If you're sitting across the table from me, and I know you're fooling around on your blackberry or on gchat because you have a big ass smile on your face while auditing, (so you're definitely not working), and you do that for a decent amount of time, and I keep pushing you every half an hour, asking how the work is coming along, would I turn into someone you hate? Probably, but it's really annoying because team members should know that if they are slow, it slows the whole team down, and it precludes us from leaving at a decent time every day. Come on people, focus a little. I don't want to be here as much as you do.
Just realized that the very payroll/adp reports we all enjoyed looking at in order to see how much our client contacts made, now seem to piss me off. Especially when your main contact, who couldn't tell a debit from a credit, makes significantly more than you, and leaves at 5. It's almost guaranteed to get you in a foul mood and yak with your team about the ridiculous salaries that certain employees get when compared to yours.
Comments
I work hard and get my work done quickly, and I deserve to take 5 minutes here or there when I feel that it is needed. I recently had a new senior who was breathing down my and my teammates neck every 30 minutes and I finally told her to stop. She needed to learn what Managing by Objectives is, and (no disrespect) perhaps you might as well . . .
Thanks for your blog and the effor you make to answer questions.
What are the career options and pay working in public accounting.
With a risk to sound too materialistic. I am aware of the nature of the work. I know that it is not for everyone and it is a lot of hard work. I want to know a bit on what can I expect as $ in the long term.
Lets assume I start as a junior at one of the "Big 4" firms. I am training as a an ACA(its the UK qualification for public accounting). In the UK they start on £27k->>$42k (thanks Gordon for ruining the pound)
If I did medicine at university I would have probably expected to become a consultant 6,7 years post-graduation. They usually earn £75k post-graduation and retire at about £170-200k.
Is it realistic for an accountant at Big 4 in major city (London, NYC, Chicago) to earn that sort of money?
I am aware that public accountants are poorly paid early on in their career. I want to know if there is a long-term potential to earn decently by sticking with it or it makes perfect sense to move on and work in industry.
This is assuming that :
1.I am good at my job and in the top quartile in my peer group.
2. Have very good social, networking skills and graduate from great university.
Thanks a lot!
Most people used to think that it's rude to wear earbuds and answer the phone and email during conversations and meetings; most people used to think the day belonged to the employer rather than the employee.
It still is rude, even though it is more accepted, but it still isn't right or ethical.
Cell phones and smart phones sure make life easier and more fun, but they also lead us to believe that every call and email is urgent (they aren't).
Like anything else, people need to manage themselves and how they use technology--and remember that people and teamwork are most important for a number of personal and business reasons.
I feel for you.
Leaving my big 4 firm was one of the best things I've ever done in my life!
(In audit)When it comes to working as a team, there are slackers out there who deserve a blunt shove when they are deliberately takin their own sweet time. As much as common decency goes with a dash of soft skills, who would want to be hated for being the bossypants of the team?
Unless these few individuals really deserve a "in-yer-face" indirect nudges once in a while because hey! we are doing you a favour by saving your ass from getting a somewhat-poor evaluation during the firms' annual review.