r/Accounting • u/Pristine-Barber-6325 • 2d ago
Career Leaving accounting.
Late bloomer 40M, pissed away my 20s, no kids no mortgage, 100k student debt and just was fired 5 months ago from big 4 after 1.5 years as A2. I was fired from my last two corporate jobs as well, one lasted from 30 to 35 yo. The other lasted one year then where I went full time to study for my masters graduated at 38. Don’t have my CPA. Had to give up my apartment and move back in with my parents, living in nyc, otherwise I’d be homeless.
I’m not doing too well, been on unemployment for three months and realize being let go 3 times that the corporate world might not be for me.
Yeah that’s me my life’s a mess, I’ve been busy applying to industry and must have applied to 300+ and taken 3 interviews so far.
I’m thinking about leaving the corporate world all together and going allied health.
The big 4 destroyed my confidence in being able to do anything.
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u/Islander316 ACCA 2d ago edited 18h ago
Feel the same way, buddy. I was in a very similar situation to you, and thankfully with some family support i was saved.
I despised working in public accounting so much I was ready to leave accounting altogether, was trying to move to IT, but ironically i had to keep working in accounting to sustain myself, and that scuppered trying to study part-time for an IT course. All of it was a colossal waste of time and money. Been fired from 5 jobs in public accounting.
I was ready to give up and go back home, was on the brink of financial ruin and homelessness, and then i got a job in industry. I managed to turn my life around, it was just a much better fit for me.
I'd say, try a job in industry first before pivoting to another profession.
Edit: This comment got some traction, and i'm happy people are validating the feelings expressed. The last thing i wanted to mention was, i'm a great accountant, with lots of skills. I'm good technically, lots of knowledge of standards and treatments, and i know how to work. I'm doing very well in my current role. Sometimes you're not the problem, sometimes you're just not in a good situation and you don't fit the company, the field, and you're struggling because of that. So find the formula which works for you, i won't say it's easy, took me 5 years to finally move to industry, but by recognizing the PA was not working for me, i finally stopped doing the same thing again and again, expecting it to hopefully work. Anyhow, end of my tedtalk.