I Started a New Controller Role During a Global Pandemic and Found Silver Linings
After years at a private equity-backed technology company in Seattle, I had an opportunity to take on a new role as controller at CorneaGen, a mission-driven organization devoted to transforming cornea care and eliminating corneal blindness worldwide by 2040. This role blended two passions: my love of accounting and a childhood love of medicine. The […]
Number of the Day: 59%
While not public accounting specific, that is the percentage of top performers who had their promotions postponed within the past year due to the Rona pandemic, according to the results of a recent Robert Half survey. So as a result of not being able to drink that sweet promotion juice, 38% of professionals surveyed said […]
Friendly Reminder: Take a Day Off, Who Cares
Many years ago, I had this somewhat demanding job that happened to also be a really fun place to work, so while it was stressful and the hours were long, I found myself reveling in this because I actually enjoyed it most days. Now, I realize this may be a foreign concept to some of […]
Fat, Balding, and Broken Legs: The Consequences of Working in Professional Services
Last week I wrote an epic poem to the art of suffering. The TL;DR is that it’s dumb to work yourself to the bone for an employer who sees you as an expendable resource and bragging about how many hours you put in doesn’t mean you’re any better at your job than the guy in […]
Your Suffering Is Not Noble So Let That Sh*t Go
Before I get into this, I feel it’s important to explain where I’m coming from. You see, I had a turbulent childhood. Not “damn, my mom won’t buy me a Power Pad!” turbulent, I only wish that had been the extent of my troubles growing up. I won’t get into too much detail as I’m […]
You Can Easily Replace ‘Investment Banking’ with ‘Public Accounting’ In These Reactions to the Goldman Sachs Workplace Abuse Claims
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or neck deep in tax returns, you probably heard about the recent allegations from 13 first-year analysts who work at Goldman Sachs that their employer is actually a sweatshop disguised as an investment bank. In a Working Conditions Survey created and only answered by those 13 GS analysts, […]
Believe It or Not, There Are Advantages to Getting CPE In a Virtual Setting
If there’s one main thing pandemic living has taught us it’s how to pivot. For many of us, we’ve had to figure out how to do our jobs at home (oftentimes while simultaneously wearing our parent hat). Our kids have had to adjust to learning in virtual classrooms. The past year has forced some people […]
The Truth About Public Accounting, Part III: The ‘A’ In PCAOB Stands For ‘Accounting’
An article titled “PCAOB Inspections: Public Accounting Firms on Trial” describes the results from an academic study and survey about the effects on auditors who have been subject to PCAOB inspections. One of many good observations from that academic study is repeated below: Respondents collectively perceive that audit quality has improved as a result of […]
The Truth About Public Accounting, Part II: PCAOB Inspection Hysteria — How to Fix It
While there is a consensus that the PCAOB’s existence has improved audit quality, it is also clear that the PCAOB has contributed an unhealthy level of hysteria to the auditing profession. That hysteria has led some professionals to make horrible choices (as seen in the KPMG inspection selection leak scandal). That hysteria has also driven […]
Here’s the Sign You’ve Been Waiting For From the Universe
Contrary to popular belief, you can in fact quit during busy season. Life’s too short to be so miserable.
Protip: Moving Soon? You Might Want to Hide Your ZIP Code From HR
Remember a couple weeks ago when we discussed potential work-from-home adjustments for salaried workers now living in lower COL areas thanks to the Rona? In case you forgot, the gist of it is that this is already happening in the tech industry, so there’s no reason to assume accounting couldn’t possibly follow suit. The comments […]
Nearly a Third of Workers Say They’d Quit Before Returning to the Office When All This Is Over
When the world abruptly turned upside down and drove everyone inside their homes last March, many (perhaps optimistically) thought it would end up being a very brief experiment in what happens when white-collar workers are forced to do their jobs remotely for a couple weeks. We know now “two weeks to flatten the curve” was […]
The Truth About Public Accounting, Part I: How the Sausage Is Made and Those ‘Best Places to Work’ Surveys
Your biggest busy season assignment is a public company audit. The audit looks well-staffed six months before fieldwork starts. But by the time fieldwork begins, the staffing has completely unraveled. The in-charge has left the firm. You get a battlefield promotion to be the in-charge. High staff turnover in the office and the demands of […]
This Jilted Recruiting Candidate Has Some Strong Words to Say About RSM Canada
Spotted this on Reddit this morning and … man. In a post on r/recruitinghell this past weekend, this brave soul takes RSM Canada to task. Among the perceived grievances? Well, a total lack of communication seems to be the big one. Let’s dive in. I’ve had it with you all. You’re all a bunch of […]
Friendly Reminder, Millennials Are Officially Old Enough to Sue You For Age Discrimination
Depending on who you ask, the oldest Millennials are turning 40 this year. Having just turned 40 two weeks ago myself, I’ve already gone through the various stages of denial, acceptance, and general indifference to the fact that I now have four decades under my belt. But now it seems the old guard who have […]
WFH In 2021? Get Ready For Those Remote Salary Adjustments
I hate to be the bearer of bad news as we head into a brand new year but just in case y’all thought this WFH thing would mean potentially being able to upgrade to some huge rural property at your generous “city” salary … not so fast. A recent Bloomberg article says it’s already happening […]
Why You Should Just Read the Chapter Already
I had a dream the other night that I was back in managerial accounting. A few of my classmates back then would call it a nightmare. It was second semester of my sophomore year and somehow this general business course was harder than the first intermediate accounting that I was also taking at the time. […]
Firms Were Absolutely Savage Toward Staff During the Great Depression
Sid Kess was into accounting before it was cool. At least that’s what we can glean from his article in The CPA Journal the other day. In it, the Journal editorial board member explains his first exposure to accounting was observing his accountant dad, who’d lost his bank controller job in the winter of 1931 […]
Number of the Day: 1%
1%. That is the percent of CPAs in the United States who are black. To put that into perspective, there are 658,267 actively licensed CPAs in 53 of the 55 licensing jurisdictions as of September 2, 2020 (Hawaii and Utah aren’t included in the data we found via NASBA for some reason). I’m math-averse but […]
Get Sensitive or Else: How to Keep Talent When the World’s Gone Crazy
As hardcore accountants, you and your talent probably aren’t suffering quite as much from the death of office culture as the rest of the world. How many of you really cared about the PR puff stuff that was a distraction and time suck? However … Even the most laser-focused, bottom-line-oriented accountant is missing something in […]
Job of the Week: Remote International Tax Manager at WilkinGuttenplan
Featuring a tremendous career opportunity in a rapidly growing practice group of a well-established firm for CPA with 6-8 years of international tax experience. Offering a flexible culture, attractive compensation, and significant career upside with regular one-on-one partner interaction and partner-track potential (if desired). WilkinGuttenplan is committed to work/life balance, a culture of multi-generational collaboration, […]
Finding the Best Accounting and Finance Talent In a Gig/Remote Work World
Even before the events of 2020, the gig economy was surging and remote work was on the rise. But the last few months have placed those trends into a pressure cooker, accelerating them at a rate far beyond even the most forward-thinking predictions. Some of the best accounting and finance talent had already gone remote, […]
It’s Totally Clients’ Fault If You Get Dragged Back to the Office Early
While the pandemic rages on, overpaid brains everywhere are wondering what office life will look like when things return to some semblance of normal. And while the accounting profession remains divided over whether working from home is the greatest thing ever or an advanced form of torture, it’s looking more and more like firms will […]
6 Real-Life Embarrassing Accounting Résumé Mistakes You Never Want to Make
Writing your résumé is a big deal, wouldn’t you think? Especially if you really need a job to maintain your lavish lifestyle or keep your kid in video games. There are maybe a handful of things in life that you don’t want to screw up—think marriage proposal, your CPA exam, and, yep, a résumé is […]
Getting Interrupted at the Workplace Is Probably Stressing You Out
Although it feels like it was a lifetime ago, I’m going to ask you to recall back to The Before TimeTM when everyone still worked in offices. Picture it: you’re back at your desk, deep into a project, and finding your groove. Your fingers are tapping away, and the work is getting done before your […]
Number of the Day: 75%
Ed. note: This article was originally published October 2020. That’s how many AICPA members are eligible for retirement this year, according to a 2015 exposure draft [PDF] put forward by the AICPA to add “retired” CPA status to the Uniform Accountancy Act. For several years, there has been discussion as to whether or not there […]
Yes, You Can Make More Money as a Freelance Accountant or Finance Professional
The pendulum has swung: accountants and finance professionals can make more money—and have wayyyy more freedom—taking on freelance work, especially when compared to a full-time salaried position at a public accounting firm. Just imagine it! Working from home in your pajamas, setting your own hours, taking Netflix-and-nap breaks. No co-workers bugging you with stories of […]
2021 Accounting Internship Programs, Ranked
Hey wannabe public accountants, Vault today released its ranking of the best accounting firms for interns in 2021, and of the 15 firms included, two are in the Big 4 while five others are among the top 15 largest firms in the U.S. More than 11,000 current and former interns were surveyed earlier this summer […]
Ding Dong the Open Office Is Dead
… and the ‘Rona killed it. In a Fast Company article this week, we find that the much-hated open office is likely in its death knell, just another victim of that pesky global virus. It’s been embraced for saving money, hated for its lack of sound privacy, blasted for reinforcing sexist behavior, and even cited as a […]
Tracker: These Accounting Firms Have Either Cut Jobs or Pay (or Both) During the COVID-19 Crisis
[Updated on Oct. 19 with information about BDO USA.] In case you haven’t noticed, there have been a lot of salary reductions and jobs lost throughout public accounting over the past couple weeks as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. And it sucks. So we’ve started compiling a list of firms that have resorted to […]
Job of the Week: Remote Accountant w/ Sage-Intacct Experience
Going Concern’s Job of the Week features a CPA firm looking for a Remote Accountant with a strong working knowledge of Sage-Intacct and church client experience. If you are interested in this job, we invite you to apply with Accountingfly. APPLY NOW (updated link) | Accountingfly connects you with virtual accounting jobs with the best […]
You Better Put Pants on Before Your Firm Decides to Implement a Work From Home Dress Code
Remember way back in March when the world came to a stop and offices everywhere shut their doors to employees, driving many of us inside? I distinctly remember the collective sentiment being something like “well, whatever, it’ll be over in a few weeks.” In fact, when my own state’s governor locked us down until the […]
What To Do If You Think You’re About To Be Fired
With the news this week that KPMG trashed a bunch of its workforce cuz Rona or whatever, we thought this might be a good time to talk about what you should do if you think you might get the axe. I wish I’d read an article like this a few years back when I got […]
Ask GC: Is It OK to Renege on a Previously Accepted Offer For an Offer From a Bigger Firm?
Back in the day, advice emails were our bread and butter. Well, more like my esteemed former colleague Caleb Newquist’s bread and butter. He loved cranking them out while I really had to be in the right mood otherwise I’d end up telling some poor intern to go fuck themselves just because I could. The […]
These Colleges Have Cranked Out the Most Public Accounting Firm CEOs and Managing Partners (2020)
Now that INSIDE Public Accounting has released its latest ranking of the top public accounting firms in the nation by revenue, we thought we’d update a post from last year about which colleges and universities have graduated the most firm CEOs, chairmen, and managing partners. As we did last year, we looked at IPA’s most […]
Learn How to Make Financial Forecasting as Easy as Finding Your Favorite Pair of Socks
Hey guys, do me a quick favor. Clear off all those empty Dunkin cups, doughnut crumbs, crumpled up Post-It Notes, old pens that ran out of ink, and that Xbox controller off your coffee-stained desk calendar, find the block for Thursday, Aug. 27, and write in “Webinar, 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT.” Because who couldn’t […]
How’s Your Remote Plan Going? What Worked and What Didn’t? It’s Time to Move Forward
Hey there, denizens of Going Concern. If you are a managing partner or lead an HR department, please take the 2020 Anytime, Anywhere Work (ATAWW) Survey hosted by ConvergenceCoaching LLC. This survey will be used to identify trends on how accounting and consulting firms are handling the ongoing shift, as well as the overnight transition, to […]
When This Accounting Firm Touts Its Work/Life Balance, You Should Listen
During the nearly 11-year history of Going Concern, we’ve been cynical about a lot of things in public accounting but maybe none more so than when firms talk about how great their work/life balance is. The Big 4 and the top midtier firms paint a rosy picture of how wonderful they treat their thousands of […]
How COVID-19 Warped Us Five Years Into the Future—And What That Means for Your Accounting or Finance Career
Tom Brady was a Patriot. The only “Tiger King” was Tony, and he was grrrrrr-eat! And hand sanitizer was just worth its weight in, well, hand sanitizer. All of these things were true at the end of 2019, and that was less than half a year ago. So why does it feel like another lifetime? […]
Summer Internship Roundup 2020: Everyone’s Gone Virtual
[Updated on May 25 with additional information about BDO USA.] For every 20 to 25 tips we receive about layoffs and pay cuts at public accounting firms during the COVID-19 pandemic, we get one about some firm’s virtual extravaganza being offered to summer interns this year. Yep, virtual. None of that worthwhile public accounting experience, […]
The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Causing Many Accountants (and a Whole Lot of Consultants) to Freak Out About Losing Their Jobs
OK, let’s talk about layoffs and accountants. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting dumpster fire that is the U.S. economy has quite a few capital market servants worried about losing their jobs. And some have taken to sites like Fishbowl and Reddit to voice their concerns. The thing is, nobody knows what’s going to happen. […]
Tips For Working From Home From Experts In the No-Pants Lifestyle
Hi there, Going Concern faithful. How is everyone? Hanging in there? I hope so. So look. Bramwell and I realized the other day that you guys new to regular work from home (WFH) — which is pretty much most of you — might need some tips on how to stay sane. Not that either of […]
Get Off Nintendo Switch and Earn Some CPE While You’re Working From Home
If you work for any of the 40 accounting firms we’ve confirmed are on mandatory work-from-home policies as of publication time, chances are you won’t be attending professional conferences anytime soon. Lucky for you our friends at Workiva have set up a virtual, two-day conference (that you can score CPE for attending!) that kicks off […]
Dear Summer Interns, Your Offer Is (Probably) Gonna Be OK
I’ve noticed a few “I’m supposed to do a summer internship for [insert Big 4 firm here], will Coronavirus affect my offer?” posts on Reddit lately so I figured we should probably address the issue. I apologize in advance for all the COVID-19 coverage around here, it’s the most exciting thing to happen since we […]
Busy Season Problems: COVID-19 vs. April 15, No Psychic Powers, IRS Hang-Ups
Got a busy season problem? First, put on some hand sanitizer. Then email us at [email protected] with “Busy Season Problems” in the subject line. Or you can text us at (202) 505-8885. News broke yesterday evening that the Treasury Department was seriously considering pushing back the April 15 filing deadline because of the coronavirus outbreak […]
The Coronavirus Panic Is a Perfect Opportunity to Discuss Why We Need Better Work-From-Home Policies
So I’ve been sick lately. I never get sick. In fact, I pride myself on this. I imagine it has something to do with the fact that I spent over a decade of my life in San Francisco being exposed to Lord knows what cooties live in BART seats. I am to not getting sick […]
Busy Season Problems: Sleep Deprivation, Where’s My Wallet?, Daylight Saving Time Blues
Got a busy season problem? We want to hear all about it. Email us at [email protected] with “Busy Season Problems” in the subject line. Or you can text us at (202) 505-8885. We have officially reached the point in busy season where our friends in tax are exhausted, cranky, and can’t distinguish between dreams and […]
Busy Season Problems: Quick Client Questions, Annoying Train Whistles, Autocorrect Fails
Got a busy season problem? Don’t be shy. Email us at [email protected] with “Busy Season Problems” in the subject line. Or you can text us at (202) 505-8885. It’s been exactly one month since tax season 2020 began. So let’s check in and see how busy season is treating our friends in tax so far: […]
Yes, You Can Quit During Busy Season
Nearly 10 years ago to the day (10 years and one day, specifically), my esteemed former colleague Caleb Newquist wrote a post for this here then-new website entitled Infuriating Problem of the Day: Accountants Quitting During Busy Season. It’s important to note here that Caleb is former Big 4 himself (borderline debatable given he worked […]
Just How Difficult Is It to Break Into Accounting As a Second Career?
Around these parts we like to focus on the “traditional” accounting track: school, degree, Big 4 job, CPA exam, and exit to greener pastures, usually in that order. It’s how it’s always been for accounting majors and likely how it always will be because as we know, it’s Big 4 or nothing in the world […]
Accounting Managers Apparently Have One of the Best Jobs In the U.S.
It’s that time of year again when Glassdoor extolls the virtues of being a data scientist, devops engineer, and product manager in its annual list of the 50 best jobs in America. Once upon a time, audit manager made this list, which left Adrienne scratching her head. This seems to mostly apply to industry rather […]
The First Interns of the Decade Have Officially Been Released Into the Wild
As anyone with a calendar is more than aware, it’s a new year, meaning winter internships are well underway in this little corner of the financial world. Trust that we’ll be monitoring the usual channels closer than ever on the hunt for major screw-ups, embarrassing photo ops, or, say, a highly condensed schedule of errands […]
Here Is a Chart of What You Are Doing to Piss Off Your Colleagues at Work
Take down that Bernie 2020 sign from your cubicle wall, stop streaming The Masters on your computer, put in some AirPods, and watch your language, asshole, because you’re irritating your co-workers, according to a new survey from Accountemps. The good news is your fellow accountants aren’t as annoyed by your tats, nose ring, and fuchsia […]
Here’s a Work-Life Balance Idea: Hangover Days
Over the years there has been much hand-wringing on the part of accounting firms when it comes to offering perks to retain top talent, a large chunk of which has been documented on these here pages. From flexible vacation to (ugh) ping-pong tables, entire firm departments have wasted countless hours coming up with ideas they […]
Listicle of the Day: Glassdoor’s 100 Best Places to Work In 2020
So far today, I’ve received at least three emails letting me know that Glassdoor just came out with its ranking of the 100 Best Places to Work in 2020. And for most of the day, I ignored them. But curiosity got the best of me, and I took a look at the list to see […]
Be Thankful For These Learning Resources This Thanksgiving
Hi there, you little turkeys. While you cower in the bathroom to avoid making eye contact with your creepy uncle Dan we’re here to give you some learning resources from our friends at Alteryx. Look, it beats trying to explain to your grandma for the 100th time why you became an accountant and not a […]
Listicle of the Day: Best Accounting Firms For Working Dads
If you read our article in September about the public accounting firms that made Working Mother’s 100 best companies for 2019, you could surmise that those same firms were also included in Working Mother’s list of the 50 best companies for dads. And you would be right (except for you, BDO). For its second annual […]
Here Comes the Stupid Advice For Employers on How to Attract ‘Zoomers’
Well, we knew this day would come. I mean, it was inevitable what with the oldest millennials (myself included, depending on who you ask) turning 40 soon. There was only so long The Olds could continue speaking about millennials as if they are some baffling force fueled by Cap’n Crunch and cellphone radiation, but now […]
Survey: 1 In 10 Professionals Say They Never Go to Work Sick, Are Full of Crap
I don’t know about you guys but I’ve never known a person who hasn’t come to work sick. Not that I condone it or think you should. The last thing you need is a colleague spreading germs by hacking up a lung in your face. But for one reason or another, we’ve all done it […]
How Accounting and Finance Professionals Can Use Data to Gain Superpowers
You read that right—when FP&A, accounting, tax, and audit professionals can proficiently read, work with, analyze, and argue with data, they gain superpowers. These powers give you the abilities to complete tasks with incredible speed, make decisions driven by uncanny wisdom, unleash spectacular results for clients, and ultimately gain an astonishing edge on your competitors. […]
2020 Accounting Internship Programs, Ranked
Did anyone else notice that Vault released its 2020 accounting firm rankings and accounting internship program rankings on the two biggest tax days of the year? The Vault Accounting 50 almost always comes out on April 15, and its latest ranking of the best accounting internships came out on Oct. 15. Coincidence? Probably … or […]
Get Dialed In for Busy Season 2020 with These Remote Tax Prep Jobs
Winter is coming, as is Tax Season 2020. The folks at 1-800Accountant don’t want to see tax professionals left out in the cold, not putting their tax preparation skills to good use during busy season. So, the firm is looking to hire between 40 and 50 people nationwide to fill its remote seasonal tax preparer […]
Dear Hiring Managers, Lower Your Standards or STFU About How Hard It Is To Find Top Talent
There’s a delicious rant blowing up on /r/accounting I wanted to share with you all on this fine Wednesday because A) it’s hilarious and B) I’m fairly certain a good 99% of you can relate to OP’s frustrations. Screw the pleasantries, let’s jump right in. Accounting student rant. (Soft skills, brand building, *vomit*) from r/Accounting […]
Let’s Discuss: How Often You Cry at Work
And we don’t mean crying tears of joy after you put in your two weeks at [INSERT NAME OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM HERE] because you accepted a job in industry. More than 8 in 10 workers admit to crying at work, with almost half of those saying they were driven to tears because of their […]
AICPA Report: Accounting Firms Just Aren’t Hiring Accounting Grads Like They Used To
The latest Trends in the Supply of Accounting Graduates and the Demand for Public Accounting Recruits report came out this week, and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been anxiously waiting two whole years for it. I mean, I didn’t save the date or anything, but all of us around here have been […]
The AICPA Is Getting Serious About This Protecting Your License Thing, You Guys
On the heels of a plan to evaluate licensure rules which was met by some criticism last month, the AICPA and NASBA have announced a new coalition to make sure those troublesome lawmakers of ours don’t go running around letting any idiot with a pulse perform the intricate task of professional accounting. As we already […]
Hey Accountants, We’ve Found Your Productivity Sweet Spot
You’re three sips into your grande double shot as you pull into a desolate, jet black parking lot. By the time you hear footsteps walk through your office hallway, you’re an hour deep into next week’s big project. You are Monday’s early-morning warrior—an anomaly in today’s ever-changing accounting landscape. Right? Nah, sorry. Being an early […]
TIL: There’s a Ranking of the Top 50 Construction Accounting Firms
The editors at Construction Executive must have been desperate to fill their editorial calendar for 2019 because the trade magazine just came out with its inaugural ranking of the top 50 accounting firms that provide services to construction clients. Here’s all the work Construction Executive did to come up with its first-ever accounting firm listicle: […]
Survey: Accountants Are Absolutely F*cking Miserable at Work
When we talk about the miserable working conditions in public accounting, we’re usually referring to the long hours because let’s be real, it’s low hanging fruit when it comes to complaints. One thing we haven’t spent nearly enough time discussing is another pervasive issue in the accounting workplace: shitty ass colleagues. Enter the Chartered Accountants […]
Why Growing Companies Desperately Need People With Your Accounting Background
With companies relying more on artificial intelligence and cloud-based technology, there’s been a trending doomsday buzz about the stability of the accounting profession heading into the next decade. But put down those Morpheus blinders for just a minute and take a deep breath. We’ve got some good news for you flesh-and-blood number-crunchers: Now more than […]
Get Me the F*ck Out of Here: So You Put in Your Two Weeks, Now What?
Early on in this series, we covered the first steps to take before quitting your job in public accounting. You brushed up your dusty-ass resume, connected with those obnoxious recruiters on LinkedIn you’ve been dodging since your first days in public, and gently massaged any and all connections you’ve made going back to your Accounting […]
College Students Would Rather Work at Walt Disney World Than at the Big 4
There was a time when the Big 4 used to dominate the top 10 companies in the business category of Universum’s list of the 100 most attractive employers for U.S. college students. But not so much anymore. In 2017’s ranking, only two Big 4 firms made the top 10 (EY at No. 8 and Deloitte […]
Get Me the F*ck Out of Here: The Art of Saying Goodbye to Your Crappy Old Job
As we’ve progressed in this series about quitting your terrible public accounting job and moving on to bigger and better things, I’ve looked forward to this post more than any of the others. Why? Because we have collected some funny-ass farewell emails over the years and I relish any and every opportunity to share them […]
Accounting in 2040: 4 Ways the Industry Will (Probably) Change in 20 Years
What will the accounting industry look like in 2040? Will Skynet launch a nuclear apocalypse, leaving robots to inherit Earth’s charred, radioactive remains, or will it just ruin the Terminator franchise with unnecessary and confusing reboots? Will accountants be plugged into a giant matrix, their bioelectricity used to power evil machine overlords, even though a […]
Get Me the F*ck Out of Here: Job Searching While Still on the Job
Welcome back to Get Me the Fuck Out of Here, our series on getting the hell out of your horrible public accounting job and into that greener grass on the other side. So far we’ve covered getting your resume in order and whether or not you should find a job before you leave your current […]
Experts: Kids These Days Don’t Give a Shit About Making Partner
Over the years, we’ve written countless articles mocking the paranoia constantly brewing in the accounting profession over [insert threat here]. Usually it’s robots coming to take your jobs or “something something millennials,” and although we’re happy to rip on Alex Jones fanbase-level fear over threats real, imagined, and/or exaggerated, there is often a smidge of […]
Get Me the F*ck Out of Here: To Job or Not to Job Before Leaving Your Public Accounting Job
Last week, we talked about first steps for quitting your job in public accounting. The TL;DR of it is 1) decide you’re going to leave before you do something you might regret like punching your partner in the balls, and 2) get your resume ready. Alright, so let’s assume you’re ready to leave and you […]
Escaping the Dungeon: The Hottest Accounting Jobs for Q2 2019
A lot of us at Going Concern would’ve rather been chained up in the dungeon with Tyrion Lannister instead watching last weekend’s “Game of Thrones” finale. But we’d prefer just about anything over being trapped in the figurative dungeon of boring, thankless accounting jobs. Here’s something that’s more omg-so-awesome “Breaking Bad” finale than fade-to-black “Sopranos” […]
He Made the American Dream Real: From Foreign Lands to Big 4 Auditor to a Leader at an Advisory Firm
Does your accounting job have you trapped in an accrual world? Do you ever want to ditch it all and travel down a different career path? You could go back to school to become an orthopedic surgeon, but then you’d have to re-learn the phases of mitosis. You could be an English teacher, but that […]
Get Me the F*ck Out of Here: First Steps For Quitting Your Job In Public Accounting
A year ago, our contributor Megan Lewczyk (what the hell happened to her, anyway? Megan, send a smoke signal if you’re OK) wrote a field guide to quitting your job in public accounting. Unlike many of the articles we pour our hearts and souls into around here, it was well-received, and even after all this […]
Which Big 4 Firm Is Paying Its Interns the Most?
Summer internship season is fast approaching, as thousands of bright-eyed young men and women will soon flood accounting firms all over the country, hoping to not have their wills crushed and not screw up too badly so they receive a full-time offer of employment. But what are these eager ladies and gents getting paid to […]
KPMG Gets Another Award For Being the Big 4 Firm That Is the Least Old, Male, and Pale
Did you guys see DiversityInc’s 2019 ranking of the top 50 companies for diversity? In past years, there’s been most, if not all, of the Big 4 represented. But not recently. Only one Big 4 firm made the list in 2018 and 2019, and that firm is KPMG. Maybe KPMG nearly sweeping Vault’s 2020 accounting […]
Big 4 Shut Out of Working Mother’s List of the Top 10 Companies For Multicultural Women
The Working Mother list of the top 50 companies for multicultural women came out last week, and I honestly didn’t realize this was a thing until I saw this self-congratulatory tweet from PwC while scrolling through Twitter this morning: PwC is proud to be named a 2019 @_WorkingMother_ Best Company for Multicultural Women! Learn more […]
Hiring Watch ’19: Become the Next National Taxpayer Advocate
The woman in the photo above is Nina Olson. She is the National Taxpayer Advocate. Olson has been the National Taxpayer Advocate since March 2001. But she will retire on July 31, 2019. Now you, tax guy or tax gal, can be the next National Taxpayer Advocate and write ridiculously long reports to Congress each […]
How New Accounting Grads Can Tune Up Their Diversity BS Detectors
How can CPA firms be so white and male when they’re so dedicated to diversity? Look at any firm’s career site and you’ll see a carefully written commitment to diversity. Read enough of them and you’ll soon realize that diversity statements all sound the same. The profession can’t even come up with diverse ways to […]
Survey: Accountants Want to Spend As Little Time In the Office As Humanly Possible This Summer
Here’s something that Adrienne and I are completely in agreement with: In a recent survey from staffing firm Accountemps, employees said the best summer perks their companies could provide to them are flexible schedules (52 percent) and early departure on Fridays (27 percent). But which perks are employers actually offering? Fifty-four percent of senior managers […]
Compensation Watch ’19: Highest-Paying Cities Don’t Give Accountants the Most Bang for Their Buck
Last week, we perused a report from AdvisorSmith on the 50 best U.S. cities in which accountants can pursue their careers and gave you the top 25. Two of the variables used by AdvisorSmith for its ranking were average annual accounting salaries per city and cost of living, so let’s focus on those today. Using […]
Best Cities to Find a Job and Raise Your Little Accountants
Through the years, we’ve done several “Best Cities for Accounting Jobs” articles. We think they are pretty worthwhile, especially for those of you youngins who are looking to get your foot in the door and want to live and work in the hustle and bustle of a big city. Or maybe you want to work […]
Here’s Another Article Advising Dumb-Ass Old People On How to Talk to the Youths at Work
Welcome back to another installment of “GC Shits on Legitimate Accounting Publications For Writing Stupid Advice.” I’m your host Adrienne. In today’s episode, we’re going to destroy this recent Journal of Accountancy article about how to improve cross-generational communication in a professional setting. Now that Generation Z has entered the workforce, colleagues at a single […]
The Big 4 Will Stomp On Your Creativity Like a Grape
In an interview with the Australian Financial Review, Nicola Mansfield talked about why she jumped ship from Deloitte Australia recently to become the managing director of Interbrand, a brand consulting firm owned by global advertising company Omnicom Group. Mansfield joined Deloitte in late 2015 after the Big 4 firm bought the brand and spatial design […]
Vault 2020 Firm Rankings: Forensic Accounting FTW
Happy Monday, gang. Today, we’re going to take a look at Vault’s 2020 ranking of the “Best Accounting Firms for Forensic Accounting.” We wanted to give some love to these number-crunching crime fighters who helped take down Paul Manafort and bust idiot celebrities who illegally tried to get their wannabe-celebrity children admitted into elite universities […]
Vault 2020 Firm Rankings: KPMG Is the Diversitiest of the Big 4
We’ve given KPMG a lot of shit on this site recently, and rightly so. But we’re going to throw the House of Klynveld a bone today, as there’s some good news to report: KPMG nearly swept the diversity categories in Vault’s “Best Accounting Firms” rankings. Let’s not kid ourselves, though: The accounting profession is still […]
3 Ways Millennials Changed the Accounting Industry with Technology
In the age of Instagram influencers and workplace beer gardens, millennials often get an unfair rap for communicating and working differently than their older office peers. While they may have grown up texting in lieu of talking and “dancing” with headphones at silent discos, like it or not, millennials are now the largest and most […]
Vault 2020 Firm Rankings: Culture, Leadership, Relationships with Supervisors, and Work/Life Balance
Hey, guys. Hope you all had a nice, relaxing holiday weekend. As you know, Mondays after a holiday weekend suck, especially if you hate your job. But there are accounting professionals out there who were probably champing at the bit to come to work today because they actually enjoy being there and being around their […]
Vault 2020 Firm Rankings: Benefits, Comp, Vacation, and Promotion Policies
Earlier this week, we wrote about PwC’s continued dominance on Vault’s Accounting 50 and most prestigious firm rankings. Today, we’re going to focus on four of the 18 “quality of life” rankings that fall under Vault’s latest “Best Accounting Firms to Work For” section. And these four categories are near and dear to your heart: […]
You’ll Have to Pry Vault’s ‘Most Prestigious Firm’ Title Out of PwC’s Cold, Dead Hands
A little while ago, we told you how PwC locked down the top spot in Vault’s 2020 Accounting 50—the seventh consecutive year the firm has been ranked No. 1. But believe it or not, this isn’t the longest win streak P. Dubs has going when it comes to Vault’s rankings. Even though the House of […]
PwC Once Again Tops Vault Accounting 50 (2020)
It’s one of our favorite times of the year at GC HQ when our friends at Vault put out their yearly rankings of the top accounting firms in the U.S. in several categories. But for now, we’re going to focus on the overall top 50 ranking. The No. 1 firm in the U.S. for 2020, […]
Compensation Watch ’19: Tax Professionals
Hey there, tax jockeys. How’s your Wednesday been so far? Feeling less whiny today? Good. We have some new salary data to share with you, from the folks over at Korn Ferry, that might be of interest. The management consulting firm dug deep into its pay database, did some math, punched some buttons, and came […]
This Forbes Columnist Thinks You’re All a Bunch of Whiny B*tches
If you read Forbes contributor Peter J. Reilly’s recent post entitled Advice For The Looming Tax Deadline – No Fooling, you easily could have missed the jab at the end toward all you whiny losers complaining about how hard tax season is. I could waste a lot of characters here describing it, but you know […]
Big 4 Calling On All Blockchain Nerds to Come Nerd Out At Their Firms
From CoinDesk: “Big Four” professional consulting firms Deloitte, KPMG and EY are all in the top five when it comes to posting blockchain job ads, according to new data from Indeed.com. The employment site released its latest figures for job postings relating to blockchain, cryptocurrency and bitcoin in the U.S. on Thursday, with the data covering […]