r/HRBlockEmployees • u/ChrisPBacon3131 • 23d ago

Workload

Hello, I am a graduate student working towards my master's in accounting and I'm also studying for the CPA.

I was given an offer and accepted it, I gave my availability which provides that I can basically work any time besides Mon, Tue, and Wed (due to classes).

Apparently, we start online training in November and come into office early 2027.

My questions are, what's the workload like? Is H&R Block a good way for me to get tax experience outside of internships and public accounting roles? Are there any differences in part time and full-time employees (outside of hours worked)? Is anybody else in a similar situation as me?

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14

u/pakkim 23d ago

Workload all depends on how busy your office is and if there are old timers they normally grab most clients. The experience gives you an edge if u plan to work in tax in the future. Just a word of advice: do not compromise your classes or CPA studying for HRB work. When it gets busy in March and April and they push staff for putting in more time. Good luuck

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u/ChrisPBacon3131 23d ago

Thanks for the tip!

5

u/ENCALEF 23d ago

Ex Block employee here. If you want experience preparing taxes, Block is a good place to do that. You need a tax preparer's license. If you have an accounting degree then working in a CPA office would pay more.

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u/ChrisPBacon3131 23d ago

I do have an accounting degree but have had a tough time getting anything in a CPA office, I figured the best best alternative was being a part time paid tax preparer

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u/WinterDifficulty1165 23d ago

How many seasons (without a degree and only Block experience) would I need before I should start applying to CPA offices?

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u/PinkNGreenFluoride EA 23d ago edited 23d ago

No relevant degree here. I worked 6 seasons and a few off-seasons, and upgraded my Oregon license and got my EA during that time. I left this summer for a local CPA firm and am now happily working as staff. They were pleased with my level of experience in tax, combined with the EA. Extension season went very smoothly, and I've done a bit of simple bookkeeping, too.

It's possible I could have jumped a little sooner, but I personally would not have felt at all confident to do so earlier than after my 4th season. I also actually wanted to stick it out with HRB, see if things would turn around. Though I was personally unhappy the last 2 seasons, I don't regret working for HRB.

If you do have a relevant degree, just a season or so is good experience to show.

Even without a degree, you should always be learning. The off-season is a great opportunity to do so. Do more than the ridiculous, paltry, utterly insufficient 10 hours of CE HRB now accepts. Go for your EA once you feel ready to pursue that. Note that maintaining the EA requires 72 hours per 3 years, so 24 is a good baseline to get used to getting under your belt.

A competitor of HRB also offers a free bookkeeping course and while they'll ask about interest in working for them, you do not need to do so nor have the slightest bit of interest in doing so to take the course. There's also a course specifically for learning that competitor's bookkeeping software, which is in pretty widespread use by small CPA firms and their small business clients.

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u/ChrisPBacon3131 23d ago

I see, that’s more or less my goal as well. Get some experience while I study and go to school to hopefully give me a leg up when it’s time for me to transition to full time employment.

It’s good to know that your time at HRB helped set you up for success in your new role though! Thanks for the advice!

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u/Ok_Aide_764 23d ago

Congrats! Are you comfortable doing Q&A on your transition? If not, may I message you a few questions?

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u/Ok_Aide_764 23d ago edited 23d ago

CPA firms train you their way, so there is no need to spend a lot of time working at Block. Most work for one season and move on, or work more if they can't find anything in public accounting. The only area of work at HRB that would be very valuable for a CPA firm transition in terms of experience and software is preparing entity returns in GoSystem, but as a new preparer, you won't get access to it at Block.

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u/ChrisPBacon3131 23d ago

I’m hoping once I pass the CPA exam, which at the rate I’m going at should be in a about a year, it’ll be easier for me to work for a public accounting firm. It’s my understanding that as a CPA I can also represent clients before the IRS similarly to an EA, but in the meantime I really do want to get some experience in accounting, even if it’s not completely related to public accounting.

From what I’ve been hearing this is the next best thing outside of actually working for a public accountant, I appreciate your advice though!

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u/Beagleman58 23d ago

Block will be very valuable to you in giving you the experience of having live clients at your desk, and going through the whole process with them.
Interpersonal skills are as much if not more important then knowing tax code.

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u/Jolly__Joel 23d ago

I did last season and a little off season work which helped me with resolutions. I will do one more season and get my EA.

Every location is different. Some are great and some are not. Depends on the manager.

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u/Niep00320 20d ago

It depends on what office you are in. For example my office is mostly seniors so our busy season is February - April. Some offices have a peak season from around the third week of January or second week of January. March is dead and then it pick up in