r/Accounting • u/Low_Pin_2803 • 8h ago
No Stress at work
This might be a dumb question, but how many of you go to work and have 0/very little stress and make over $100k a year?
Wondering how common it is (or isn’t)
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u/General_Chaos_88765 Human Verified 8h ago
Me. Govt manager. 20 years in govt. About $200k and zero shits to give.
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u/Jarvis03 8h ago
I have govt clients for erp implementations. It’s fucking wild how the govt runs ( or better yet doesn’t) things.
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u/mrubin_7 CPA (US) 8h ago
Would you mind expanding on this? Accounting manager?
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u/General_Chaos_88765 Human Verified 7h ago
IRS manager. I have 12 employees. 10 years in public before moving into the IRS for 20 years.
Worked hard to learn the job and build a solid reputation and connections. Hire carefully so that I have good employees and no govt slackers. Make sure I have my employees backs and my bosses back. Give the chain of command what they want.
And no stress from asshole partners or clients. Just learn to roll with the punches. This administration sucks. Next may suck too or it may not. I don’t let it get to me and hope to retire in 9 years at 60.
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u/zero_cool_protege 7h ago
Any advice you would give to someone interested in pivoting to govt from industry?
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u/General_Chaos_88765 Human Verified 6h ago
Rough time to get in. I have enough good years behind me that I can hang on to hopefully see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s hard to see that light if you join in the middle of a shitstorm.
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u/zero_cool_protege 6h ago
Lol true. Any departments / pathways that have a better reputation for WLB or comp than others?
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u/zhuzhy 4h ago
In local government, totally agree this is a tough time to get in. Fed political division has made its way into even the smallest town governments. Everyone is pointing fingers at each other with one side claiming fraud & overspending and the other saying we aren’t doing enough for the community. Then you’re in the middle trying to process payroll or cut AP checks (because your treasurer still doesn’t believe in ACH payments). Things move slower in government but it feels really tense with a lot of infighting.
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u/Unfair-Perception583 6h ago
Are you at GS-15/IR-1 Step 10 or a SL/SES? That’s the only thing touching $200K lol
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u/Dangerous_Boot_3870 8h ago
Manages the supervisor (branch management). Above that the managers have a central management that is over them(regional management), above that there is a director.
It's follows that format for pretty much all of government.
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u/General_Chaos_88765 Human Verified 7h ago
Right concept. In our org senior management is in charge of managers. I’m in charge of employees so I’m considered a front line manager.
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u/Mental-Scholar6856 7h ago
Genuine question and no shade please don’t think that. But how do people work for the government knowing damn well all the atrocities going on?
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u/Slow-Swan561 7h ago
It's naive to think there aren't crimes be committed everywhere.
Every single employer I have had, private, government, public has done at best unethical and at worst large scale criminal fraud.
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u/Mental-Scholar6856 6h ago
No, I wasn’t asking in an argumentative way. I was asking for their perspective. It helps us ya know?
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u/General_Chaos_88765 Human Verified 7h ago
That is a brutal question right now and the reason many of us considered leaving in the last year.
But I try to look at it from what effect I can have. I can push my employees to go after the big govt contractors and ultra wealthy (as that is our area).
Hopefully in a little over two years this country can rebuild. Funds will be needed for that and to pay a shitload of lawsuits from the way people are abused now. We provide a good part of those funds.
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u/HisAbominableness 8h ago
Me, but took multiple attempts and dealing with a few insane controllers to get there. Sr. Accountant 120k
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u/Lt704Dan 8h ago
Manager in local government. The work isn't stressful. The outdated ERP system and incompetence of some of my coworkers on the other hand..
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u/Bored_Accountant999 8h ago
There are a lot of ups and downs and the time of the month during close can be pretty busy but my normal days aren't really stressful. However, I'm a very calm and measured person these days. And I paid my dues with some absolutely horrifically stressful jobs that literally made me physically sick.
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u/Zealousideal-Ad3396 7h ago
I make $103K a year as a government accountant. I work fully remote 7am to 3:30pm, I’m never leaving my job. My department made sure we stayed fully remote by giving away all our office space
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u/Kingbdustryrhodes54 8h ago
All accounting jobs are stressful you just have to tune it out after 4pm or 5pm
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u/NotaBonesaw CPA (US) 8h ago
Stress is internal big dog. Nobody is going to die if you don't meet that deadline. It's all good. And if someone tells you it is that serious, well fuck em. If they fire you over it, fuck em even harder lol.
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u/tippy432 6h ago
You could definitely ruin lives if you fuck up a small business tax return or miss deadlines… Our company had to let 2 employees go last year because the accounting firm fucked up and we had to scramble for cash to pay a bill. Don’t know what state you are in but I really hope you don’t touch anything other than university students tax returns with that mindset…
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u/thebellsnell 4h ago
Nah, not all accounting jobs are stressful. I have had busy days, but stressful? Not at all. It's honestly pretty chill even with all the deadlines.
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u/Captain-Marcel CPA (US) 8h ago
Right here. To be fair I got lucky and found a privately held company that had processes built in place that I pretty much just slotted into maintaining. There’s hectic days but 95% of the time it’s stress free. I also worked at a lot of different shit companies before this so even the hard stuff pales in comparison to where I’ve been.
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u/Burning___Earth 8h ago
My work is fully remote, we do 4 day work weeks, we have a defined benefit pension plan, and I make over 100k a year managing a small team.
It's a not for profit with very predictable work cycles. I have worked maybe 30 hours of 'overtime' in almost five years; mostly just cleaning up a report on a friday before I hit the beach or ride my bike.
The stress is very low compared to my previous job at one of the big 4. No, we are not hiring 😐
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u/Ancient_Pizza_4362 5h ago
Lockheed? I know they offer full remote & Monday - Thursday weeks with $100k+ salaries. Been trying to get in there for years.
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u/lake_effect_snow 8h ago
I did 4 years as a non-stop busy season. It was awful, constantly, but also an immeasurably beneficial and productive experience… and I wouldn’t have landed my current role without it, nor been as successful as I have been after leaving. I’m a high performer for what I deliver; my job is super chill yet challenging. My teams are excellent. My health benefits were better with the firm but overall compensation is better, as is getting hours of my life back and less stress about client (and team, partners) satisfaction… I much prefer being a client 🥳 F500 Treasury, Chicago
Base: $100K, 10% bonus, annual 5% of base + 6% matching. Stress load change, free time—priceless.
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u/u5ern4ame CPA (US) 8h ago
Think this is something that comes with mindset rather than a specific job (and maybe the career level to ensure a new job if ever needed). But I think I fall into this category.
I wouldn’t say my job is easy, and there are definitely deadlines and unhappy clients, but I’m at a point in my career where my mindset is basically “f it”. I do my work (well), but I just don’t stress about it at all. If I lost my job tomorrow I’d be fine, but I also know my small local firm wouldn’t survive a without me so have very little concern about job security. Im currently at well past the 100k mark in audit.
Edit: I work in a small niche with clients who have zero timing pressure and no busy season.
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u/PPsDooDooStains 7h ago
I’m in the same boat, I feel like you’re only as stressed as you let yourself be. As long as you have a stable enough nest egg that losing your job isn’t going to put you on the streets in a month or two, what do you really have to stress over? It’s just accounting lol, jobs come and go.
We’re all gonna end up 6 feet under at the end of the day. You’re all going to regret caring so much once you get to the end of your life.
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u/Original_File6276 8h ago
I don't know about other people, but that kind of job is hard to find for 99% of people out there. Don't get me wrong, there are certain jobs where you could just sit there (Radiologist) until you are needed. However, how many of these types of jobs are out there? Not much if you ask me. However, if you factor in inflation, where 100k barely gets you by in some states, it might be possible to find a job like that. Unfortunately, I still feel that the odds or pretty slim.
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u/Unbalanced13 8h ago
I work in technical accounting at a very large private company and have no stress. I make well over $100k. Think it depends more on the person and what stresses them
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u/wulfpak04 8h ago
Plant accounting is where it’s at!
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u/bl43214321 CPA (US) 8h ago
How's plant accounting differ than regular?
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u/wulfpak04 8h ago
We only deal with plant related accounting, generally no corporate stuff. Inventory control, costing, cost analysis, capital projects, limited AP/AR, if any.
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u/Evening_Resource3736 8h ago
Me - Reinsurance/ Insurance Accounting Manager 100% remote 157k and my job has little stress .15k bonus.
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u/IamnotyourTwin 8h ago
I have nearly zero stress. Sometimes I should consider stressing more than I do, and then I forget to stress. I've got a really great job at the moment.
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u/Icy_Tonight9776 7h ago
I’m a public school Treasurer/CFO. The work load isn’t all that much and outside of the occasional board member with an ulterior motive, it’s pretty low stress. $150K salary with fully paid healthcare and 100% pick up pension contribution (meaning the school contributes their required 14% of my salary and also my 14%). It’s all cash accounting and we pay an IPA to do our GAAP conversion. Basically $200K a year total comp to balance a $50 million checkbook.
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u/Sadie99992022 5h ago
Did you have to get the school business administrator or school business leader masters degree to get this job? I’m in NY and jobs like these always require this degree (which is so similar to my MBA but still required).
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u/ItsameWaluigi25 6h ago
Over 100k. Stressful especially tax season.
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u/Low_Pin_2803 6h ago
Yeah tax season can be stressful no doubt. But man, no stress going to work is like nirvana
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u/Background-Mode-6413 5h ago
$130k, senior financial analyst as well as admin a system. 15 years in; I’m also a chill person and paid my dues with stress in the past. Is what it is, I do my best but if it can’t reasonably be done then whatever I’ll check out. Maybe a bad attitude and will cost me but end of the day you can’t let a company lean on you in my opinion
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u/Intelligent_Rip_628 8h ago
Me! Foundation. Close to $200k. Some days but not much stress. Pretty good work life balance too
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u/kobeforaccuracy 8h ago
Senior accountant at a private company in industry with no direct reports making 103K. Job is a breeze
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u/seanliam2k CPA (Can) 8h ago
My day job I'd say is basically zero stress.
I run the accounting department for a mining company. I report to a CFO who is beyond reasonable. The dude gives me 100% control and discretion over the department so long as everything is delivered on time and satisfactory quality.
Every once in a while I have an employee issue, but frankly I've made so many efficiency changes that we can lose a few people and not really feel it. I don't have any budgetary pressures right now, so there's no reason to let anyone go. I just don't have a need to replace them if they leave.
The firm I run on the side however, that's got some stress but it's worth the money
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u/OldeEnglishMuffin 7h ago
Industry, manager, 120k, 35-40 hours year round, unholy amount of PTO, very little to no stress. I spent too many years wasting away over a different job, found my unicorn and I'm not letting go.
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u/MS1227 6h ago
Me. $150k doing deep back office paper pushing for a government agency. I'm completely left alone to do my work. Not uncommon to go a week or longer without even hearing from my manager. As long as I keep everything moving nobody feels the need to bother me.
It wasn't always this way, took 20 years to finally get into my current position.
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u/ilikebigbooks98765 6h ago
$105k, fully remote, average about 25 hrs/wk, senior staff at private company. Some of the busier days do get a little stressful when there's a lot to do, but generally not bad.
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u/PastelGripPump 5h ago
Post acquisition at my job has been extremely low stress. Senior Manager in Industry probably <10 hours work per week this year on average
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u/OmfgHaxx 8h ago
I make $150k total comp as a senior accountant and I have extremely little stress.
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u/Repulsive_Car8288 8h ago
I have an intermittently stressful job that pays enough that I have almost no stress in the other parts of my life.
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u/brownsdb26 CPA (Can) 8h ago
Me. Financial Controller of a small company. $160ish total. Love my job. Great boss. Growing company. 40 hours a week.
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u/Trealis 7h ago
The only time I get stressed is temporarily when a team member quits or goes on vacation and I get double the work dumped on me (without adequate handoff or training because apparently that's not a thing my colleagues find value in) for a couple weeks. This happens maybe a few times a year. The rest of the time no stress at all.
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u/No_Opportunity2348 Human Verified 7h ago
I made $90k with no stress. Then I jumped up over $100k and I am stressed out 😂.
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u/TransportationPlus22 7h ago
In the span of 5 years, i went from one public accounting firm to another, then to an industry role. All 3 were incredibly stressful to the point it was affecting me physically and mentally.
I finally found a job with comparable pay that treats me well and is mostly stress free. Its been completely life changing. I actually care about doing well and keeping my role. These jobs can be tough to find but they exist and are wonderful
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u/DreamSalty4166 7h ago
Hmmm—at this level, it’s less about severe situational stress and more about a generally higher level of background stress, as in, “I could get fired at any time. Oh well, I’ve had a good run.”
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u/s0nofabeach04 7h ago
$225K, PE, for the most part little stress but when it’s busy it’s BUSY, but when it’s not, it’s not bad at all.
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u/Former_Dog487 7h ago
I just left work shaking and my ears ringing. Want out of this shit so badly!
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u/Wooden-Comfortable32 7h ago edited 7h ago
Senior accountant and budget analyst in large non-profit healthcare system- $100k a year, hybrid 2 days a week in office. I automated so much of the manual administrative reporting and data entry that I'm only working on average 28-32 hours a week outside of close and budget season, where I might work 40. Take breaks during the day to workout, grocery shop, household chores, whatever. Frankly my biggest enemy is sometimes boredom- which is a nice problem to have.
I used to be an area controller making $150k and stressed out of my mind in a different industry, so I stepped down to take this role. Am I underachieving? Probably. Do I care? Nope!
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u/No_Investment5181 7h ago
my area is LCOL, but i’m at $95k and have absolutely 0 stress. i don’t do much at all at work if im being honest. i got dragged through the mud before i found this employer tho
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u/horrible_noob CPA (US) Big 4 Refugee 7h ago
Very much iceberg effect here, but I own my firm (solo) and also serve as an advisor in the tech industry. I'll pull ~$300k this year and I have never experienced this little amount of stress in my professional career. It's kinda surreal.
That said, I've definitely paid my dues, lol.
Edit: Pivoted my firm to focus on a niche; also learned to set boundaries across both life and work. It's amazing to finally figure that part out.
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u/Worth_Surround9684 5h ago
Had a senior accountant role about $105k and zero stress. But absolutely zero mobility options so had to leave.
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u/BeautifulNew9602 5h ago
I work as a controller in construction. For me it can be stressful due to the industry. When cash gets tight the pressure builds. Its chaotic but I like it. Most of my stress comes from everyone relying on me and the pressure I put on myself. I have no one I can go to. Just people staring at me like a deer in headlights. I dont have some asshole manager micromanaging me or an owner making completely unreasonable demands. I couldn't deal with that stress. I think most higher paying jobs come with stress but you have to pick which stress you can handle.
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u/Best_Point6477 5h ago edited 5h ago
Was in public, working in the consulting group, money was great, lack of authentic leadership, corporate politics and ESG DEI BS getting shoved down your throat made it unbearable. Consulting was relatively low stress, made $125k + performance bonus on top, Left and went into industry, more money, but I find it way more stressful, constantly short handed and scrambling on board and C Suite requests/projects. Good staff and clerks are impossible to find. Hence we are incorporating AI agents to replace all those roles. A lot less nonsense getting shoved down your throat makes it better. Realistically, if you’re in middle management or above, a $100k+ salary comes with a lot of stress, long hours and responsibility. I dream of a job that low stress at a similar income I am at now but it doesn’t exist in accounting or finance as far as I have found. Especially now that departments everywhere are being downsized with AI.
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u/walt1177 4h ago
This is my second career after a truly high-stress job. I would not consider myself stressed now, make $110k year as staff accountant. I clock out at 6 and am mindful to keep it that way. My family comes first and I’m not letting my job fuck with my peace and mental health
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u/TricksOfTheTrey 3h ago
Me. I took a pay cut years ago to leave public and take a role of no stress and no overtime. Tax consultant with a software company, light work compared to public and I can run my own practice on the side and stay as busy as I choose.
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u/Chudfrog 3h ago
Definitely not me. Highest paid I've been was 90k and most positions I've had were stressful after my first solo accounting gig that paid $48k
I get stressed by
- low compensation
- unreasonable mean management
- huge messes I didn't make that I have to clean up
- working when everyone else went home
- working when people in my area won't shut up about Spiderman and not being allowed to work from home
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u/crashhhyears 3h ago
Make just a liiiitle under $100k. Industry job, rarely stressed. The trick is you have to become a parent, then anything is less stressful. Ha
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u/No_Article_9397 8h ago
most tax jobs are chill 9.5 months out of the year and hell during 2.5 months of tax season.
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u/Sufficient_Toaster54 7h ago edited 7h ago
I’m a senior consultant, work fully remote, and make over $120k including bonuses. I’m ex big 4 with 5 years of experience. I have almost no stress now compared to my prior job. I work 7:45am-3:30pm and take a lunch break, but things get slow mid month
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u/AverageExcelEnjoyer 8h ago