Accounting Exit Opportunities

Anyone try moving overseas as their exit? I’m tempted to blow up the whole career path and take a contract role abroad. If you’ve done it, did it help your career or just delay the inevitable?

Any accountants make the switch to product management? I’m fascinated by product work but everyone I talk to says it’s impossible unless I code or have an MBA. Can you actually pivot into product from… more

I’ve been told I’m too technical for strategy roles but too strategic for accounting ones. What does that even mean? I’ve automated processes, built out forecasting models, supported business decision… more

Is consulting a good exit path? I’m being courted by a couple of advisory firms (think strategy-lite and transformation work), but part of me worries it’s just trading one flavor of burnout for anothe… more

Why does every finance job have the same title but wildly different expectations? I’ve seen Financial Analyst mean anything from hardcore modeling and business partnering to manually entering vendor i… more

I left public six months ago, and honestly… I feel unmoored. I have my nights back, my anxiety has calmed, and I can breathe again, but now I’m sitting with this weird question: do I even like finance… more

When did LinkedIn turn into a performance review? Every post I see is a humblebrag disguised as a life lesson, or a manifesto about transformational leadership and cross-functional alignment. I just w… more

Somehow, I’ve got two offers on the table. One’s a safe, standard controller role with good comp, known playbook, lots of structure. The other’s a hybrid ops/finance role at a startup where the job de… more

Thinking seriously about going the fractional route like CFO-for-hire, accounting consultant, ops fixer. I’ve got 10+ years of experience and a decent network, and honestly, I’m tired of building some… more

I feel like every time I tell a recruiter I’m open to nontraditional roles, they hear desperate and fine with a 40% pay cut. Like yes, I want something more creative, cross-functional, even weird. But… more

I work as a Senior Accounting Supervisor for a 1.5 billion co making 120k. I have 6 years of experience at Big 4 (3 audit 1 FDD) and 1.5 at Siegfried. I have been there for 3 months but quickly realiz… more

Is there such a thing as too late to leave public? I’m in my 7th year and I’m starting to feel like I stayed too long. I’ve got great experience, but it’s all under the same umbrella: audits, controls… more

Ever notice how the people who leave accounting and thrive all seem to have their narrative locked in? They go from audit manager to biz ops and suddenly they’re posting thought pieces about cross-fun… more

I keep seeing jobs for Revenue Operations and Sales Finance and I honestly have no clue what they mean. The titles sound flashy, but are they just FP&A in a cooler outfit or something totally diff… more

Interviewed for a finance role recently and the hiring manager asked if I could handle ambiguity. And I had to laugh because I’ve audited startups that ran payroll through Venmo and kept their GL in a… more

Is leaving big 4 after less than 2 busy seasons to a less than billion dollar aum Asset management firm worth it? ( raise of 17-23k plus however much the bonus would surpass my current would be bonus)… more

Has anyone heard of Blockstream? Got an onsite interview invite but their entire finance/accounting team is in Canada. Is this a good Company to join as first step out of public accounting?

Has anyone hear of Archer Aviation? Recently got invited for interview. Wondering if this is a good Company to work for.

How do you tell the difference between burnout and boredom, between needing change and needing a new direction? I’ve been working with the same clients for three years and I swear I could close their … more

After years of working on SOX controls, I want to throw my laptop every time I hear the words “internal audit.” But somehow, that’s exactly where recruiters keep funneling me. I know it’s a natural ne… more

Has anyone here actually made a successful pivot into ESG or sustainability work? I keep seeing job titles like ESG Reporting Manager and Sustainability Analyst, and it feels like a space where accoun… more

Got offered an FP&A role at a company I’d love to work for… but the base salary is way lower than what I make now. Like, 20% lower. Still, I’d finally be out of audit. I keep weighing freedom vs. … more

Is there really life after busy season? I want to believe it. I need to believe it. I can't do another one. I’m planning my exit, but I’m terrified I’ll land somewhere just as bad with fewer peopl… more

I keep seeing people land roles at cool companies like Netflix, Spotify, or some slick tech startup and I can’t help but wonder… how? Is it networking? Some secret resume format? A career coach? Sacri… more

How do you know whether you’re running from something or toward something? I’m halfway through my notice period after finally quitting public, and I thought I’d feel empowered… but now I’m panicking. … more

I’ve been in audit for four years. All one firm, mostly one industry, and I’m so ready to be done. But every recruiter keeps telling me, “Just stick it out to senior, it’ll open more doors.” I feel li… more

Anybody left as a staff 1 and is actively searching for jobs. I just want to know what the job market is like right now. They say big4 is a golden ticket but that may not be true anymore given this jo… more

Trying to switch from tax into finance, and I keep getting hit with the not the right background excuse. But I’m a CPA, I understand cash flow better than most of the people on the interview loop, and… more

I’ve been in private accounting for three years now and it’s…fine. Decent pay, stable team, nothing bad exactly. But I’m bored. The work is repetitive, the path to promotion feels glacial, and I can f… more

Do you actually need to go back to school to pivot out of accounting? I’ve been looking at strategy and corporate development roles, and it feels like every job post is screaming MBA Preferred. I’m al… more

Got a controller offer from a start-up. Salary’s solid, equity’s on the table, and I’d finally get a seat at the table. But there’s nothing in place... no close process, no GL, no accounts payable. It… more

Could use some tips and/or success stories for transitioning from public accounting to industry. Manager who has decided PA isn't for me anymore. I have been applying places the past few months an… more

Has anyone moved from audit straight to an FC role? I have been im audit for 6 years but wondering if financial controller is too big of a step up

how much effort do you put in when you know you’re quitting somewhere?

Is anyone else having a hard time figuring out what they even want next? I know I can’t do another busy season. I’ve hit the point where Sunday nights give me chest pain, but every other option just s… more

I thought about leaving Big 4 last year, even had some interviews lined up, but I got scared and stayed. I told myself I’d get one more promotion, then leave. But now I’m watching people who did leave… more

Is it me or does public kill your confidence over time? I used to feel smart, like, actually capable. Now I second-guess every email I write, and when someone says “circle back” I practically dissocia… more

When people say “you can do anything with a CPA,” do they actually mean it? Because I’ve been job hunting for three months, and all I’m getting are interviews for GL accountant or FP&A roles. Don’… more

The only reason I’m still in public is because I’m scared to lose my visa. But I’m completely fried. I’ve got no problem working long hours, but I want to feel like it matters. Instead, I’m stuck doin… more