Moms who are accountants

I'm a recent graduate looking for an accounting position. I am a staff accountant now at a non profit and the salary is just not doing it for me. The hours are perfect 9-5 and I barely ever have to stay late. I love the job because of the hours but I hate it because of the pay. All I ever hear is if you want to make money go into public but you will have no life. I'm a very hard worker and don't mind staying late a couple nights but I do wanna see my family.Are there other places to work where I could make good money and still have time for my family ?

TIA

Re: Moms who are accountants

Both my SILs are CPAs. The one has worked for the major public accounting firms in the city. She was often able to arrange 2 days working from home but ended up leaving after her 3rd child because you really can't get work done from home. She is now the CFO at a major museum on LI. She found the job through a client. I'm probably not answering your question that much but I think networking is key. She did have to take a slight paycut going into private accounting. Her hours are great though and she can still work from home. If you can go into public maybe with a time frame that's also another idea.

Re: Moms who are accountants

I'm not a CPA but I work as an accountant for a small CPA firm. We do corporate and personal taxes. During most of the year the hours are fine - 8:30-5. And we all generally leave on time.
During tax season - sometime early Jan to April 15 our hours are extended by 10 hours a week (1.5 each Mon-Thur and 4 hours on Sat.) Every year that has pretty much been the case though there have been days where I stayed quite a bit later - usually as the deadlines got closer. This year everyone seems to be putting in much more time. So, I feel compelled to try. But I have a 4 year old and an 8 month old at home and I just don't want to leave my husband to deal with the kids by himself every night so I generally don't stay too late in the evenings, but I'll give up lunch hours and stay extra on Saturdays. I HATE this time of year!

That said, in this small firm, it's not as crazy as I understand the big ones are - and the pay I'm sure is not what you could get at somewhere larger. Even one of the women I work with now (she's the one who stays really late a lot) makes it sound like everywhere else she has worked, you do have to basically give up all your time at this time of year. The owner works crazy hours always.

I would actually love to find something with less crazy hours. I keep thinking of looking into non-profit because while I need to make decent money, I also need to keep my sanity and my family (at this point in my life) is really my priority. When I started this job, I had no kids and no plan to have kids but now that I do, I hate leaving them so much.

Re: Moms who are accountants

I'm not a mom but I"m a CPA; and all I ever think is how am I going to do tax season when I have kids. It's grueling, depending on where you work. And in my office, we have TWO tax seasons. Feb to April then we have a lot of clients who go on extension. So from mid August to October 15th we're working a lot too.

I work 6 days a week, two of them from 9 to 9. PLUS I have a small practice on the side personally and I work at home on those clients.

I really don't know how I can continue at this right. I've come to a crossroad in my personal life and I'm looking to make another life change. Potentially quitting my job, relocating and taking a slight pay cut because it's just too much.

Re: Moms who are accountants

Moms who are accountants

My BFF is public at a large firm and her hours are crazy. I honestly doesn't know how she does it. They even call her on her days off, weekends, etc. She has 2 kids too. $$ is good though.

Re: Moms who are accountants

My sister's friend was a CPA at Time Warner in NYC. She ended up working 80 hours a week, making great money. She got married and had a baby but she decided to stay at home since she knew she wouldn't be able to see her child as much as she wanted.

She said it was the best decision in her life.

I think it's a personal choice. Maybe you can stay working 9-5 but pick up side work on your own and build a clientele.

Re: Moms who are accountants

Re: Moms who are accountants

I am not a mom but I am an accountant who works for a small firm. During Tax season (Mid Jan- April) we work our normal hours except 2 days 9-7:30 and Saturdays 8-3. During the rest of the year when we work our normal hours I work 8:30-4:30 M-F. Some people in my office work 8-4 and some 9-5. I think the answer to your question is that it really depends on the firm you work for.

Re: Moms who are accountants

Re: Moms who are accountants

Not an accountant but is their the potential at your current job to make more money?

Since you just graduated you may need to "pay your dues" and work your way up to more money.

Re: Moms who are accountants

I am a CPA and work in public. I too have two busy seasons. Normal tax season and them august through oct I work a lot. I am on an 80% schedule so that I can see my kids ( I have 4). I don't ever see myself working full time in public. I find it impossible to work from home so even if it were an option, I wouldn't do it. Working both days this weekend...probably about 10 hours each day. I work for a medium size firm on Long Island so my commute is convient and so far my firm has been flexible. That can be hard to find in public.

Moms who are accountants

I am a mom of 2 and work in private. I put my dues in before I had them. I honestly would never go back to public. I make decent $ in private but I have been doing this for 10 years. Like any position your salary will grow with experience. Yes you might make more in public with more experience, but I would trade that $ for eating dinner with my family any day.

Re: Moms who are accountants

I am a mom and a cpa in public accounting for a long time. It isn't easy during busy season but the 2 firms I have worked for have been farely flexible. I have a M- Thursday schedule and Saturdays as needed. It does stink but I know my crazy time is only during Feb-April. The rest of the year I am pretty much 9-5. It is hard to get straight 9-5 jobs.
I have seen many different arrangements for working moms over the years. Also with todays technology it is easier to work more from home.

Moms who are accountants

I'm a CPA. I have a toddler at home and I am expecting twins. I did a big four CPA firm for about 3 years, then went to work for a financial services firm for 2.5 years before heading to a NFP on Long Island. The hours were insane in public and at the financial services firm.

When I got married, I decided that the money wasn't everything and left. I'm so glad that I did, especially now with a family. I personally found that not many big firms like that can offer a work/life balance. It was a good experience, and if you don't have a family yet, I would suggest putting in your time. You'll do better in the long run with some public experience.

Re: Moms who are accountants

Probably in a year I could move to senior accountant and make a little more after that there really is no where else to go. My best bet is to just keep studying for the CPA exam and stay here for now.

Re: Moms who are accountants

I do have a daughter she is 7. My hours are amazing right now I do get to come home and have dinner with my husband and daughter almost every night. Every other night is spent picking her up from dance and religion. I should really count my blessings that I am able to spend this time with her. I will just have to study study study so when I am ready to leave this non profit I will be a CPA and have more options . Thank you everyone for your advice.

Moms who are accountants

No kids, but I'm a CPA at a big 4....1) Hardly anyone who is not in senior management has kids. 2) hardly any women make it to senior management / partner 2) busy season is more like 6-7 days a week 10am to 10pm with a few 3am-4am nights towards the end. 3) money, network, potential for growth internally / externally is great 4) weight gain from eating takeout 7 nights a week is bad. I have friends in mid sized firms in the city, their work/life balance isn't much better. Either way you look at it, it's a demanding industry especially if your looking to advance.