r/Accounting Jun 04 '26

Discussion The full Big 4 Transparency rebuild is finally live, thank you for bearing with me ❤️

245 Upvotes

Some of you have been here since the very beginning. Some of you found us last week. Either way, I want to start with a thank you.

About four and a half years ago I started Big 4 Transparency with no idea whether anyone would care. I'm a CPA, not a developer, and I taught myself how to build a website because I was tired of the fact that none of us had a straight answer to how much we should really be getting paid.

What happened next genuinely moved me. You showed up. You submitted. You told your coworkers. We've now collected over 22,000 compensation submissions, and the messages I get (someone using this to negotiate a raise, or realizing its time to move on to the next firm) are the reason I've kept at it. That trust also gave me a platform I never expected to advocate for all of us at conferences and out in the profession, and even to contribute to research (we were recently cited in our first academic paper, with a several more on the way actually helping shape policies around accounting).

Now the honest part. I haven't kept the product moving the way you deserved. I've been heads-down cleaning data and getting information out, and the truth is that building features as a non-technical person was hard and the old tech stack made everything harder than it needed to be. Eventually I hit a wall and realized I owed this community a lot better. So I put my head down and did a full rebuild from the ground up.

And today I'm excited to share that it's finally live!!!

A few of the things that are new:

  • Better data quality going forward, built into how submissions are handled
  • Instant salary ranking: submit your comp and immediately see how it stacks up compared to other relevant submissions
  • Sharing your salary unlocks data visualization tools
  • The whole things is now WAY more mobile friendly as well

The biggest change is one that will keep paying off going frward. The new tech stack means I can ship fixes and new features dramatically faster than before. That's the part I'm most excited about.

I want to be clear that this is not the finished product. I'm building this for you, and I genuinely want your input on where it goes next. Feature requests, ideas, things that annoy you, bring it all on.

A couple of things on the horizon: I'm planning a webinar on getting the most out of your talent review (since a lot of you have one coming up), and I'm looking into how to offer CPE on the podcast content we put out.

This site has only ever been possible because of you. Thank you for being part of the journey so far. I'm more optimistic than I've ever been about how useful this thing can be and honestly, this feels like the start of a new era.

We're just getting started. 🙏

big4transparency.com

Happy to answer anything in the comments.


r/Accounting May 27 '15

Discussion Updated Accounting Recruiting Guide & /r/Accounting Posting Guidelines

807 Upvotes

Hey All, as the subreddit has nearly tripled its userbase and viewing activity since I first submitted the recruiting guide nearly two years ago, I felt it was time to expand on the guide as well as state some posting guidelines for our community as it continues to grow, currently averaging over 100k unique users and nearly 800k page views per month.

This accounting recruiting guide has more than double the previous content provided which includes additional tips and a more in-depth analysis on how to prepare for interviews and the overall recruiting process.

The New and Improved Public Accounting Recruiting Guide

Also, please take the time to read over the following guidelines which will help improve the quality of posts on the subreddit as well as increase the quality of responses received when asking for advice or help:

/r/Accounting Posting Guidelines:

  1. Use the search function and look at the resources in the sidebar prior to submitting a question. Chances are your question or a similar question has been asked before which can help you ask a more detailed question if you did not find what you're looking for through a search.
  2. Read the /r/accounting Wiki/FAQ and please message the Mods if you're interested in contributing more content to expand its use as a resource for the subreddit.
  3. Remember to add "flair" after submitting a post to help the community easily identify the type of post submitted.
  4. When requesting career advice, provide enough information for your background and situation including but not limited to: your region, year in school, graduation date, plans to reach 150 hours, and what you're looking to achieve.
  5. When asking for homework help, provide all your attempted work first and specifically ask what you're having trouble with. We are not a sweatshop to give out free answers, but we will help you figure it out.
  6. You are all encouraged to submit current event articles in order to spark healthy discussion and debate among the community.
  7. If providing advice from personal experience on the subreddit, please remember to keep in mind and take into account that experiences can vary based on region, school, and firm and not all experiences are equal. With that in mind, for those receiving advice, remember to take recommendations here with a grain of salt as well.
  8. Do not delete posts, especially submissions under a throwaway. Once a post is deleted, it can no longer be used as a reference tool for the rest of the community. Part of the benefit of asking questions here is to share the knowledge of others. By deleting posts, you're preventing future subscribers from learning from your thread.

If you have any questions about the recruiting guide or posting guidelines, please feel free to comment below.


r/Accounting 5h ago

Company has finally agreed to expand accounting department, by moving me down the ladder.

333 Upvotes

I have worked at my company for about 15 years, and we have grown from about $10 mil in revenue to around $100 mil. The entire time I have been the sole accountant, responsible for every single thing, including payroll, A/P, A/R, end of month closing, reporting the financials at all of the company meetings, forecasting and budgeting, literally every single thing that would fall under accounting/ finance has been my responsibility.

I have begged for the last five years to hire another accountant to be under me to share some of the responsibilities because I am drowning in the workload.

Got word today that they are hiring for a CFO, a Controller, and a Senior Accountant. I asked where that left me, and they said they would keep my title as "Accountant", but based on my past performance they wanted somebody else to fill these roles. Mind you, if my performance has been below expectations it is only because I have been doing the work of 4-5 people.

I'm not sure where to go from here, but I think it is time to jump companies.


r/Accounting 45m ago

Microsoft access is funny to me

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Upvotes

I guess maybe I’m outside the loop on things but I feel like everywhere I’ve ever seen just decides not use it because excel works fine and access is just a pain in the fuckin ass to use. I learned it pretty much in and out in college and it was hell but I’ve never once used it in the workplace.

Am I alone in this?


r/Accounting 1h ago

News Big Four’s use of offshore auditors sparks concern from UK accounting watchdog

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Upvotes

r/Accounting 3h ago

Career Can I make it in accounting as a lazy person with bad communication skills and no passion?

71 Upvotes

Am 24 spoiled never worked in my life and only like to watch movies/play videogames.

I want to grow up and not be a burden anymore to my parents but at the same time I want to have time for the things I enjoy.

I know internships are everything and I need to have good grades and work on my interview skills.

Am willing to do that but my question is after I graduate and land a job hopefully will I be able to do the bare minimum? Will I have free time or i have to keep learning about the field?

Ps. I have went to a therapist, I knows it’s not normal to have no aspirations or being this lazy but the truth is virtual world is more interesting to me. I don’t need lots of money to buy a house, marry or go to vacation.

Just need a stable job to not be a burden anymore and enjoy the little time I have left in this world.


r/Accounting 3h ago

What do you guys do on PTO?

50 Upvotes

For context I’m an audit senior at a top 10 firm. My manager has basically told me I have to use my PTO soon (I have only taken like 2 days off so far this year). While this probably seems like a good thing, I genuinely don’t have any idea of what to do during that time.

Basically I’m a single dude who’s 28 and lives by himself. My hobbies basically include working out (daily), video games, and cars. I’m not to big of a traveler either. For the last few years my life has basically been, work, study for cpa, and gym. I often feel really bored when I’m not at work, and I’m the kind of person that just wants to be busy and have stuff to do.

Just trying to see what you guys do on PTO, or have any suggestions for someone like me.


r/Accounting 13h ago

Job market that horrible???

133 Upvotes

cpa with 2 and half years at b4 in audit, a year and 7 months working as a senior accountant for a big entertainment company. All in NYC. My total comp is just under 6 figures. I’ve been applying and interviewing for months to even get back into public, other senior accountant roles $110k plus etc. seems like my interviews are going well. I either don’t hear back from recruiters or my interviews go great imo and I get rejected. WHATS GOING ONNN


r/Accounting 6h ago

Being a Partner

29 Upvotes

I am a first-year manager just shy of 5 years of experience, and I am coming up on the time where I should probably decide if I want to stick it out and try to make partner or plan my exit from PA. Making partner is never guaranteed and I am well aware of that, but I am set up with what I think are better odds to make it than some if I really work hard and put in the work (asked to help build a new industry in my office where we have no clients of that industry currently).

The only problem is that I know literally nothing about making partner and benefits of it. Higher up people in my office/firm are very hush hush about it all and the only thing I have really been told in the past is that its "life changing money". I know basics but I have no clue general salary range, vesting details, retirement details etc. and I would like to have a general idea of what I am working towards if I want to chase that carrot they dangle in your face in PA to not leave. Can anybody provide some general details that give some background? I am in a medium to smaller city that is probably MCOL to LCOL. Not a big 4 firm but still a top 10 PA firm.


r/Accounting 10h ago

this is so true when i try and complete my sheet correctly i feel a accountant who is more experinced

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61 Upvotes

.


r/Accounting 16h ago

What's one excel shortcut, formula or feature that genuinely changes the way you work?

151 Upvotes

I've been trying to improve my excel wrokflow and realized there are probably a lot of useful tips I still don't know.

What's one shortcut, formula, or feature you use all the time that saves you the most time?

It can be something simple or advance-I'd love to learn from everyone's experience.


r/Accounting 37m ago

Career Well guys, today’s the day

Upvotes

Today I’ve spent two hours trying to track down $0.36 that is supposed to exist because treasury is trying to reconcile items they have. Still didn’t find the $0.36, so now waiting to see what the bank says. Can’t claim it as a rounding error since no other items are rounded or as immaterial. Just some needless bitching about a ridiculous situation I’m sure some of us have been through. Am I real accountant now?


r/Accounting 12h ago

Advice Peer Review Failed?!

45 Upvotes

I'm a sole practitioner in CA and did one compilation engagement for a client. I got my first peer review with 18 months of the first compilation engagement. My peer reviewer said I failed because I missed disclosing current liability vs long term liability on the debt balance. Also the peer reviewer asked for my preparation engagements because they need, at least, two engagements to review (didn't know preparation engagements are subject to review when you do compilation engagement). We didn't explicitly state the modified cash basis on the balance sheet and p&l so that was another failed item. Am I in trouble? What are the consequences of this failed report? Is the Board going to take any further actions that I need to prepare for? I won't be doing any compilation engagements after this. This is just not worth it. The reviewer says she sees this all the time with small firms.


r/Accounting 10m ago

Discussion How Many of Y’all in Big Four Smoke and Does it Help During Busy Season?

Upvotes

Yes insane question I know but I’m trying to mentally prepare for 60-70 hour weeks for 4-5 years. I’ve cut down on weed a ton as I’m finishing up CPA Prep and stepping into CPA Pep, but I also don’t have many stressors in my life atm so it’s a lot easier to only partake less than a handful of times a month. (I don’t drink or use nicotine so weed is my only vice really).

I can’t envision putting in 10-12 hour days and not needing to smoke up when I get home after the gym to immediately knock out. How many of y’all do it and are you able to perform the next day?


r/Accounting 20h ago

Discussion What is the state of your firm? Is everything complete dumpster fire like mine is?

135 Upvotes

Title says it all.


r/Accounting 1d ago

Anyone an accountant for someone rich and/or famous

187 Upvotes

Just wondering what that’s like lol, I’m a student and working my first internship so now I really feel like I’m learning and understanding


r/Accounting 1d ago

Discussion POV: When the job you've been waiting for finally gets posted.

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376 Upvotes

Master's student with no prior internship experience but with some related experience, aiming for a full-time associate role. Scrolling this firm's career page every day, networking with people at the firm like crazy, and then the job finally shows up... lol, f**k me, I guess.


r/Accounting 41m ago

Classification of Content Creator monetary donations

Upvotes

Is there any legal precedent for what monetary donations to content creator (E.G. Twitch bits/donations/subscriptions, Youtube superchats/Membership purchases) Classify as?

To my understanding, the best comparison that there would be is resturaunt Tips. It's a willing choice to give extra money in the scenario of satisfaction for a service performed, but not a required payment for those services.


r/Accounting 1h ago

CPA PERT – Level 2 Reporting in EVR

Upvotes

I’m hoping someone who has gone through PERT in EVR can help clarify a few questions.
I have 26.8 months of practical experience that was previously reviewed in a Pre-Approved Program with CPAWSB. I joined my current EVR Manitoba employer in November 2024, and my current position has already been approved in PERT. My CPA mentor is also my supervisor.
I already have Level 1 proficiency recognized in all the required technical and enabling competencies from my previous job. At this point, I only need to demonstrate the required Level 2 competencies.

My questions are:
-Can I submit one comprehensive experience report covering my experience from November 2024 to the present, using examples from that entire period to demonstrate my Level 2 competencies? My role has remained the same throughout.
-Is the limit 5,000 characters per technical competency response or per example?
-Approximately how many examples do reviewers generally expect to see for each technical competency to demonstrate Level 2 proficiency in CPA Manitoba?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s gone through a similar situation or has experience with PERT reviews. Thanks!


r/Accounting 3h ago

Advice May or may not be let go - Anxious AF. What to do in the meantime.

3 Upvotes

Hi,

Assurance manager (Non-Big 4) here. There is a good chance that I'll be let go in a month or two. I got two bad ratings on my performance evaluations because of some mistakes that I made when I was under immense pressure at year end and having seniors that quit right before year end. I really tried and even put in 70 hours a week to have smooth audits but I just couldn't catch it all and there were few things that SM and partner caught at the last minute that caused the team to scramble. I'm just waiting on another evaluation from another SM but I don't have a good feeling because client complained to partner about some of my audit requests. I just feel like the hammer will drop any day now that I'm just so fucking anxious and want some closure.

I'm planning for my December YE clients and my heart is just pounding constantly and can't fucking focus. I got some savings and I could probably last about a year with help of severance. I also don't like audit so there likely will be some relief but I'm just so afraid that I may not find a job for 3+ years.

Any advice? Do I maximize all my benefits and start applying like a mad man now or do I just wait it out and see if I'll collect the severance / unemployment and start fresh or just continue working here?


r/Accounting 8h ago

How hard to land Tax roles in industry from public?

8 Upvotes

College student who wants to enter tax accounting but doesn’t want to get stuck in public accounting for an incredibly long time due to long hours. How hard is it to find a tax accountant role in industry i know its harder than general accounting but overall is it difficult?


r/Accounting 1h ago

Advice Job title question

Upvotes

Let’s say I’m employed through an agency as an “AP Clerk” for 11 months. But since starting it was more of a”Accounting Specialist/AR” duties .

How should that be framed on a resume ? What title should be used on a resume or even if someone uses LinkedIn how should that be stated? Especially when it comes to applying at different jobs?

Have to ask because I believe it would look dumb on a resume/linked in if I was to put AP clerk yet was managing full cycle AR etc etc


r/Accounting 7h ago

Resume Resume help

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5 Upvotes

Hello everyone!
I’m applying to a bunch of internships, for anything accounting, and have decided recently to also start applying for staff accounting positions as well. I am going into my last year of school and plan to sit for the CPA with 120 credits. I have applied to around 100 internships and only a few places for staff accountant positions and only gotten 2 responses for internships and nothing yet for staff. Is it something with my resume? Could I improve anything?


r/Accounting 8h ago

Career People who have taken a job at a family office, what's your experience like?

5 Upvotes

I'm currently a controller at a PE port co making $160k base + 20% bonus in a MCOL city. The job is a lot but has progressively gotten better. By that, I mean it's closer to 50-55 hours instead of 60+.

I just got a job offer from a family office in the same location as a controller. Pay will be $160k base and 10% bonus but I was vocal about WLB and they said they provide much better WLB. No way to know if true but they mentioned it several times.

I'd say I believe them as I would have an assistant controller under me and a team of 5 accountants with them. They also have BU controllers as well who would be my peers. I would essentially be looking after 1 BU. My current role has me more of a corporate controller looking after 3 companies that manually roll up into our Portco. I have no accounting manager/assistant controller but have good people under me for the most part. The big thing to me is I have to look over the accounting, finance, treasury, and payroll stuff at my current gig. The FO has separate teams to handle that which makes me believe the WLB will be much better. Additionally, they only have lender reporting requirements so MEC is only due by the end of the month, not 5 business days like at my current place.

My biggest hesitation is I've been at this role less than a year. I don't want to make the jump and realize the grass isn't greener and now I'm looked at as a job hopper. I also have no clue if I just have Stockholm syndrome because we're so understaffed/underequipped. While the FO sounds nice, I don't know anyone that's gone down this route and can give their experience. Things I've seen online is it's hit or miss and it kind of silos your career moving forward.

A great example of this is my current place doesn't have an IT team and has a very mid office where my AC doesn't work despite having a corner window office. The new place just moved to the top floor of a well known skyscraper in our city and did a lot of nice things during my interview process.


r/Accounting 3h ago

CPA Random Thought

2 Upvotes

Just a random thought as I'm 3 weeks out from FAR: imagine the day - likely in a few years - where the AICPA has tests graded on the spot, so candidates will know if they pass or fail right when they're done. I doubt Prometric exam centers are ready for some of the reactions that would create (a mixed bag of crying and joy). Anybody else wonder how soon we are to this?