Tax/audit partners in big 4 and other large midsize firms. What do you say when other people (outside of accounting) ask you what you do? Surely you don’t say “accountant” and deal with their snide judgement. But I would also assume you don’t say “business owner” considering you don’t really own the business and make the judgement calls.

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Wealth whispers

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Don't really care what they think. At least I have a job that pays well , why does it matter?

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CPA

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“Partner in a professional services firm” is my go to if I’m talking to someone outside of the business / Finance industry. “Tax Partner at PwC” if I’m talking to anyone a bit more familiar with the industry.

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At the time P1 posted it was the most helpful by actually answering the question. Then other partners started answering as well

Who cares if other people judge you for saying accountant 😂

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It’s much worse when a person tries to allude to how wealthy they are unprompted. I’d much rather find out later my new accountant friend is a partner than they tell me at a party about their job title and lake house.

smart

I rarely even tell people I’m a partner. I usually just say “tax consultant”.

likefunny

Fair answers.

If someone judges you for being a Partner in any firm with over 30 Billion in Revenue they’re probably not worth impressing 😂

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Honestly if you really want to get to know someone see how they treat you when you say you're a janitor. Don't expect to be treated special for your income level.

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I say “I’m an accountant.” Not sure why you care so much what others think, OP. If they’re going to judge you, so be it.

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Exactly. Just means they won’t get invited to the beach house!

likefunnyuplifting

I would assume they say they work in whatever industry they serve. Ex. A tax partner who serve clients in private equity/hedge would say they work in financial services.

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You might want to with stupid questions like that

whenever my mom meets new friends of mine she tells them shes an accountant. I think she tells everyone shes an accountant. I like that better than saying shes a tax partner. i also tell people shes an accountant :)

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My answer has been, and always will be, “I’m an accountant”. If they have a problem with that, then that’s their problem.

CPA unless they are in finance or law.

Honestly. Most people don’t REALLY care what you do. It’s just a formality. I say I work for an accounting firm and move on. Never a follow-up cause people don’t care. Not even jokes about me doing their taxes (I’m not a CPA).

I just say accountant. Not really a big deal if you ask me. I'm making money doing this so I just love doing my job

Partners in these firms typically are accountants, though. Saying accountant would be telling the truth. Why would that be the wrong thing to do?

It wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. If a doctor has a multimillion dollar house, no one bats an eye. If a janitor did, then people might question it. Same analogy can be made for a general accountant (who’s most likely making $80k-250k) vs partner at a b4 (who’s most likely making $400k-1m). Just wanted to see if partners say something different when the convo comes up.

When somebody asks me what I do, I just tell them I count other people's money and I get 3% of all the money I count. Lol. Actually, no one have ever asked me about it yet. But I don't mind telling them the truth. It's a decent job that only a degree holder can have.

I usually say I’m a tax accountant, partner in a public accounting firm, or “I find creative (but legal) ways to save rich people money.”

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