Great video! I worked in big 4 audit for five years a few years ago. Everyone told me busy season would get easier every year as you get used to it, however, that was not the case for me. :( I found myself getting more tired every year. :(
Im at a small firm and my first busy season wasnt really that bad. I just put in 12 hour days monday-friday 8:00am-8:00pm and then saturday I would come in for like 4 hours 8:00am-12:00pm to knock out a few tax returns while I get some free coffee at the office then go snowboarding for the rest of the day at the local ski resort that is near. 65 hours was the most I did in any given week. Big 4 firms definitelly over work and underpay their employees but they can get away with it because young people think they have to go to Big 4 to have a good career which really isnt true.
@@Alpha-23 100%. You do not need to go big 4 to set yourself up for a good future but it sure can help. Opportunities for an amazing career are certainly there no matter what firm you go to. But you will increase your chances of getting noticed and getting interviews if you have spent time at a big 4.
I mean it sounds like you were working very hard but had a good attitude about it. That will set you up very well. I definitely think big 4 opens doors but it is by no means the only way to go. There are great opportunities for anyone who is smart and hard working.
@@JoeyCPA Yeah for sure Big 4 could help if you want to leave for private after a few years and are trying to get into a large company afterwards. Im thinking ill stay in public for a long time as im pretty happy with the firm im at. Given the shortage of experienced accountants now a days though I think anyone who has a CPA license and like 5-10 years of experience in any public accounting firm is going to have no problem getting noticed lol.
The hours I worked busy season were completely unacceptable. If I was getting overtime pay then maybe I would be fair but no way I would ever do that BS again
Hi Joey, i'm a guy who's currently studying accounting after working 20 years as a Diesel Mechanic. I have a permenant leg injury, so I needed to leave the trade. I'm second year right now but should have 2 bachelors degrees before i turn 43 (finance, accounting). I think you have a wonderful attitude towards this profession and hope you are rewarded. Life feels pretty strange at my age where alot of my old school colleagues are company directors etc..
Hey, thank you for that I really appreciate it. And good on you for getting back into a new career. I'm sure it feels weird but I have actually worked with multiple people who got into accounting careers a bit later on so you will not be alone and I think you will enjoy it. Good luck with it all!
Passing the CPA exams is when you study hard,if you can't study or you don't have time for your studies I'd advise you get yourself a help like Mr Dylan
I’m currently in Big 4 right now and my most recent busy season client, a 12/31, was my most stressful busy season ever. I also had to go to client site too so my days were essentially 6:30 am- 12:00am every day given my commute was about 2-3 hrs round trip. Weekends were full 8 hrs each day too. Unfortunate situation as the engagement had some issues in the last couple months. Anyhow, I think you didn’t touch up more on this but I feel that the engagement members are crucial in helping you get past the long hours and help alleviate stress as you feel that you’re not alone during the long hours. It helped me for sure as it didn’t make me go crazy during those two months and I enjoyed working with the people on my engagement team.
Dang that sounds brutal man. That's another thing I struggle to wrap my head around. Why are firms requiring people to have 2-3 hour commutes when they are already working crazy hours. I think in that case just working from home is much more beneficial (in most cases). But yes, I 100% agree. Your teammates are vital to determining how enjoyable your busy season is. They can make or break it
Thanks for your honest account (hehe) of big 4 busy seasons, working on switching careers into accounting and it is something that worries. But it seems like to me anyway enduring that busy hell for 3-4 years will in the long term have significant career benefits be it at the firm or outside of it. I could be wrong but that seems to be how it works from the outside.
i mean you definitely learn a lot and it depends on how bad your busy season is. But yes... some people would say its worth it, others would say its not lol. But I think a couple years of it isn't too bad
don't be scared! Just be ready to learn. There's a lot of weird acronyms and things that you will only learn through experience but everyone you work with will know you're just starting and understand it will take time to learn. Oh and take notes when people explain things to you. But it'll be great, don't stress!
Thank you man, really appreciate that. And yeah I do think its a good major for going abroad. It is relatively transferable as the laws and regulations are not different in other countries. It is certainly worthy major/career for getting jobs abroad.
Great video! I worked in big 4 audit for five years a few years ago. Everyone told me busy season would get easier every year as you get used to it, however, that was not the case for me.
:( I found myself getting more tired every year. :(
I understand! It does not seem sustainable, it is so much work every year
Im at a small firm and my first busy season wasnt really that bad. I just put in 12 hour days monday-friday 8:00am-8:00pm and then saturday I would come in for like 4 hours 8:00am-12:00pm to knock out a few tax returns while I get some free coffee at the office then go snowboarding for the rest of the day at the local ski resort that is near. 65 hours was the most I did in any given week. Big 4 firms definitelly over work and underpay their employees but they can get away with it because young people think they have to go to Big 4 to have a good career which really isnt true.
You don’t have to be in big 4 to have a good career, however it’s a gateway to more opportunities once you leave
@@Alpha-23 100%. You do not need to go big 4 to set yourself up for a good future but it sure can help. Opportunities for an amazing career are certainly there no matter what firm you go to. But you will increase your chances of getting noticed and getting interviews if you have spent time at a big 4.
I mean it sounds like you were working very hard but had a good attitude about it. That will set you up very well. I definitely think big 4 opens doors but it is by no means the only way to go. There are great opportunities for anyone who is smart and hard working.
@@JoeyCPA Yeah for sure Big 4 could help if you want to leave for private after a few years and are trying to get into a large company afterwards. Im thinking ill stay in public for a long time as im pretty happy with the firm im at. Given the shortage of experienced accountants now a days though I think anyone who has a CPA license and like 5-10 years of experience in any public accounting firm is going to have no problem getting noticed lol.
you get overtime right?
The hours I worked busy season were completely unacceptable. If I was getting overtime pay then maybe I would be fair but no way I would ever do that BS again
yeah i agree, i dont know how they expect people to do that year after year
Hi Joey, i'm a guy who's currently studying accounting after working 20 years as a Diesel Mechanic. I have a permenant leg injury, so I needed to leave the trade. I'm second year right now but should have 2 bachelors degrees before i turn 43 (finance, accounting). I think you have a wonderful attitude towards this profession and hope you are rewarded. Life feels pretty strange at my age where alot of my old school colleagues are company directors etc..
Hey, thank you for that I really appreciate it. And good on you for getting back into a new career. I'm sure it feels weird but I have actually worked with multiple people who got into accounting careers a bit later on so you will not be alone and I think you will enjoy it. Good luck with it all!
Make sure you get an internship and network
I changed careers when I was 35. I'm a CPA now.
Passing the CPA exams is when you study hard,if you can't study or you don't have time for your studies I'd advise you get yourself a help like Mr Dylan
People keep talking about Dylan all over
UA-cam,he must be a very awesome help
I’m currently in Big 4 right now and my most recent busy season client, a 12/31, was my most stressful busy season ever. I also had to go to client site too so my days were essentially 6:30 am- 12:00am every day given my commute was about 2-3 hrs round trip. Weekends were full 8 hrs each day too. Unfortunate situation as the engagement had some issues in the last couple months. Anyhow, I think you didn’t touch up more on this but I feel that the engagement members are crucial in helping you get past the long hours and help alleviate stress as you feel that you’re not alone during the long hours. It helped me for sure as it didn’t make me go crazy during those two months and I enjoyed working with the people on my engagement team.
why don’t you just go into industry or government??
Dang that sounds brutal man. That's another thing I struggle to wrap my head around. Why are firms requiring people to have 2-3 hour commutes when they are already working crazy hours. I think in that case just working from home is much more beneficial (in most cases). But yes, I 100% agree. Your teammates are vital to determining how enjoyable your busy season is. They can make or break it
Thanks for your honest account (hehe) of big 4 busy seasons, working on switching careers into accounting and it is something that worries. But it seems like to me anyway enduring that busy hell for 3-4 years will in the long term have significant career benefits be it at the firm or outside of it. I could be wrong but that seems to be how it works from the outside.
i mean you definitely learn a lot and it depends on how bad your busy season is. But yes... some people would say its worth it, others would say its not lol. But I think a couple years of it isn't too bad
This is great advice.
thank you so much!
I am soon going to work in audit any advice plz? I’m scared
don't be scared! Just be ready to learn. There's a lot of weird acronyms and things that you will only learn through experience but everyone you work with will know you're just starting and understand it will take time to learn. Oh and take notes when people explain things to you. But it'll be great, don't stress!
Bro needs more credit great vids quick question I know you work in the USA, but do you think accounting would be a good major for going abroad
Thank you man, really appreciate that. And yeah I do think its a good major for going abroad. It is relatively transferable as the laws and regulations are not different in other countries. It is certainly worthy major/career for getting jobs abroad.
They pay overtime in your country?
no unfortunately not. At least not at the places ive worked. Some places will.
Can you make a video about how you studied for the cpa exams
Yes! I'll definitely make that video.
Busy season sounds intense. What's the rest of the year like?
it's not bad, pretty manageable. Relatively normal hours; 9-6ish
Audit or tax?
audit
that haircut.. my God
oh god whats wrong w it?? It looks bad?
@@JoeyCPA no lol, its worth a billion