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What kind of work/life balance does a CPA have?

I'm currently in college studying accounting. Right now my goal is to finish my degree and become a CPA. I hear quite often that CPAs have a poor work/life balance. I've heard they put it lots of hours and don't get paid that well for what they out in. Is this true? I dont mind putting in extra effort but I don't want to feel like my job dictates my life.

Public Comments

1. I know several. They make good money and live pretty good lives. A few of them travel for their companies and have lived all over the world on the company dime. You made a good choice. Your goal for the good life is not to stay at home and work for yourself in this instance. You want to work for a big financial firm like PWC.
2. Most jobs you have to put in a heap of extra hours to succeed. WOuldnt personally waste my time on a CPA as Acccountant are generally lower paid than others in similar style roles. BA's and Project Managers are the way to go. Far more flexible
3. I am an administrative assistant to a CPA and his life is very well balanced. He loves what he does. I have 2 family members that are also CPA's and they LOVE their job. Sometimes you need to put a but more than other times, but overall it's pretty well balanced and they get paid PRETTY GOOD. I think you made a great choice. stick with it!
4. You made a wise choice choosing accounting as your major. Being a CPA is great but as you know it's only one option out of many with your degree. As far as the others that tell you that you need a BA or a general degree in business - they are misguided. You will be able to do anything and everything that they do but have the real education to back it and understand it. You career options are endless in the business world. As far as the CPA route, you would want to work for a company for few years for experience. Don't think that you have to work for a large CPA firm either, you will learn more working with a smaller one because you will be responsible for more things. You have to decide with which size you feel comfortable. Then, you can open your own CPA company with just you to start. You will live a comfortable life and only you can make the proper balance between work and personal time. As you already know, you will have to work long hours at whatever you do if you truely want to be successful. So, do it while you are young and learn as much as you can. As you get older, your office meetings will be out on the golf course..... Enjoy and good luck to you.
5. Hello..your question was pretty much my question when i got started. I am currently working for a big four accounting firm and the term worklife balance is highly overstated and overused. Having a life is what you make for yourself and alot of sacrifices are made especially when you get more work as you progress with your career. For my own experience, i work in the tax and advisory side of accounting and the hours can definitely turn people off in pursuing a career in this field. But you have to question, why do you want to do accounting? If you like numbers (non-engineering or calc type math which i hated), like travelling (if you want to be an auditor), like interacting with people, then its a suitable job for you. As for as work/life balance, like I said, work is part of your life and as much as you would hate it, there would be times when you get overworked. My experience of working 70-80 hr weeks are pretty bad, but at the same time, i always look back and say there is no other job out there that i can get paid alot and like. Also, once you land a job, have a clear agenda of what you want in life since if you really want a balance, you have to put in the same effort at work as is to making time for having a life....its a long answer but i honestly was and still in on the same boat as you. Good luck with everything!! and go study for the CPA ASAP...its a hassle if you keep waiting...