussed based on completing goals to get them to a sustainable place by 12/31/27.

They then got mad when I passed on wanting to move forward and said that I wasted their time.

Oof.

I am a trainee in a small firm. I have so far never made an actual serious mistake at work, until Monday.

Last week I was uploading some data for clients on a website, instructed by a guy who is not my manager but he is senior. I followed his instructions and did my job, he said he would take care of client X and gave me a few orientations on other specific clients. After Thursday, this senior employee left for a week of vacation. The deadline for this service was yesterday, i went home on Friday confident everything was ok.

Yesterday I arrive at work to face the fall of Rome. Dozens of aggressive emails from my boss. From 32 clients, there were problems with 4 accounts. All the accounts that presented problems were the ones my senior colleague said he would take care of. Besides that, the login system on the website was not working, after being updated. Another senior employee was supposed to have deal with it, but didn’t. My boss goes completely bersek, to the point he started to see problems in accounts that were actually just fine, calls me to his office to yell at me multiple time, a complete shit show.

I simply dealt with the situation, everything was solved in less than an hour and no client or deadline was harmed. But ever since, my boss is punishing me, he threatened to fire me next time and it is clear that I lost credibility, because now I am being micro managed in every single thing and completely lost my autonomy for mistakes that weren’t even mine. Probably I won’t have my contract renovated after probation period and now every small imperfection in my work is becoming a big deal.

I am not even mad at my senior, because everything was completely disproportional for such a small inconvenient. I was expecting some reaction, but apparently this might cost my job, and it wasn’t even my mistake.

Is this type of reaction normal in accounting office? Has anyone experienced similar situations?

What are everyone’s thoughts on this? Opinions on climate reporting aside, does anyone else agree this letter seems to misconstrue the key elements of auditing standards? Primarily the independence requirement

Drunk Accounting is genuinely one of my favorite past times. Passed all the exams drinking while studying and if I ever have to work past 7 pm the bourbon is coming out.

I’m an accounting student with 2 years left until graduation. I know the basic principles, but I still feel like a beginner and I don’t feel prepared for a real accounting job.

My university is very theoretical and traditional, and what I see in job requirements often doesn’t match what I’m learning. I’ve tried self-learning too, but I’m not sure what to learn or in what order.

I’m from a developing country, but I have access to online resources and I’m willing to work hard. I just don’t want to spend money on private institutes that teach the same theory.

If you were in my position, how would you learn accounting from scratch?

What courses, websites, books, or YouTube channels would you recommend? What practical skills should I focus on, such as Excel, bookkeeping, accounting software, financial analysis, etc.?

And for those already working in accounting: what do you wish you had learned before graduating?

Thanks!

As I sit here at my desk job writing this Reddit post, I can't help but think about what my future looks like.

I'm a 25M who graduated last year with a bachelor's degree in accounting. Honestly, since high school, I've never really known what I wanted to do. I went to college because I was always told that it was the path to becoming successful.

I started at a community college studying business because it seemed like a safe choice, but I still didn't know exactly what I wanted to do. After that, I transferred to a large university and earned my accounting degree because I heard it was a stable and reliable career path.

One thing I'm proud of is that I worked full-time throughout college, so I graduated with no student debt. Right after graduation, I landed a job at a public accounting firm making $86k a year. Unfortunately, I was laid off after about nine months. I spent two months unemployed before joining my current accounting/finance rotational program, which is supposed to last two years. My current salary is $70k.

Lately, I've been questioning whether I made the right career choice. After all the years of school, I feel like I could have pursued a different path and potentially be making more money. Honestly, I'm bored at my current job. It's a typical open-office desk job, and I find the work uninteresting.

What makes me question things even more is seeing people in the trades. Online, I constantly see union electricians, plumbers, and other skilled tradespeople talking about making $50+ an hour after completing apprenticeships, while also receiving pensions and great healthcare benefits. One of my friends completed just one year of electrical school and already makes $38 an hour at a non-union company. He can work as much overtime as he wants, which gives him the opportunity to significantly increase his income.

Meanwhile, I'm on a fixed salary. Whether I work harder or put in extra effort, my pay remains the same.

AI is another thing that worries me. I keep wondering what accounting and finance jobs will look like five years from now. Will I have wasted all this time and education if AI ends up replacing or significantly reducing the demand for jobs like mine? It feels like the competition could become even tougher as technology advances.

Healthcare has also started looking appealing to me. I see radiology techs and nurses making $40+ an hour, even in lower-cost-of-living areas. Many of them also have the option to pick up overtime whenever they want. I constantly hear stories of people in healthcare or the trades saying they can make $2,500+ per week if they're willing to work extra hours. Those numbers seem almost impossible to reach in my current field unless I spend 10+ years climbing the corporate ladder and eventually becoming a senior manager or something similar.

I know people often say that healthcare and the trades are physically demanding, but I find myself wondering: isn't every job hard on your body in some way? Office workers sit at desks all day, while tradespeople and healthcare workers stay active. The people I know in healthcare rarely complain about the physical side of their jobs. Some of them are 5 feet tall and weigh around 120 pounds, so I know I could physically handle that kind of work if I chose to.

I've worked outdoors most of my life up until graduating college, so physical labor doesn't necessarily scare me.

At this point, I don't know if everything I see online is realistic or if I'm just seeing the top 10% of people showing off their earnings. I don't know whether I should continue studying for the CPA or if it will end up being a waste of time. I'm feeling pretty lost right now and don't want to waste any more years heading down the wrong path.

Another thing that has been making me question my path is that my girlfriend is graduating this year from a two-year radiologic technology program and already has a job lined up making around $45 an hour. I'm happy for her, but it's hard not to compare our situations. I spent several years earning a bachelor's degree, and even after all that schooling, she's going to be making more than I am right out of school with less time invested. Seeing that makes me wonder if I chose the wrong path financially, especially when I look at healthcare and trade careers and see people reaching strong incomes much earlier in their careers than what seems typical in accounting.

I don't know if this is a legitimate concern or if it's just my ADHD talking and making me think the grass is always greener on the other side. Sometimes I can't tell if I'm truly unhappy with my career path or if I'm just restless and constantly looking for something different. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? If so, what did you do, and what advice would you give?

• EY is allocating $100M this fiscal year to reward employees who demonstrate human skills like adaptability, innovation, judgment, and thoughtful experimentation with AI.
• Employees can earn spot bonuses up to $500 and major awards of $10,000–$25,000, with no cap on total rewards.
• The shift reflects a broader industry trend: firms are overwhelmed with “AI slop” and now emphasize critical thinking, judgment, empathy, and creativity to make AI useful.
• EY is overhauling training: a new 12‑month career residency, immersive AI/data/software boot camps, and 95% of partners have completed experiential AI‑transformation sessions.

I’m a 20 year old female and I’m starting my first proper graduate job next week as a Trainee Accountant at a fairly large accountancy firm. I’ve just finished a Business degree (BBS Entrepreneurship), so I don’t have a traditional accounting degree. I’ll be training on the job and working towards my ACCA qualification.

My contract is for three and a half years, and I’ve been told that for the first six months I’ll mainly be doing bookkeeping. They want me to have a good understanding of bookkeeping before moving on to preparing accounts, which I think makes sense, but I’d be interested to hear what other people’s experiences were like starting out.

I’m really excited but also a little nervous, so I’d love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar position!

Is there anything you wish you had known before starting your first accounting job? Anything I should prepare for or make sure I know beforehand? Is there anything I should revise before I start?

I’m also wondering about clothes. I’m not particularly girly and I really don’t want to be wearing a full suit every day 😂. What would be considered appropriate for a trainee accountant in an office?

Any advice, tips or things you wish someone had told you before starting would be really appreciated!

i feel like some boomer from the 60s impressing the hiring manager with a firm handshake

Would appreciate hearing anything from anyone on working at Crowe

Hey, I've been applying to various posts just for fun, honestly - I like where I am but figure it can't hurt to try my luck to get a better salary (paid according to a part-qualified band; just under 43k EUR a year.). I haven't really been getting any interviews and I'm wondering if there's something wrong with my CV, whether it be a rookie mistake or giving off the wrong "vibes"? I'm based in Ireland and would appreciate any critiques of my CV!

Note - cannot commit to finishing my exams at the moment due to obligations outside of work.

What is this best tax service line overall???

Private Tax
Federal
International
Tax Technology
SALT

Does anyone know what MNP Spark in Canada is?

Is it just MNP work being outsourced to India?

Hi all, I recently completed a summer audit internship at Baker Tilly. I had a great experience and really liked the office culture and the people I worked with. Return offers haven't been communicated yet, but if I receive one, I would start full-time in January 2028 after completing my MAcc in December 2027.

While I would be genuinely excited to return to Baker Tilly, there’s still a part of me that feels like I should at least take a shot at the Big 4 while I have the opportunity. Summer 2027 internship applications are beginning to open for their remaining spots, and I’m considering applying.

I have a few questions:

1. Would it be frowned upon by Baker Tilly if I accepted a return offer but later pursued a Big 4 internship for Summer 2027?
2. If I completed a Big 4 internship in Summer 2027 and graduated from my MAcc program in December 2027, how realistic would it be to receive a return offer with a January 2028 start date rather than the following summer/fall?
3. For those who have worked at both a Big 4 and a large mid-tier firm, how significant was the difference in experience, exit opportunities, career progression, etc.? Do you think pursuing Big 4 is worth it if I already know I really like the people and culture at Baker Tilly?

I’m still pretty early in my career and mostly want to make sure I’m giving myself as many opportunities as possible. Any advice from people who have been in a similar situation would be appreciated!

Hi everyone!!! I'm just started my senior year in college at GSU in ATL and i have 4 internships under my belt already (3 in tax accounting, 1 in business analytics) with a high GPA, and im debating if i should get an MAcc from gsu since i already go here or if i should do an MBA program at ga tech or if i should just complete my bachelor's and outsource the extra 9 credit hours through a grad certficate? Which would be best for me i am lucky enough that Zell Miller covered all of my undergrad (thank god), and i would be open to gta/gra positions to get a free masters as well.

I’m preparing for the Financial Accounting section of a local accounting license. The exam is somewhat comparable to CPA FAR in terms of the topics and difficulty, except my exam is based on IFRS rather than US GAAP.
I’ve taken the exam twice before, but honestly, I didn’t study seriously either time. I scored 31/100, and the passing score is 60.
This time I’ve been studying seriously for the past five months. I studied each topic thoroughly, did question banks for each topic, took practice tests, reviewed my mistakes, etc. My scores are generally good now.
The problem is that I’m starting to notice that I’ve forgotten parts of some topics and some details I studied months ago. I honestly didn’t expect the forgetting to be this noticeable.
My exam is on September 27, and I have full-time study leave from September 11 until the exam. My plan was to spend that final period doing comprehensive/mixed question banks and full reviews rather than studying individual topics again.
For those who passed a difficult Financial Accounting exam (especially CPA FAR or something similar):
What would you recommend doing during the final month? How do you deal with forgetting older topics, and what would you focus on during the last 2 weeks?
Any advice for actually getting over that 60% passing line would be greatly appreciated!

( AI was used to translate )