My first busy season in public accounting

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PingSpike

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,765
615
126
I suddenly realize how lucky I really am. I'd rather work at McDonalds then work 80 hours a week anywhere.
 
Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
Originally posted by: PingSpike
I suddenly realize how lucky I really am. I'd rather work at McDonalds then work 80 hours a week anywhere.
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large coffee, 2 cream 2 sugar please.
 
D

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
60 hours sounds pretty light unfortunately.

I'm not in accounting, but I've worked with some of the Big 4 for quite a few years. Most recently, I had a 3 year effort where one of the years I hit 3500 in one year. That meant a lot of 100+ hour weeks, a lot of 80 hour weeks and plenty of "normal" 60 hours weeks. I started to really lose it there in the end. It's not healthy. There's a reason why these firms recruit huge groups of people at a time; turnaround is like a carousel sometimes.

Take care of yourself man. Get the experience you need, but don't let them suck you dry. If you can balance it, then the experience can be very rewarding as I'm sure you know.
 
Svnla

Svnla

Lifer
Nov 10, 2003
17,986
1,388
126
Originally posted by: dquan97
Working as an auditor as well (for the gov't), 40hr/week max. Can't imagine putting in more time than that w/o additional compensation or evidence that it'll make a difference.
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Internal Audit? CIA or CFE?
 
D

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Originally posted by: Phokus
What the hell is the point of working that many hours if you're not going to enjoy the money you earn? Hell, it's absolutely retarded to be working those long hours and really not making THAT much more than private accountants... If you're going to work those long ass hours, you're better off doing so in finance (investment banker, stock trader, etc.) and making REAL money.
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The reasoning is pretty straightforward actually:

1) Burn yourself out working for firms that, if on your resume, afford you a lot more opportunities than if they weren't.

2) The contacts you make are incredibly valuable to you.

3) If you're young, it can be fun, especially if you're in a position to travel.

So, there are reasons for it. It's why finance people burn themselves out at the big firms, because they know if they pay their dues then the rewards down the road will be that much larger.

 
B

BarneyFife

Diamond Member
Aug 12, 2001
3,875
0
76
Originally posted by: Fmr12B
I'm on year 8, 5yrs Big 4, almost 3 now at a smaller but still top 100 firm.

Currently a senior manager in audit.

60hrs I can do standing on my head. We worked 14's Mon - Thurs. 10hrs on Friday. 12hrs on Saturday and averaged 8 on Sundays. 75-80 was routine at the Big 4.

I've done 100+hrs a few times. Sleep around 2am, up at 8am, into work by 9 while averaging 15hr days 7-days a week for a good 2-weeks straight in order to get to press-release day. First year SOX implementation was the worst year ever.

Now, 50-55hrs is a long week. Big 4 is the only way to go for the first 4-6yrs. Then a local/regional firm will be more like a normal job as I average 45-50 almost year-around.


Best of luck!!!
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Please tell me you make $130k.

 
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gramboh

Platinum Member
May 3, 2003
2,207
0
0
Originally posted by: Fmr12B
I'm on year 8, 5yrs Big 4, almost 3 now at a smaller but still top 100 firm.

Currently a senior manager in audit.

60hrs I can do standing on my head. We worked 14's Mon - Thurs. 10hrs on Friday. 12hrs on Saturday and averaged 8 on Sundays. 75-80 was routine at the Big 4.

I've done 100+hrs a few times. Sleep around 2am, up at 8am, into work by 9 while averaging 15hr days 7-days a week for a good 2-weeks straight in order to get to press-release day. First year SOX implementation was the worst year ever.

Now, 50-55hrs is a long week. Big 4 is the only way to go for the first 4-6yrs. Then a local/regional firm will be more like a normal job as I average 45-50 almost year-around.


Best of luck!!!
Click to expand...

Listen to this guy. I'm at a big four (in Calgary Canada) and in my 4th year (I am a CA -- Canadian equiv to CPA). I'm just about burning out, although I'm trying to make it to September in hopes of being promoted to Manager. The reason for suffering at a Big 4 is it gets you respect on your resume (e.g. foot in the door) and you work with well known clients and get good experience. I'm planning on leaving within the next year though, my problem isn't hours (60hours is cake, 70 is the top end for me in the last year) I am just not motivated anymore to do this work.
 
S

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
0
Originally posted by: gramboh
Originally posted by: Fmr12B
I'm on year 8, 5yrs Big 4, almost 3 now at a smaller but still top 100 firm.

Currently a senior manager in audit.

60hrs I can do standing on my head. We worked 14's Mon - Thurs. 10hrs on Friday. 12hrs on Saturday and averaged 8 on Sundays. 75-80 was routine at the Big 4.

I've done 100+hrs a few times. Sleep around 2am, up at 8am, into work by 9 while averaging 15hr days 7-days a week for a good 2-weeks straight in order to get to press-release day. First year SOX implementation was the worst year ever.

Now, 50-55hrs is a long week. Big 4 is the only way to go for the first 4-6yrs. Then a local/regional firm will be more like a normal job as I average 45-50 almost year-around.


Best of luck!!!
Click to expand...

Listen to this guy. I'm at a big four (in Calgary Canada) and in my 4th year (I am a CA -- Canadian equiv to CPA). I'm just about burning out, although I'm trying to make it to September in hopes of being promoted to Manager. The reason for suffering at a Big 4 is it gets you respect on your resume (e.g. foot in the door) and you work with well known clients and get good experience. I'm planning on leaving within the next year though, my problem isn't hours (60hours is cake, 70 is the top end for me in the last year) I am just not motivated anymore to do this work.
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nvm mis-read the post!
 
G

gramboh

Platinum Member
May 3, 2003
2,207
0
0
Originally posted by: sniperruff
Originally posted by: gramboh
Originally posted by: Fmr12B
I'm on year 8, 5yrs Big 4, almost 3 now at a smaller but still top 100 firm.

Currently a senior manager in audit.

60hrs I can do standing on my head. We worked 14's Mon - Thurs. 10hrs on Friday. 12hrs on Saturday and averaged 8 on Sundays. 75-80 was routine at the Big 4.

I've done 100+hrs a few times. Sleep around 2am, up at 8am, into work by 9 while averaging 15hr days 7-days a week for a good 2-weeks straight in order to get to press-release day. First year SOX implementation was the worst year ever.

Now, 50-55hrs is a long week. Big 4 is the only way to go for the first 4-6yrs. Then a local/regional firm will be more like a normal job as I average 45-50 almost year-around.


Best of luck!!!
Click to expand...

Listen to this guy. I'm at a big four (in Calgary Canada) and in my 4th year (I am a CA -- Canadian equiv to CPA). I'm just about burning out, although I'm trying to make it to September in hopes of being promoted to Manager. The reason for suffering at a Big 4 is it gets you respect on your resume (e.g. foot in the door) and you work with well known clients and get good experience. I'm planning on leaving within the next year though, my problem isn't hours (60hours is cake, 70 is the top end for me in the last year) I am just not motivated anymore to do this work.
Click to expand...

It sounds as if he's an I-banker rather than an accountant.
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Not sure who you mean? The OP and Fmr12B are both talking about accounting firms (whenever you see a reference to the Big 4). As far as 90-100 work weeks go, I wouldn't consider that for audit (unless you are a partner), you may as well do investment banking.
 
C

CanOWorms

Lifer
Jul 3, 2001
12,404
2
0
I'm not an accountant, but sometimes I wish I had enough work to do 60 hours/week. Recently I've only been putting in around 25 hours/week (of which probably half of that is productive) due to work being slow.
 
P

Playmaker

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2000
1,584
0
0
Working over 60 hours/week is insane unless you're investment banking and getting a piece of that Wall Street bonus pool, or possibly management consulting (and I'm talking McKinsey, Bain, etc., not Deloitte or IBM).
 
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gramboh

Platinum Member
May 3, 2003
2,207
0
0
Originally posted by: Lothar
What is this "Big 4" companies everyone is talking about?
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Deloitte & Touche, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, KPMG and Ernst & Young - the biggest 4 multinational accounting firms in the world (generally providing audit, tax and finance related services, although Deloitte also provides consulting).
 
I

Instan00dles

Golden Member
Jun 15, 2001
1,174
1
81
damn, I am ready to kill myself after 40hrs a week. Its a good thing my boss never asks me to do overtime because I would tell him no
 
K

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
0
A lot of people here are making statements like "working crazy hours" is ridiculous unless you're X or Y. Someone even mentioned that they would not even consider working over 40 hours per week unless it was hourly; ironically, I believe this person was working as a busser at a strip club not so long ago.

My point is that you have to pay your dues and maybe kiss some ass if you want to get ahead, regardless of what industry you are in. In my case, it would be making Partner someday, if I decide to stay in public accounting.
 
S

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
0
Originally posted by: krunchykrome
A lot of people here are making statements like "working crazy hours" is ridiculous unless you're X or Y. Someone even mentioned that they would not even consider working over 40 hours per week unless it was hourly; ironically, I believe this person was working as a busser at a strip club not so long ago.

My point is that you have to pay your dues and maybe kiss some ass if you want to get ahead, regardless of what industry you are in. In my case, it would be making Partner someday, if I decide to stay in public accounting.
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I think they are mostly fresh out of college/still in college. You need to bust your ass in any industry if you want to move ahead, and this is especially true for some fields like Accounting/Finance

So which firm are you working for? Mind to tell us more?
 
C

Corporate Thug

Lifer
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
Originally posted by: Evadman
Originally posted by: vital
There is more to life than just work... I don't understand why anyone would put themself through that much work and torture to their own health?
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Money.
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I used to think like you but concluded that 35 hour weeks @ 80k > 60-70 hour weeks for $150k
 
C

Chrono

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2001
4,959
0
71
I work 8-5 and I'm damn glad for it. It rocks. :) Money is alright but I get a lot of perks so woot.
 
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