Accounting BDO 2020 Comp Thread

1) You have to enjoy and be passionate about your work in order to have a happy and successful career. Being good/great at your job will bring temporary satisfaction but having a genuine interest in your work will lead to a career that you are proud of.

2) Put in an honest day at work. It makes the time go by quicker. Some days are good, some are bad - just do the best you can. That's all you can ever do.

3) Expect and tolerate some stupidity at work - never overreact. There are hundreds, if not, thousands of people who are involved in or with the business and everyone is making decisions that are not always aligned.

4) Be knowledgeable about current events and industry trends. Subscribe to and read the AICPA and Big4 newsletters. This is a good way to keep up with the industry and the technical aspects of accounting.

5) You make money by creating value for others. The economy (supply and demand) determines your level of compensation. Keep in mind, pay lags behind hard work but catches up with experience.

6) Be solutions driven. Use critical thinking to find answers. Implement the results to accomplish end goals.

7) Be efficient. Don't go overboard with details - focus on accomplishing 90% of the task. Then come back and work towards full completion. Don't spin your wheels or waste time over minute details.

8) Don't use work computer for personal use.

9) Don't participate in office gossip, politics, or drama.

10) Say "no" when you have conflicting responsibilities - don't overburden yourself. Learn to prioritize work or work with your manager to prioritize work.

11) Say "I don't know but I can find out for you" instead of giving out the wrong information, especially in group meetings.

12) Follow up and follow through on open items.

13) Get feedback and take criticism well - it will help improve your skills, work product, and relationships.

14) You are responsible for your own career. You have to ask for promotions and pay raises. You also have to look at other opportunities and make changes as needed. This is especially true when you are being paid below market.

15) Don't let your job/career define you as a person. Have interests, hobbies, and passions outside of work.

If you want me to elaborate on something, let me know. Also, if you have any additional tips, please leave them in the comments. I appreciate it.

Edit: Based on the initial feedback, I want to clarify #1. Your career is a 40+ year marathon. Take your job and your career seriously. You don't have to be passionate about accounting but you do need to show up and do the work. Work hard but also find a good balance between work and life (point no. 15)

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When you finish your deliverables ahead of time, but deny having spare capacity and pretend you're still working on them... only uploading them after a reasonable amount of time had passed.

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 05:25 PM PDT

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Retail workers can now perform accounting duties? Throw away your licenses folks. It’s over for us!

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 08:16 PM PDT

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Missing KPMG MD

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 03:32 PM PDT

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Do accountants ever go to law school in order to escape accounting?

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 07:17 PM PDT

I am a CPA in Canada with 4 years of experience in public accounting. I've known accounting is a poor fit for me from the start, but have been unable to leave due to living in a city with little opportunity for change and personal obligations.

I enjoy reading and writing immensely, in contrast to little interest in Excel and data analysis. Additionally, I feel that obtaining a law degree with a focus in labor law and non-profits would compliment my accounting experience well. I am aware this will not provide the best compensation, but I am more concerned with meaningful and enjoyable work.

My brief research suggests that going to law school after obtaining your CPA is very uncommon. Therefore I wanted to ask if anyone here has considered making the switch to law, and why you decided for or against it?

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Getting torn a new one never felt so positive ~ @depreciatedmemes

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 02:41 PM PDT

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For all you “Entry Level” controllers out there..

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 02:37 PM PDT

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Words of encouragement and support from our friends at Becker:

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 06:39 PM PDT

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Posted: 27 Oct 2020 08:47 AM PDT

Just wanted to extend my condolences to everyone still in PA. Reading these 2020 comp threads feels bad man.

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Financial analyst (fp&a) vs. private accountant - will I get pigeonholed in fp&a?

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 01:59 PM PDT

I'm in big 4 now and am looking to transition. I got interviews for fp&a role at a small tech company and also an interview for accounting Role in private accounting.

Which has a better career outlook? I am interested in fp&a budgeting work more than accounting but I'm afraid that fp&a will pigeonhole me and I'm wondering if there would be better opp in the future if I do private accounting rather than fp&a.

I also like the fp&a role because I want to be in the tech industry and eventually use SQL and python on the job

Anyone have experience?

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(PA senior) your exit roles?

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 08:07 PM PDT

Would hope the voter be A2 to S2 only.

View Poll

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Not sure if I hate my job or just burnt out?

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 06:00 PM PDT

I am senior in tax and I am so sick of this. I have no will to do any work right now. since 10/15 I've spent 95% of workdays scrolling twitter and watching youtube which is easily done from home. I am getting sick of this. I have not recovered from 10/15 and there is starting to be some work to do again and i can't take it. This job is so tedious. I've spent so many hours for what - to put some numbers in boxes and to check some other boxes? I don't want to do this job anymore. we should be getting bonuses by the end of the year and I am seriously considering bouncing as soon as the bonus hits my account.

At the same time, quitting seems ill advised. i am fortunate enough to have a well paying job i can do from home. there are people with no job who would kill to be in my position. in the next year i will be promoted to manager and i am told i have potential to be partner. I just hate what i am doing right now. i didn't think i would get so cynical this early in my career.

What other job can i do? i have a bachelors/masters degrees in accounting which i feel like narrows it down quite a bit. I wouldn't quit for another accounting firm. it will be more of the same. I applied to work at google but they didn't want to interview me. i heard a family office job can be awesome or terrible and its impossible to tell until you get the job. plus im tired of working for rich people who have family offices. i want to enter politics but the season is basically over. I want to go into show business but have no discernible talent. I'm 26 and i have no idea what i want to do with my life. ive made it this far all because it was "the right thing to do."

Idk im ranting at this point. my question is do i actually hate my job or do i just need some time off?

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Partners having dinner with the clients be like

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 10:48 AM PDT

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Big 4 background check

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 09:57 PM PDT

Discrepancy between the overseas work experience on resume and the filled background check. Should I contact the HR to explain the problem and re-do the background check? Is there going to be an issue for non-disclosed overseas working experience?

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Is an S Corporation subject to “Hot Interest”?

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 07:07 PM PDT

My answer is yes, but I want to double check the reason why. Thanks in advance.

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It’s almost busy season

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 03:28 PM PDT

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RSM Offer

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 05:30 PM PDT

I am currently working for a cpa firm that specializes in a very specific niche. I don't like the work I do but I do enjoy working 40 hours a week. I received an audit offer from rsm. Close enough salary. What is the work life balance at RSM? How many hours can I expect to work busy season and after?

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I’m finally done with the cpa exams!! Or am I??

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 05:29 AM PDT

I Just finished taking my last test at the end of last week! But this is going to be the longest three weeks of my life waiting for scores to come back. Feels weird, like accomplished, but also nervous I might have to study again to retake the test. Haven't had to retake any yet and it would be just my luck to fail on the last one. Anyways, Im going to celebrate... in 3 weeks I guess. Wish me luck✌️

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Intern pay?

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 05:46 AM PDT

Sup guys so it's my third day of my internship today and I'm wondering if I played myself.

During the interview he asked me if I had salary requirements and I didn't wanna be 'that guy' so I just told him if we could match my previous job pay that would be great.

But now I'm seeing that most interns get paid $20/25 an hour

I live in the south, Louisiana to be precise and I make $12 an hour

Did I play myself?

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LinkedIn Cringe

Posted: 27 Oct 2020 01:47 PM PDT