A rant about my job situation

Pinot

Member
Jan 21, 2006
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I have one year left in undergrad, I should be finished this December with a degree in accounting. I currently work for a small company as an accountant. The company owns and operates 3 retail stores, a construction company, and several property buildings in Washington, DC that we rent out. There is a woman and myself who handle all of the accounting for this organization. Here are my issues:

Although, I am condifdent in what I can do, and I do know a bit of accounting, I wish I had some kind of training. When I was hired, I was under the impression that it would be a nice begining accounting position. When I started working my first week, I found out that the only other human resource I had regarding accounting was the other woman I work with, who happens to be an asian FOB who barely speaks any English. She's the full-timer, the office manager, and the head accountant. She has a master's in accounting, yet she doesnt know anything when I ask her a question. In fact, she often brings me things that she doesnt know how to do. Sometimes, she just sits at her computer and does nothing for hours (we dont have any supervision.) Another time, I was working on a project and she comes over to me asking if I need help. I said "no" and she said she didnt have anything to do. So she takes a pile of my work (75% finished) and starts working on it.

Second, the company's accounting books are ruined. For the entire year before I came to the company, there was no accountant and the owner of the company would play around with the books while operating the business. Some months before I started working there, that woman was hired. Then I came along.

Third, I often feel completely stressed at work because the books are in such ruin and there is nobody I can ask or help verify numbers with because the records have been neglected for soo long.

Fourth, I dont feel like Im going anywhere with this position and the stress that comes along with it is too much considering I have a full-time college class schedule.

And finally, I am expected to work miracles. I spent 2 months on a project that even that woman w/a masters in accounting could not do. If the internet is not working, I have to fix it. If there is a wolf outside, I have to trap it. LOL, this is the type of sh*t I have to deal with.

I have started looking for another job. I have an interview at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD as a staff accountant and I have applied to several local CPA firms waiting for responses.

CLIFF NOTES:
1. I hate my job
2. It brings me much stress
3. I am a senior in college.
4. I am searching for a new job.
 

Atheus

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2005
7,313
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Quit, get a loan and a small (non-accounting) job to pay for the rest of the year, do very well in exams, get awesome full time accounting job to pay back loan and buy very fast car.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
that is typical of small business

sounds like you want to work for a medium to large corporation

good luck!
 

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
9
81
Originally posted by: Atheus
Quit, get a loan and a small (non-accounting) job to pay for the rest of the year, do very well in exams, get awesome full time accounting job to pay back loan and buy very fast car.

I can't stress the importance of this enough...if you fail at that, everything you've done will be a waste. :p
 

Triforceofcourage

Platinum Member
Feb 21, 2004
2,911
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Originally posted by: FoBoT
that is typical of small business

sounds like you want to work for a medium to large corporation

good luck!

That is not typical of a quality small business. I am an accountant and can tell you first hand that working for a small business has some solid benefits over working for a large corporation. Small Businesses can be run very effectively and efficiently if it has quality employees. Your boss sounds like an idiot and needs to be replaced with a competent accountant.
 

Pinot

Member
Jan 21, 2006
53
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Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage
Originally posted by: FoBoT
that is typical of small business

sounds like you want to work for a medium to large corporation

good luck!

That is not typical of a quality small business. I am an accountant and can tell you first hand that working for a small business has some solid benefits over working for a large corporation. Small Businesses can be run very effectively and efficiently if it has quality employees. Your boss sounds like an idiot and needs to be replaced with a competent accountant.

I am aware of the benefits of working for a small business vs. working for a large corporation. I think what he meant by "typical" is that it does happen often within small businesses.
 

thegimp03

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2004
7,420
2
81
Do you want to become an auditor? This is the route most accounting majors take, and the big 4 firms always hire interns. You should apply for an internship and see how you like it...I currently work for one of the big 4 and I feel like it's probably the best experience you can get when you're just starting out in the business world. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. I think there are a few other CPAs/accountants on this forum...
 

Pinot

Member
Jan 21, 2006
53
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Originally posted by: thegimp03
Do you want to become an auditor? This is the route most accounting majors take, and the big 4 firms always hire interns. You should apply for an internship and see how you like it...I currently work for one of the big 4 and I feel like it's probably the best experience you can get when you're just starting out in the business world. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. I think there are a few other CPAs/accountants on this forum...


Actually, I am more interested in tax accounting. I've have a few seasonal internships as well as this current position. I feel like I have decent experience for someone at my level, but until recently, I havent put myself out there since I've had this job.
 

Albis

Platinum Member
May 29, 2004
2,722
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the big four hire just about as many tax accountants as auditors so you should look into that route
 

Epic Fail

Diamond Member
May 10, 2005
6,252
2
0
sounds like you are working for an illegal operation and is a pawn to front a legit business, so slack off and enjoy?