Related Posts
How is IBM for Full Stack Java developer role?
More Posts
Mentor
WPF merging with Alight Solutions!
Any book recommendations?
Additional Posts in Accounting
Anyone else on the bench now?
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Lots of opportunities for tax advisory but not til you know enough about tax compliance.
My advice would be to focus on figuring out what you actually want to do. You say something “more consulting related”? That sounds pretty nebulous to me. Don’t go into audit just because it’s an easy transition - and don’t just take another job because it’s not tax. People spend way too much time on these boards focused on easy transitions / “exit ops”and not on the hard questions around what you actually want to do.
Switch to audit, there is always high demand for staff in audit.
You can also reach out to heads of advisory team you would like to join and express your interests. This is a proven effective way to transfer among service lines.
Glad you realized early that you need to get out of tax, which seems like something you don't want to do long term.
Best of luck!
I recently tried switching service lines (audit to risk assurance); things can happen very quickly, you only need to ask.
My experience is the firm did not want me to fully transfer out due to expecting me to return on my engagements the following year for busy season. As such, I am currently doing a rotation instead. This very much ticked me off since I was unassigned for the summer and asked 9 months before next busy season, but I am getting a sneak peak to see if I'll like this service line at least.
My advice: bring it up to your counselor. Be honest about not wanting a future in tax, and be prepared to answer why. Don't be negative about things such as hours or people, show them this is a well thought out idea and you are focused on remaining with the firm long term. Stay positive and talk about what you're looking for and what interests you in whatever you want to transfer to, not what you dislike about tax. Inter company interviews with partners (on both sides) will ask questions like this. Good luck!
Thanks everyone for your thoughtful responses - and Manager 1, you’re right, I do need to figure out what I really want to do. I never had time to think about that while in the accounting pipeline so this is all new to me. I actually am pretty good at my job, just kind of over rolling from deadline to deadline and from fire to fire. I need a better work-life balance and all the people in consulting that I know have a much more normal work schedule so that’s why i threw that out there.
I left tax for a consulting firm. You just need to be able to explain why you want to leave tax and what kind of stuff you learned from tax that would make it a good transition.
Switch to advisory if you want $$$ and better things to put on your resume
Switch to audit?
I have seen a number of people jump from audit to tax and vice versa. If you feel that tax is not for you, I am sure there are plenty of other opportunities as long as your past performance has been decent. Don’t give up just yet - talk to your counselor.
Switch to tax technology if you want to do technology consulting in future
It’s easier said than done
Also, don’t think there won’t be deadlines in consulting. Plus, be willing to travel constantly.
I do tax consulting as a staff 1 in the DSG.