I can feel Darren's history in my bones when he says "I realized I wasn't happy there." I've made a job change in the past based on pure contentment and I do not regret it whatsoever. Your job is like 1/3rd or more of your daily life, so it has to enhance that life in as many ways as possible.
Very informative. I waste several years out of college simply because I didn't have information like this. I finally get started on my career this year and been rather bothered by the lack of information. Thank you very much. Didn't think that you would put this on top, lol, so I might as well add some additional items since people may probably read this. As Haven and Darren mentioned there are a lot of positions that are connecting to accounting. Audit, focus on Finacial, and Tax are the two main positions in "public accounting." Accounting fields are much larger than one would think, "private accounting" can also include Cost Accounting and Internal Audit, focus on Operation. On the "government accounting" can also include Government Audit, focus on Compliance, and Investigation. There are also many industry-specific accounting field roles, like an assessor for insurance, an actuary for analysis, and forensic for court, etc. Not to mention, there are thousands of roles and situations for 3 main, "public, private and government." The bottom line is if you an accounting student. Don't be afraid to explore your option, not just at the Big 4. You are in a good position for your future.
It is nice to see accountants who are POC represented on youtube. I hear you on the struggles with acronyms and big 4 life. I went the small firm route and now am investigating industry life, but feel that after 5 years I am pigeonholed into public.
LOVED this!!! I am graduating with my bachelors in Accounting now in December & starting my masters of accounting in January so it’s nice to hear what peoples experience has been. Thank you!!!!
I remember watching ur videos two years ago when I was still at community college unsure of where I wanted to go next. Fast forward to today and I start my internship at KPMG in two months! Keep up the work! Your vids are like a long term investment I swear lol. And to anyone watching this thinking if they can do accounting, DO IT. You’ll thank yourself later
I'm from Gaffney SC and I graduate with my a double major in finance and accounting in 2weeks! It means a lot to see someone who is from my state and looks like me thriving! Thank you so much.
This really speaks to me. I started my journey with the exam two years ago and failed two parts. Now, I am going to take FAR in mid Dec. Thanks for these videos! They are super motivational!
Such an awesome video Heaven & Darren! It's amazing how you can still have a great career without obtaining a CPA license. Never thought about employment with The Fed or federal government but I'm def going to look into it now. Thank you both 🙂
Darren! I feel you on the acronyms! I’m also a federal government employee, and it’s a struggle to remember every darn acronym. It doesn’t help that each section of my agency uses similar acronyms to mean different things.
Loved this video. I’ve been watching your videos for awhile and I finally subscribed to your channel. This video was informative and helpful. I started in industry accounting and I felt this was the only route for me. I love what I do but I’m not happy at my job. Hearing Darren experiences encourage me to start my job hunt instate and out of state. I love that he didn’t get discourage and kept looking for other accounting roles that will take him. I’m in the same situation where I applied for a certain role and it doesn’t work out for me. So it was nice to hear someone else had that same experience. Heaven your videos are always fun and real.
Loved the video discussion of different aspects of different accounting positions! I’m also from SC like Darren. My hometown is a little over an hour from Greenville, SC.
My path is rather weird, started with a midsize doing audit. Then to a fund admin. Then to a fund work in accounting and operation (middle office). Now, transitioning to the deal team.
Loved the video. Im starting audit internship in January (busy season) and your videos really help me know what to expect. The pay is Awesome for interns!!!
Loved the discussion. I'm in Australia and originally studied GAAP then had to go through the process to convert to IFRS. Also worked for USA based organization. So had to create reports in IFRS and then reverse entry and re-calc for USGAAP. Was audited by Australian as well as US auditors from the big 4. As AC/DC once said, 16 years in hell :-)
Currently working at a small (Mom & Pop) firm. Have about a year and a half under my belt with a Bachelors. Doing personal and business taxes, book keeping, payroll and all associated taxes, sales tax and the like. They have me helping on audits too. Thanks for giving me an idea of what is out there. When Darren was talking about pay, was that hourly pay, or wages for the year? I know I like tax and not so much audit. I figure I would need a CPA or EA to advance with taxes. Not really looking forward to studying for the CPA 😅. I do feel happy helping people with their taxes. Auditing is... different.
Darren was talking about annual salary. You can do a lot with tax! It's a wider range of work than auditing and you can go out on your own with enough experience; you're not as limited. You may have to consider getting your EA though. But you may not have to!
I’m getting a degree in accounting right now and it is soooo much information 😭. I worry about how much I’m really learning and I’m worried about applying for jobs next spring. I know I don’t want to do cost or public accounting.
Don't worry at all about retaining the information you're learning in school. You absolutely will retain way more than you think you will. And you will be trained to do whichever job you'll have. And you'll understand this better once you start working, but the stuff you learn in school is only to get an interview for a job, it only goes so far. Practical work in accounting will all be learned as you do it. Haha so don't worry at all, just get that degree! :)
Non accounting undergrad. Gaining MBA with accounting emphasis. I want to be in accounting but have zero desire to go after CPA. What options/fields of accounting are there long term or most fitting?
Most full time accounting roles will require a bachelors in accounting, but there are many industry accounting positions that may consider an accounting emphasis. Someone who works in payroll, accounts payable, something like that. But I'm no professional! That's just what I've seen.
Very informative and thoughtful video, Heaven and Darren. I had not heard from the perspective of a cost accountant or a Federal Reserve accountant. One question for Darren: Were you able to figure out what the tax employers expected from the people applying to work for them? I ask because I'm interested in tax and trying to apply for a job/internship in tax. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
I worked a few months as an ASA (assistant state auditor) and it BLEW. Also, I didn't know govt accounting is so different so that's on me. The office I left had very high turnover. And our former state auditor was a crook. Prosecuted and all. Oh brother!
Hey Heavan, this video is literally fascinating to those planning to map out their career in acconting. However, I'd like to ask a question if it works for you. Now, I'm a senior student and do you suggest me getting the hang of any software for accounting staff? I appreciate your help!
Thanks for the insight into the fed. I probably wouldn't go back to state but would definitely consider fed. How did you find the fed job? Just applied online or heard about through this or that?
hey Heaven And Darren , You both made this video amzing informative , pay scale is very good and we can beluve because this information is from your videos , really really reliable source. I got question , can you help me understand ? (1)I am doing M.com (2)Than i should study CPA and pass exam (3)?? (4)?? is intership compulsory before CPA Licence ? can i come to US or should i come to US for Intership ? how can i come to US , After intership/After Licence ? Plzzz help me Heaven and Darren.
I have a bachelor in accounting and am working at a manufacturing company, because that's the only company that call me. How and where do most accountants apply for jobs? I've only been using indeed, where else do accountants apply on, accounting Temps?
For a starter job out of college, the career fairs and meet the firms events are most beneficial for networking and meeting employers - for accounting. Friends of mine have since changed jobs and worked for clients, friends, or through other people they have met while working at the last job. Indeed is good to find any job listing out there but a lot of positions are first publicized internally or first mentioned to someone they have an idea to fill it with; before it gets announced to the public of its vacancy.
@@HeavensAudventure so since I don't know many people, would you recommend going through a temp agency? If feel like it will take forever, but go to each individual company's website and fill out an application?
@@dennychow943 I have a friend that landed a pretty sweet industry job through a temp agency but he had a rough time moving from place to place - but every person is different. You may enjoy it and could find a great place to work!
I started at a small to mid sized CPA firm in October 2016 in MN with a salary of $52,500 + $~400 bonus for goals (only bonus received as they canceled it for anyone under a manager). This job required ~2,268 hours per year and around 1,600-1,800 billable hours per year. I did work more than that throughout the year but only worked up to maybe 65 hours for a couple weeks out of each year (auditing governmental entities). Increases were: Sep 2017 $55,000 ~4% increase Sep 2018 $57,500 ~4.5% increase Sep 2019 $62,000 (promoted to Senior) ~7.8% increase Sep 2020 $64,000 ~3.2% increase (If it was hourly pay, this would equate to ~$26.56/hour) I left in December 2020 and switched to a Senior Accountant position at a governmental entity. I made $90,900 or $43.70/hour (~42% increase) in 2021, after health and dental insurance was paid for. In 2022, I will end with $96,500+ and 2023 should be $104,700 before the inflation factor (COLA Adjustment) to be determined in a couple of months (December 2022). Please note, this is with 40 hours a week year round!! So glad I left busy season behind. I do not have my CPA either. I am never stressed and have 2 positions to jump up to above me potentially (or I could jump ship to another place that does the same exact accounting and move into a higher paying position, even if it's in a different state). Top salaries in the MN area are around $170k, although those positions come with more stress and political issues. I have a friend at a different CPA firm who earned ~$110k in 2021 after bonus as a Senior/Supervisor but also put in ~2,800 hours...so his hourly pay would be about $34.81/hour. In my opinion, it is worth starting off at a CPA firm but only stay if you plan to become a partner where you can make $150k to ...$600k+? But you will also have to work super long hours still. Depends on how much time you are willing to give up for the pay you receive. Thought I would share my experience anyway! Hope it helps someone.
I can feel Darren's history in my bones when he says "I realized I wasn't happy there." I've made a job change in the past based on pure contentment and I do not regret it whatsoever. Your job is like 1/3rd or more of your daily life, so it has to enhance that life in as many ways as possible.
Absolutely!
@D R you should go back
Very informative. I waste several years out of college simply because I didn't have information like this. I finally get started on my career this year and been rather bothered by the lack of information. Thank you very much.
Didn't think that you would put this on top, lol, so I might as well add some additional items since people may probably read this.
As Haven and Darren mentioned there are a lot of positions that are connecting to accounting. Audit, focus on Finacial, and Tax are the two main positions in "public accounting." Accounting fields are much larger than one would think, "private accounting" can also include Cost Accounting and Internal Audit, focus on Operation. On the "government accounting" can also include Government Audit, focus on Compliance, and Investigation. There are also many industry-specific accounting field roles, like an assessor for insurance, an actuary for analysis, and forensic for court, etc. Not to mention, there are thousands of roles and situations for 3 main, "public, private and government."
The bottom line is if you an accounting student. Don't be afraid to explore your option, not just at the Big 4. You are in a good position for your future.
This was so helpful! Thanks for the info!
It is nice to see accountants who are POC represented on youtube. I hear you on the struggles with acronyms and big 4 life. I went the small firm route and now am investigating industry life, but feel that after 5 years I am pigeonholed into public.
LOVED this!!! I am graduating with my bachelors in Accounting now in December & starting my masters of accounting in January so it’s nice to hear what peoples experience has been. Thank you!!!!
Me too same situation. Still trying to decide on a grad program. There's so many and wondering if I should prioritize cost over reputation
@@Seancarter2010 that’s how I felt!!! I feel that a lot of people don’t go to grad school after so it’s really hard to hear people’s experiences
@@Seancarter2010 if you're doing public, the school doesn't really matter. It's about your experience and personality
I remember watching ur videos two years ago when I was still at community college unsure of where I wanted to go next. Fast forward to today and I start my internship at KPMG in two months!
Keep up the work! Your vids are like a long term investment I swear lol. And to anyone watching this thinking if they can do accounting, DO IT. You’ll thank yourself later
I'm from Gaffney SC and I graduate with my a double major in finance and accounting in 2weeks! It means a lot to see someone who is from my state and looks like me thriving! Thank you so much.
He was an awesome guest. You both should do more videos together, giving us career insight.
This really speaks to me. I started my journey with the exam two years ago and failed two parts. Now, I am going to take FAR in mid Dec. Thanks for these videos! They are super motivational!
Good luck with FAR! Don't let the exams beat you down, they're brutal but you'll get through it!
Such an awesome video Heaven & Darren! It's amazing how you can still have a great career without obtaining a CPA license. Never thought about employment with The Fed or federal government but I'm def going to look into it now. Thank you both 🙂
Darren! I feel you on the acronyms! I’m also a federal government employee, and it’s a struggle to remember every darn acronym. It doesn’t help that each section of my agency uses similar acronyms to mean different things.
really enjoyed the vid! very informative and transparent. Keep it up Heaven and Darren! 👍🏾
❤️
Loved this video. I’ve been watching your videos for awhile and I finally subscribed to your channel. This video was informative and helpful. I started in industry accounting and I felt this was the only route for me. I love what I do but I’m not happy at my job. Hearing Darren experiences encourage me to start my job hunt instate and out of state. I love that he didn’t get discourage and kept looking for other accounting roles that will take him. I’m in the same situation where I applied for a certain role and it doesn’t work out for me. So it was nice to hear someone else had that same experience. Heaven your videos are always fun and real.
Loved the video discussion of different aspects of different accounting positions! I’m also from SC like Darren. My hometown is a little over an hour from Greenville, SC.
Holy $#!+ That’s why I’m struggling with my job and the cpa. I love to socialize and I hate being secluded.
It’s awesome to have a great friend like Him ☺️
My path is rather weird, started with a midsize doing audit. Then to a fund admin. Then to a fund work in accounting and operation (middle office). Now, transitioning to the deal team.
Loved the video. Im starting audit internship in January (busy season) and your videos really help me know what to expect. The pay is Awesome for interns!!!
Loved this 😂 more of these types of videos please Miss Muncy 🎉🎉🎉
Love Daren's energy. Doing my ACCA. Wish me luck 🤞
I definitely think I am going to apply for state audit when I move to Nashville in a few years!!
"Okay, so here's my nine month plan." 😂😂 I love this video so much.
This video was so insightful and entertaining!!! Thank you :)
I enjoyed watching the video! I love how candid both of you are!
This was such a helpful video. Also you guys are great to listen too!
thank you, I’m glad you found it helpful!
Loved the vid! Thank you so much for taking the time to make these 😊
Loved the discussion. I'm in Australia and originally studied GAAP then had to go through the process to convert to IFRS. Also worked for USA based organization. So had to create reports in IFRS and then reverse entry and re-calc for USGAAP. Was audited by Australian as well as US auditors from the big 4. As AC/DC once said, 16 years in hell :-)
Currently working at a small (Mom & Pop) firm. Have about a year and a half under my belt with a Bachelors.
Doing personal and business taxes, book keeping, payroll and all associated taxes, sales tax and the like. They have me helping on audits too. Thanks for giving me an idea of what is out there.
When Darren was talking about pay, was that hourly pay, or wages for the year? I know I like tax and not so much audit. I figure I would need a CPA or EA to advance with taxes. Not really looking forward to studying for the CPA 😅. I do feel happy helping people with their taxes. Auditing is... different.
Darren was talking about annual salary. You can do a lot with tax! It's a wider range of work than auditing and you can go out on your own with enough experience; you're not as limited. You may have to consider getting your EA though. But you may not have to!
Awesome! Thank you so much for the info guys.
Great video
Great video as usual!
Good insight. Enjoyed the content. Keep it up
Nice Vlog...Little I know that some Feds are exempt from standards 🤔...South Carolina, hmmm, can wait to see you someday and my Tucker Family..
I like audit. However, I often have bad memories with auditors. But Darren seems like a great guy to work with
I love y’all accents 🥰🥰
Thanks for this video :)!
I’m getting a degree in accounting right now and it is soooo much information 😭. I worry about how much I’m really learning and I’m worried about applying for jobs next spring. I know I don’t want to do cost or public accounting.
Don't worry at all about retaining the information you're learning in school. You absolutely will retain way more than you think you will. And you will be trained to do whichever job you'll have. And you'll understand this better once you start working, but the stuff you learn in school is only to get an interview for a job, it only goes so far. Practical work in accounting will all be learned as you do it. Haha so don't worry at all, just get that degree! :)
@@HeavensAudventure Thank you so much for your encouraging words. You’ve put me in a good headspace before my accounting classes today. ❤️
@@ambergr46 good luck! I remember being in your shoes and trust me when I say not to worry about remembering anything!
I spent the last four years in nonprofit and I'm starting my first for profit cost accounting job at the end of December I'm so nervous
How exciting! You’ll do fine, I know it doesn’t help to say don’t be nervous haha but you’ll get more comfortable with each day on the job. Good luck!
Oh wow, glad to know the CPA is hard and it takes time!
It is a JOURNEY 😂
I loved this video!
Super informative! Thank you :)
Daaaaamn she has beautiful voice....🤩🤩🤩
Great insight!
Non accounting undergrad. Gaining MBA with accounting emphasis. I want to be in accounting but have zero desire to go after CPA. What options/fields of accounting are there long term or most fitting?
Most full time accounting roles will require a bachelors in accounting, but there are many industry accounting positions that may consider an accounting emphasis. Someone who works in payroll, accounts payable, something like that. But I'm no professional! That's just what I've seen.
So you can move to financial analysis being a cost accountant? How long did it take for you to bump to the highest salary in Fed?
Great video I’ll sit for Far next month.
Good luck!!
Very informative and thoughtful video, Heaven and Darren. I had not heard from the perspective of a cost accountant or a Federal Reserve accountant.
One question for Darren: Were you able to figure out what the tax employers expected from the people applying to work for them?
I ask because I'm interested in tax and trying to apply for a job/internship in tax. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
This was a really good video
Thanks! I hope it was helpful
Curious about these fed jobs, can you provide more information? I am working at a big four and am looking for a exit opportunity.
I worked a few months as an ASA (assistant state auditor) and it BLEW. Also, I didn't know govt accounting is so different so that's on me. The office I left had very high turnover. And our former state auditor was a crook. Prosecuted and all. Oh brother!
Love your interview with our collegues that was very true in terms of the government. Hope one day we can do collab (",) #philippines
Will AI replace accountants?
I need a friend like Darren :)
Hey Heavan, this video is literally fascinating to those planning to map out their career in acconting. However, I'd like to ask a question if it works for you. Now, I'm a senior student and do you suggest me getting the hang of any software for accounting staff? I appreciate your help!
What is means the word that your friend said in which is: the Fed?
The Federal government here in the U.S
Thanks for the insight into the fed. I probably wouldn't go back to state but would definitely consider fed. How did you find the fed job? Just applied online or heard about through this or that?
Wow I’m from knox and go to etsu
I enjoyed watching this video lol
Good to hear!
Heaven, where do I send my resume? I graduate this semester, fingers crossed, what's rent like, lmao
haha our office website is comptroller.tn.gov you can find all the information there, good luck!
@@HeavensAudventure ilu 🥰
hey Heaven And Darren , You both made this video amzing informative , pay scale is very good and we can beluve because this information is from your videos , really really reliable source.
I got question , can you help me understand ?
(1)I am doing M.com
(2)Than i should study CPA and pass exam
(3)??
(4)??
is intership compulsory before CPA Licence ?
can i come to US or should i come to US for Intership ?
how can i come to US , After intership/After Licence ?
Plzzz help me Heaven and Darren.
@Darren Rector Thank You Darren , i got you point , thanks lot Darren 😊😊
Hey! Which country are you from? I read M.Com so I’m assuming India?
@@niharikasharma7115 hahahah yes , i am from India , As your name is Niharika , you are too from India , Right !😀😀
I have a bachelor in accounting and am working at a manufacturing company, because that's the only company that call me. How and where do most accountants apply for jobs? I've only been using indeed, where else do accountants apply on, accounting Temps?
For a starter job out of college, the career fairs and meet the firms events are most beneficial for networking and meeting employers - for accounting. Friends of mine have since changed jobs and worked for clients, friends, or through other people they have met while working at the last job. Indeed is good to find any job listing out there but a lot of positions are first publicized internally or first mentioned to someone they have an idea to fill it with; before it gets announced to the public of its vacancy.
@@HeavensAudventure so since I don't know many people, would you recommend going through a temp agency? If feel like it will take forever, but go to each individual company's website and fill out an application?
@@dennychow943 I have a friend that landed a pretty sweet industry job through a temp agency but he had a rough time moving from place to place - but every person is different. You may enjoy it and could find a great place to work!
I dont like audit or accounting.
Finance business partnering is the real deal
I started at a small to mid sized CPA firm in October 2016 in MN with a salary of $52,500 + $~400 bonus for goals (only bonus received as they canceled it for anyone under a manager). This job required ~2,268 hours per year and around 1,600-1,800 billable hours per year. I did work more than that throughout the year but only worked up to maybe 65 hours for a couple weeks out of each year (auditing governmental entities).
Increases were:
Sep 2017 $55,000 ~4% increase
Sep 2018 $57,500 ~4.5% increase
Sep 2019 $62,000 (promoted to Senior) ~7.8% increase
Sep 2020 $64,000 ~3.2% increase (If it was hourly pay, this would equate to ~$26.56/hour)
I left in December 2020 and switched to a Senior Accountant position at a governmental entity. I made $90,900 or $43.70/hour (~42% increase) in 2021, after health and dental insurance was paid for. In 2022, I will end with $96,500+ and 2023 should be $104,700 before the inflation factor (COLA Adjustment) to be determined in a couple of months (December 2022). Please note, this is with 40 hours a week year round!! So glad I left busy season behind. I do not have my CPA either. I am never stressed and have 2 positions to jump up to above me potentially (or I could jump ship to another place that does the same exact accounting and move into a higher paying position, even if it's in a different state). Top salaries in the MN area are around $170k, although those positions come with more stress and political issues.
I have a friend at a different CPA firm who earned ~$110k in 2021 after bonus as a Senior/Supervisor but also put in ~2,800 hours...so his hourly pay would be about $34.81/hour.
In my opinion, it is worth starting off at a CPA firm but only stay if you plan to become a partner where you can make $150k to ...$600k+? But you will also have to work super long hours still. Depends on how much time you are willing to give up for the pay you receive. Thought I would share my experience anyway! Hope it helps someone.