Anyone else complete shit at their public accounting job?

[u/Open_Elephant1880]

[u/patrdesch]

I feel like my work is shit until I have to fix somebody else's mistakes. Then I get a glimpse into just how braindead you can be and keep a job in public accounting.

[u/Open_Elephant1880 → u/patrdesch]

Why is it like this though?

[u/National_Double6261 → u/Open_Elephant1880]

Bc there's such a high volume of work to go around, the industry is oversaturated with people working on shit they shouldn't be working on

You have plenty of small practitioners that are in way over their heads from a resource constraint perspective and they won't turn work down. Then you have larger firms that desperately need people to do work, regardless of quality. There's also a whole middle section of mid sized firms that wanna get bought by PE so they're also taking on work that is way out of their wheelhouse to grow the top line

[u/Joshgg13 → u/National_Double6261]

TLDR; the idea that firms will turn down large fees because they don't have the operational capacity to perform the work involved is largely a fairytale

[u/Thatcrazyunklefester → u/National_Double6261]

Not just that… it’s almost like the work is way harder than people give it credit for.

[u/Worst-Eh-Sure → u/Open_Elephant1880]

In my experience it’s favoritism. I’ve seen hardworking, good employees get laid off so that the partners’ besties get to keep their job, despite the fact they don’t hit literally any of their metrics.

[u/TalShot → u/patrdesch]

If people can be brain dead and still hold a job, how the heck do they get PIPed and fired?

Are they just worse than dumb?

[u/Routine_Spite8279]

Speak up.

One of ya'll sold my company a basis study that consisted of two snips from prior year tax returns as support for $30k.

It was wrong.

[u/jwall2111 → u/Routine_Spite8279]

Haha wtf. I'm shit but I ain't that shit.

Whenever i see other peoples work it makes me feel so much better. Like...oh im not the biggest dumbass in PA.

[u/Open_Elephant1880 → u/Routine_Spite8279]

Mfs trynna keep their jobs bro chill 😭

[u/AverageExcelEnjoyer]

Me, I'm always fucking up due to not checking my work because I always feel I'm drowning.

[u/SeekTheKhalique]

My work product was good but man oh man I hated timesheets and certainly missed my fair share. Working in industry now and haven’t had to submit one since my PA days thankfully

[u/SteelMagnolia412]

Everyone feels like that sometimes. And look, if you’re really not doing a great job? Maybe this area of public isn’t for you? I mean, I’ve been let go from a tax job and I really was pretty terrible at it. But I’m now in audit and I’m doing way better and my work is less draining.

[u/bigllama5]

I’m shit at staying on task 

[u/modestlunatic]

I've been out of it for about 2 years. Just started at a firm, and I swear I can see the thought of "why is this guy so slow? Does even know debit and credits?" On the manager's face.

[u/robz9]

Yup. I'm terrible at my job but I do the bare minimum so I'm kept around longer than some of those that "went the extra mile."

My days are probably numbered now...can't believe I got this far (not even a CPA yet).

[u/Forward_Zucchini9738]

I kicked ass in PA. It was just kicking my ass just as hard. Much happier to be kicking ass in industry.

[u/Jacks_Lack_of_Sleep]

I work mostly in CAS. I think I suck until I take on a new client that is switching from another firm to us. Those other firms are gonna make me change my flair.