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It’s a little oxymoronic to claim flexibility in public accounting while also acknowledging the inevitable increased workload. Let’s be honest—“flexibility” in public often amounts to managing burnout with a calendar invite.
The reality? A consistent 37–40 hour hybrid schedule in industry isn’t just perceived flexibility—it’s actual breathing room.
Chained to a desk in public? At what level was this? Once you are at a senior level even, you have a lot of flexibility. As a manager now, I set my own schedule
Public is more “flexible” because they recognize that people can’t maintain their lives and work as much as they’re required to without some flexibility. In my experience, private was “less flexible” about being on from 9-5 M-F, but that was really all that was expected of me. I never had to work ahead or confirm with my team if I’d be able to attend an event at 7pm. My boss would often walk up to my desk and chat for 30 minutes or more about random stuff and I never had to make up that time or worry about which code I’d put it to.
Industry hands down
Flexibility - definitely public. I think the use it or lose it environment in industry made more people take PTO but it wasn’t encouraged any more than public is.
Industry I have everything more than my prior PA firm. Especially talking to my coworkers now and how they are getting micromanaged to hell now. So left just in time.
No experience in industry, but I’m told all the time to take PTO and have never had any sort of negative reaction for taking it
More flexibility in public overall but in industry you can take pto at anytime vs blackout periods in public. What really matters is the team environment imo which is what I am missing in my current role. If I had the team communication, collaboration and flow of information that i had when I was in public I would be happier I think that what I am now.
I have worked at a couple of companies in industry one public and one not. Neither have had blackout pto periods and I could take pto at anytime.
In my experience, public is way more flexible overall. Outside of busy season, I can pretty much come and go whenever I want as long as stuff gets done. Inside of busy season, I have never had trouble planning PTO if it’s done well in advance. You do work a lot more in public, so that’s the trade off, but the flexibility is there.
Public accounting for sure.
Neither. The hospitality industry is brutal.
As CA in public practice, govt, industy, and an owner of a CA/ CPA firm, I had great flexibility as a contract CFO at start up enterprises. Was able to take time off to spend with my young family as vacation time, or day trips with my family, as long as the deliverables were achieved on time.
Public practice mid 4 firm, Partner boss called me in into the office every day when on annual 2wk vacation, next yr vacationed at famimy cabin in the Yukon, with no ph/ wifi access. Boss was angry. Worked out of town for three weeks, Partner said I owed 1/2 hr, for not showing up at the office after travelling home all day. So I traded the 1/2 hr for the 82hrs of chargable overtime. Started looking for a new adventure.
Govt, left the office at end of shift, no weekend, nor after hrs call-in. Went brain dead at govt so quit, and started my own firm.
Wait why did you get brain dead at govt? That sounds perfect