It’s more about letting them know with enough time that they can recover and rebalance the workload. Everyone knows that this is when people leave. No one blames anyone for leaving. People only get mad when they are blindsided. But everyone knows that this is the reality of public accounting
They will always be staffed out months in advance, it's just how it works, and there will always be staffing issues in public accounting. No matter what office you're in. Some are worse than others. At the end of the day, you're doing yourself and them a disservice if you feel stuck and don't like your work. If you're set on leaving, now is the time rather than in late January or early February.
You owe your firm nothing. It is understandable that you feel bad for coworkers you have personal connections with, however you are expendable to the firm, and they would drop you the moment it becomes economically advantageous for them. Don’t feel bad
I 100% agree with this. When your health is compromised due to tremendous stress, you and your family will be the one to suffer, not the firm. The firm has resources to hire more people but there is only one "you" and your health. You matter. I got sick. I left and it wasn't really my choice but bridges were burnt anyways after more than 10 years of loyalty and dedication.
“I’m leaving before busy season. I don’t want to burn any bridges. I really like the people at my firm, but I’m switching to a job with better work life balance”
I’m at 80% pay and 80% hours so that’s 44 hours during busy season (55x.8) and 30 hours off season (37.5*.8). Do I sometimes go over a few hours like the last week of filing, I have but that was on me taking on too much. Overall it pays me enough and the hours are so much better and I can still work in PA. You have to know how long long projects take and don’t take the budgeted hours as a reliable source, only say yes to projects you can take on without going over your hours, and be confident enough to set boundaries. Remember you are getting paid 20% or whatever reduction %. I realized PA should give a real weekly minimum and maximum like 52-57 TOTAL hours a week so there is transparency and will lead to less burnout. Instead of a minimum with no maximum. I understand that’s the business model of fixed salaries and maximize billable hours, but what about lost efficiency from knowledgeable people leaving every 1-2 years or people not even going into the profession due to the reputation.
Do what you have to do for your own well being. Employers wouldn't hesitate to fire you with no notice. They are not your family or friends. Just give enough notice to be professional and move to a position that is better suited for your life.
During the 2008/2009 recession, my company laid off people on March 1. The whole “No Quitting from November 1 - March 31” social contract dissolved at that point. Leave whenever you want.
I’ve never faulted or been frustrated anyone for leaving regardless of timing. It’s the nature of the business. If a partner gets salty, I blame them for staffing issues.
I was wondering the exact same thing. Looking for another role since being on a 30 Day PIP, and not convinced my efforts are being recognized.. definitely leaving right when busy season starts… don’t want to risk being fired or let go.
Just remember the second you tell them “I am leaving” you are an outsider. Show gratitude for the experiences you had, experience you obtained, and relationships you made. If you hated it, fake it. Think of everyone you talk to in the last two weeks as a potential reference for a future opportunity. Don’t try to “help them out” by giving them feedback on what they could do better.
Most firms don’t let you end your employment on PTO. This one is gonna be tricky. You are gonna have to work after the PTO. Maybe give notice right before PTO and tell them you are gonna work 2 weeks when you get back. If they think you just got the offer, then it will seem reasonable.
Luckily this is holiday break and most people will be gone anyway.
I left public mid-February a few years back. I told my managing partner that I knew the timing was not great but I needed to go. (I was leaving due to a bad manager and he knew I was struggling mentally because of it.) He told me that there was no good time to leave. Only one senior manager told me he thought it reflected badly on me to leave during busy season. Everyone else was supportive and understanding. Hearing from my partner that there is no good time to leave has stuck with me and has helped my decision making in various ways. At the end of the day, you have to do what is best for you.
I’m always happy for people because they are moving forward with there careers and that’s important. PA isn’t a long term career for everyone. Everyone understands that (at least I hope everyone does). Every single firm is short staffed. It is what it is. Clients are going to have to understand and roll with it. The good thing is, The sooner they can plan on you leaving, the easier it’ll be to manage client expectations.
Dude. As long as you don’t leave like a week before a deadline that you haven’t made any progress toward, no one is going to care. There’s no “good” time to leave.
Be genuine and help your colleagues as you transition things before you leave for your current tasks and for the jobs you were scheduled for. Provide as much notice as you can. You can tell them your personal circumstances meant that you had to leave and couldn’t wait if needed. Don’t brag about better WLB in the new role.
Even if this does burn bridges, which is unlikely, it would be with very few people. Maybe a lifer partner or SM doesn’t like it but no one else will care.
Thank you everyone for replying!! Definitely a lot of good feedback and I feel a lot more confident in my decision. Any suggestions as to when to put the two weeks notice in? I am hoping to use up any PTO before leaving since I won't be reimbursed, but I'd like to give as much advanced warning as possible.
Exactly what you said above is what you should say. While it will be rough without a key team member, no one that matters is going to hold it against you. Give them as much time as you can to transition to another resource, and please do what you can to wrap assigned work that is in progress. That is always greatly appreciated and shows you care about your team. Best of luck to you!
When someone leaves it hurts, but it’s not your problem to deal with. If you are respectful and help with transitioning anything that needs to then it’s fine. Leaving in the summer or fall does not burn bridges. Leaving in the middle of spring may do so, but there are always reasons and quite frankly it’s your career and you need to worry about yourself first.
It’s more about letting them know with enough time that they can recover and rebalance the workload. Everyone knows that this is when people leave. No one blames anyone for leaving. People only get mad when they are blindsided. But everyone knows that this is the reality of public accounting
They will always be staffed out months in advance, it's just how it works, and there will always be staffing issues in public accounting. No matter what office you're in. Some are worse than others. At the end of the day, you're doing yourself and them a disservice if you feel stuck and don't like your work. If you're set on leaving, now is the time rather than in late January or early February.
You owe your firm nothing. It is understandable that you feel bad for coworkers you have personal connections with, however you are expendable to the firm, and they would drop you the moment it becomes economically advantageous for them. Don’t feel bad
I 100% agree with this. When your health is compromised due to tremendous stress, you and your family will be the one to suffer, not the firm. The firm has resources to hire more people but there is only one "you" and your health. You matter. I got sick. I left and it wasn't really my choice but bridges were burnt anyways after more than 10 years of loyalty and dedication.
“I’m leaving before busy season. I don’t want to burn any bridges. I really like the people at my firm, but I’m switching to a job with better work life balance”
Pro
I’m at 80% pay and 80% hours so that’s 44 hours during busy season (55x.8) and 30 hours off season (37.5*.8). Do I sometimes go over a few hours like the last week of filing, I have but that was on me taking on too much. Overall it pays me enough and the hours are so much better and I can still work in PA. You have to know how long long projects take and don’t take the budgeted hours as a reliable source, only say yes to projects you can take on without going over your hours, and be confident enough to set boundaries. Remember you are getting paid 20% or whatever reduction %. I realized PA should give a real weekly minimum and maximum like 52-57 TOTAL hours a week so there is transparency and will lead to less burnout. Instead of a minimum with no maximum. I understand that’s the business model of fixed salaries and maximize billable hours, but what about lost efficiency from knowledgeable people leaving every 1-2 years or people not even going into the profession due to the reputation.
Think for yourself. The “burning bridges” is just another HR gimmick to control employees
Do what you have to do for your own well being. Employers wouldn't hesitate to fire you with no notice. They are not your family or friends.
Just give enough notice to be professional and move to a position that is better suited for your life.
During the 2008/2009 recession, my company laid off people on March 1. The whole “No Quitting from November 1 - March 31” social contract dissolved at that point. Leave whenever you want.
I was at Crowe during their layoffs. I feel like layoffs change your perspective of caring lol
I’ve never faulted or been frustrated anyone for leaving regardless of timing. It’s the nature of the business. If a partner gets salty, I blame them for staffing issues.
I was wondering the exact same thing. Looking for another role since being on a 30 Day PIP, and not convinced my efforts are being recognized.. definitely leaving right when busy season starts… don’t want to risk being fired or let go.
How did you get on a PIP? Sounds like they hope you leave.
Just remember the second you tell them “I am leaving” you are an outsider. Show gratitude for the experiences you had, experience you obtained, and relationships you made. If you hated it, fake it. Think of everyone you talk to in the last two weeks as a potential reference for a future opportunity. Don’t try to “help them out” by giving them feedback on what they could do better.
Good luck at the new gig!
Most firms don’t let you end your employment on PTO. This one is gonna be tricky. You are gonna have to work after the PTO. Maybe give notice right before PTO and tell them you are gonna work 2 weeks when you get back. If they think you just got the offer, then it will seem reasonable.
Luckily this is holiday break and most people will be gone anyway.
I left public mid-February a few years back. I told my managing partner that I knew the timing was not great but I needed to go. (I was leaving due to a bad manager and he knew I was struggling mentally because of it.) He told me that there was no good time to leave. Only one senior manager told me he thought it reflected badly on me to leave during busy season. Everyone else was supportive and understanding. Hearing from my partner that there is no good time to leave has stuck with me and has helped my decision making in various ways. At the end of the day, you have to do what is best for you.
I’m always happy for people because they are moving forward with there careers and that’s important. PA isn’t a long term career for everyone. Everyone understands that (at least I hope everyone does). Every single firm is short staffed. It is what it is. Clients are going to have to understand and roll with it. The good thing is, The sooner they can plan on you leaving, the easier it’ll be to manage client expectations.
https://youtu.be/vewkfFu8Q7I
Dude. As long as you don’t leave like a week before a deadline that you haven’t made any progress toward, no one is going to care. There’s no “good” time to leave.
Be genuine and help your colleagues as you transition things before you leave for your current tasks and for the jobs you were scheduled for. Provide as much notice as you can. You can tell them your personal circumstances meant that you had to leave and couldn’t wait if needed. Don’t brag about better WLB in the new role.
Even if this does burn bridges, which is unlikely, it would be with very few people. Maybe a lifer partner or SM doesn’t like it but no one else will care.
They'll get over it. Trust me on this
Thank you everyone for replying!! Definitely a lot of good feedback and I feel a lot more confident in my decision. Any suggestions as to when to put the two weeks notice in? I am hoping to use up any PTO before leaving since I won't be reimbursed, but I'd like to give as much advanced warning as possible.
i dont understand why you would care. audit is the worst job on earth and your decision to leave should be self explanatory
Exactly what you said above is what you should say. While it will be rough without a key team member, no one that matters is going to hold it against you. Give them as much time as you can to transition to another resource, and please do what you can to wrap assigned work that is in progress. That is always greatly appreciated and shows you care about your team. Best of luck to you!
When someone leaves it hurts, but it’s not your problem to deal with. If you are respectful and help with transitioning anything that needs to then it’s fine. Leaving in the summer or fall does not burn bridges. Leaving in the middle of spring may do so, but there are always reasons and quite frankly it’s your career and you need to worry about yourself first.
It’s much better than leaving during busy season.