After looking up the salary, if working 60+ hrs at 50k is like $17/ hr

doing it because I have to. I'm not getting in debt for nothing

You won't make nearly enough money to justify the atrocious work to life balance.

Public accounting is not for you if you want to give 80 hours of your life to your job. I'm very happy I didn't give my life to that!

I loved this video. I wrote an email seeking career advice because I don't fell like I have anyone to turn to. Thanks for all the content you post!!

Thanks for this Stephie I am currently in public accounting though in a very small firm but what your saying is very true especially the feeling of importance part you could be a trainee putting a finance manager to task but I also enjoy the diversity of dealing with many clients rather than doing the same thing over and over again.

I really like the part where you shared about the external audit exit opportunities. It is really helpful for me! Thank you so much!!!

Thank you for another helpful video. I wasnt sure about what path i should lean towards, but now im solid that the difficult path will reap better rewards for my family.

You convinced me that the sacrifice at an accounting firm will sooo be worth it. I'm super nervous but I've found a friendly firm that has lower work hours because that's my biggest dread...it's the reason I stepped out of working in hospitality..it was the long hours, nights and weekends..I have al little one I need to be home for ....so although I love the industry a firm is disheartening in that way but the big salary future pay off will sooo be worth it.......also have been contemplating to pursue my CPA...I think I'm going to start the industry without it and kinda maneuver my way around to see how I feel...that's the one thing I love about accounting is that it's so broad there's many areas to go into...thanks for your advice!

Happy Easter!!!! Yassssss please do a video doing more hot Linked in DMs! It’s pretty motivating hahaha!

Excellent video! Well said! No BS & right to the point!

LOVED THIS! Especially the last 5 minutes!

I have my own accounting office and I’ve been practicing private practice for years, I make a good living at working my own hours and days, no co workers to compete with, no boss to boss me around, not having lots of clients but enough to keep my life stable, it’s an amazing field but you do need a good amount of experience before opening up your own office. I would recommend having your own office if your not much a people person. And you might want to hire a Office Administrator/Secretary if you need help with extensive workloads and paperwork. But other then that work is great, some days there won’t be any work and some days the work is exhausting, but the money is worth it, I would target businesses or organizations first before working with individual clients.

Very helpful! I love this kind of video!

Number 3 is why I enjoy audit still after 4 years and 3 months. In NZ big 4 and mid tier are on par in terms of working hours, I came from a mid tier firm and now at big 4, trust me when I say both are the same in terms of working hours. Please can you make a video on internal audit as I am interested in doing after external audit

Definitely helpful!! Keep them coming 🙂

Great advice... Thank you for Sharing!!!

@stephie Mills Hey STephie, is a CPA prep course (Becker or Roger) enough? For a person who has been out of school for 5 years and forget basic debits and credits? Or should I go to a community college and re-take F. Acc, M. Acc., Intermediate 1 & 2, AND THEN take a CPA prep course?

Please share it!!! It is so motivating 👍

Hey Stephanie, love you video so much, super helpful. In the next video, can you share more in detailed about the challenge/ difficulty you encountered or any happy moments you had when you were in public accounting? Thank you so much.

Very helpful advice! Love your videos

Can you do a video on how you balance different priorities? Particularly with different bosses and clients.

Like your videos!!! Very informative and honest insights.

Thanks so much for the video! I'm getting super excited to start my internship at the Big 4 this summer!! I think I'm going in with pretty realistic expectations since I've watched all your videos, I'm mostly just excited to start my career haha :)

Thank you for this video!

Love this video. I’m currently a junior in school. And finished my internship with admin at a PA firm. Admin side was insane 😅. But I do still want to be a tax intern next year and also learn audit. The accountants at the firm I worked at there minimum was 55 hours.

Thanks, Stephie. Laws are changing regarding employers taking advantage of employees by paying them a set salary and working them 80 hours. Have you heard of any of that in the accounting field? There would have to be a massive tradeoff with more than ample time off during "slow times."

I'm looking to transition from external audit to industry- either Financial Accountant role or in Internal Audit. Can you make a video on how to transition from external audit to internal audit and do you especially need to study something beforehand?

i got accepted in my business program but i'm thinking of doing engineering. i would have to kill a year to get accepted into engineering 1st year. any opinions?

Public accounting has many options. In audit, for example, you’ll (usually) find yourself in a windowless and dusty conference room sitting around in the most non ergonomic option...a business conference room table for ten hours daily (usually the auditors end up in one of the most undesirable rooms at the client’s corporate facility in my experience ) with 5 to 6 coworkers some of whom can get a little nosy (in addition to immaturity and getting a little gossipy you can expect someone of recent college undergrad age, they may easily notice if you are away in the bathroom a little too long and/or having a rough day). If you’re a social butterfly that’s usually OK. But for some it’s a bit much. In tax, you (usually) get your own cubicle at the cpa firm HQ and don’t travel to client location much (usually). you have that predictable commute to work which is nice when you’re already putting in some solid hours in the busy seasons. Even though it can be rough at times it’s great experience not just for resume but for learning what you do and don’t want to do in life

I love your videos! ❤️

Bigg sissstaa advice:)

I have a job offer for public and I think I might be getting an offer for internal audit and I just can’t decide what is going to be right for me. I do want the public experience but it’s entry level and the pay is considerably less.

please do make a video of tasks details of both Assurance and Consulting

yayy you're back! very helpful video, thank you steph. i finally start in public accounting in 2 months 🙈🙃

20:45 very much so thanks

Love this video.

Are all the firms located in larger cities ?

I love you channel, and I love your videos. I’m junior in my accounting program (bachelors) and I’m in the midst of busy season. I’m thankful I have a mentor helping me navigate through everything, but if possible I’d love to get your email so I can ask your questions!

Would 28 be too old to pursue a cpa career given that I don’t have an accounting background

Steph do you have any advice for not falling into gossip at work? A lot of my department is very gossipy and I feel like I have fallen down that hole. I have said things I regret. I was never this person before. How can I snap myself out of it?

What are your thoughts on taking an accounting degree as a stepping stone into careers in the finance sectors? Such as IBs, private equities and buy side funds.

Awesome, I will graduate on December and I would love to get an internship in public accounting great video

Thank you.

I didn’t know you were from the DFW area, nice.

I been a staff 5 yes -!!! Still and I been told I need a CPA. But boss hired 4 seniors non CPA I AM PISSST AND LOW MOREL DONT CARE :(

Not only did I love the video BUT the bloopers...OMG, was funny and it made me feel like you are a real person; A friend who was just telling me about accounting. Do more of these plz.

Are exit opportunities similar between a small firm (10-20 people) vs national/big4?

I am about to be a freshman in college :))) and I'm starting off at a community college and then transfer and pursue accounting as my major! but anywayyys, who exactly are the "clients" though? Like other businesses or people?? I'm just wondering :)

what about tax? How does learning about various businesses in tax compare to in external audit?

Are you getting compensated for working all those hours?

The promotions are quicker if you exit at manager to private accounting.

I love being an accountant. I’m not a CPA but I am heavily contemplating the CMA. Do you have any experience working with a CMA?

thank you for the info.

Can you go into public accounting after a few years of experience in industry?

jelly of your hair

what about tax?exit opportunities

These are your own personal experiences. I work at a Public Accounting firm and I my experience is much different than clearly what you experienced. I have a lot more free range for who or what I want to work on that day, of course given I’m hitting certain deadlines, but I definitely don’t work on one client for 3 months at a time. I would go crazy if I did that! I can bounce between projects and not to mention it sounds as though you strictly come from an audit background. I would suggest to anyone considering a career in accounting to learn all of it, I do everything in our office from tax, audit, financial statement prep, literally everything we offer I get my hands into. My coworkers who have stuck to just audit are the most miserable people in our firm. Also, not every firm offers just salary to full time accountants, I am paid hourly and I get my overtime. Plus healthcare, 401k, etc. we even have an Uber account for employees to use if they’ve had a bit too much to drink. Boss wants to make sure we will be there every morning lol! So, a lot of the experience definitely depends on who you’re working for.

Yeah but I need moneyz

Can you please do a video about the different roads to take to become an accountant (eg, bachelor's degree or CPA, etc.) And if someone can be an accountant without doing CPA exam.( In other words, can I work in accounting and be called an accountant without being CPA) thankyou ☺

Public accounting has QuickBooks yes or no

I hated having multiple bosses bc they didn't know what I was doing for the other managers, so they would all ask me for stuff at once and of course they all wanted their project done 1st.

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

You’re beautiful

If y'all continue to work in Public accounting the Industry will NEVER improve in terms of long working hours and low pay. Where you work matters.

Too many hours for the pay, no longer interested lol.

So public accounting is for me then.. thanks for FYI.

According to presidential candidate andrew yang, the accounting jobs will go automated away. AI will take over in less than 5 years.

I been a staff 5 yes -!!! Still and I been told I need a CPA. But boss hired 4 seniors non CPA I AM PISSST AND LOW MOREL DONT CARE :(

I been a staff 5 yes -!!! Still and I been told I need a CPA. But boss hired 4 seniors non CPA I AM PISSST AND LOW MOREL DONT CARE :(

I been a staff 5 yes -!!! Still and I been told I need a CPA. But boss hired 4 seniors non CPA I AM PISSST AND LOW MOREL DONT CARE :(