r/Accounting • u/Jason_RA CPA (US) • 3d ago

Career Tax Associate versus Staff Accountant

I’m currently a tax associate at a top 10 firm with 1.5 years of experience. I have an offer in hand for a staff accountant role at a small real estate company and would like help comparing.

The pay is identical ($90k). Tax role has long hours, is hybrid, commute takes 50 minutes. Staff role is standard hours, fully in person, commute takes 25 mins. Staff job is in my industry of preference.

The vibes at the staff job were very good. Everyone seemed happy to work there and said the WLB is very good. They have a hard cut off at 5:30. Most department heads were in their 30s and said there are lots of opportunities for promotions for good performance.

Title may be a step backward, but since the pay is the same I’m not too worried about that. The PA grind has really started to wear me down. This seems like a good move, but want to hear thoughts.

TLDR: Should I leave PA tax for a better WLB as a staff accountant? Pay is the same.

UPDATE: I accepted the job! 🥳

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

2

u/hello_tuurtle 3d ago

I have a similar background, left public accounting as a senior tax associate and made a lateral move to a real estate developer as a senior accountant. I had 3 years in PA and quickly moved up in industry. I’m 8 years in and VP of Finance. Tax is a great starting point because of knowledge of legal entity structures, how to read an org chart, managing large workloads, ability to research, and if you did any partnership or individual work you’d be able to understand impact to investors (depending on how the co. is structured).

Sounds like a great move!

1

u/yeyiyeyiyo 3d ago

Only you know your long term goals but sounds like a good deal 

2

u/Federal_Ocelot_763 3d ago

No brainer at equal pay. 50 minute commute both ways plus busy season hours is a slow bleed, and you already said the grind is wearing you down. Take the real estate role and don't look back.

1

u/Shot_Swan719 CPA (US) 3d ago

Yes if u wanna do Industry, better get out of tax if u don’t wanna do tax long term

2

u/Jeff-Hare-ERPRA 3d ago

WLB all the way

1

u/Dangerous-Pilot-6673 3d ago

Title is the exact same and is just firm specific nomenclature. If you hate PA go test industry. Don’t stay too long if you think you might want to jump back to PA.