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Accountants - small vs. larger companies *long
Right now I work at a farely large company. They have an excellent benefits package - pto, paid holidays, free dental, short term disability paid (which will be great for maternity leave), health insurance is cheap and a great plan. My job, however is very boring and I am looking to go elsewhere.
This is the first big company I have worked for. I have a background in working for a CPA office (which I wasn't really wanting to go back to, but would consider if I could do bookkeeping), as well as doing bookkeeping for a company for 3 1/2 years. The bookkeeping job was parttime while in school and they did not have a fulltime position for me or any benefits.
I miss being in the smaller office because I liked to be in control of everything. I don't want to go to a larger office and do just payroll or AP. But I am worried that a smaller office may not have as good of benefits.
What is your experience and which would you prefer? I'm just so torn. My main thing is I want a job that keeps me busy. The reason I left the CPA office is because during the summer/fall it was so dead.TIA!
Re: Accountants - small vs. larger companies *long
I guess my experience is all relative. I have always worked for Fortune 500 companies, however, my current employer is the smallest I have worked for at approx. 5 billion annual sales. I have previously worked for companies 20 times this size. In any case, I agree, a smaller company will give you more exposure.
Do you have a BS in Accounting/Finance? CPA license? You mention just doing A/P, however, there are a variety of roles that those with an accounting or finance background could fill, such as FP&A, consolidations, internal audit (including SOX compliance), that is less of a transactional job. I would think if you have an accounting degree and public accounting experience (you mention a CPA office) the roles I mentioned above would be well-suited for you.
I would focus on analyst roles where you are doing more than just processing transactions. I personally prefer a smaller company as I do have more exposure to different areas.
Crazy! I started out bookkeeping while in school and then worked for a CPA office doing payroll and income tax for businesses and individuals for 5 years. Hated tax season and had a 2nd baby so I started looking elsewhere.
Landed a job as an accounting manager for a non-profit animal shelter with about 30 employees. I loved having the department to myself (all accounting, HR and payroll aspects) but it was kind of overwhelming at times to not have any backup or anyone to learn from and grow in my position. Their previous bookkeeper was a mess and older so I spent a lot of time updating and getting a lot of stuff onto the computer and online. The salary was pretty good, the benefits were good but a little expensive if I were to need anything other than Single coverage. But they had a retirement match, sick/vacation time and dental coverage. I never took much time off though, being the only one responsible for the department. You mention maternity leave... I don't know how I would have arranged to have more than 2-3 weeks out of the office.
Then last year I found out about a position at one of our big non-profit hospital systems and applied on a whim, and I got it. I like it here better in that I'm constantly learning from my managers, there are positions to grow to, we have better benefits than what the 30-employee organization could offer, and I have found I generally prefer the "corporate" feeling.
I think being a manager in a small organization is tough if you happen to have not-so-great leadership... I wasn't too sad leaving the small company because of that. I would have been okay staying there with the salary, benefits, the job itself, but I definitely don't regret leaving for the corporate world.