Bookkeepers Struggle with Client Acquisition

“I am looking around at jobs and have come upon a couple opportunities for Tax Manager within financial services firms that are looking to expand their services into tax for their investment clients - small businesses and their owners, for the most part. This is the majority of the work that I do at a large public accounting firm, and the opportunities I have spoken to have mentioned client lists of 300+ for one tax manager. My client list is already at 200+ and I feel maxed out, but I'm wond”

“I am hoping this is my last busy season at the big4. After so many long nights, I don't have the motivation to endure another cycle. The problem is I don't know where to begin looking for another job or what to look for. I mainly prepare federal and state tax returns for investment management companies. Despite my experience, I don't want to continue down this path. I have an interview lined up for a tax compliance role at a private company. However, I am concerned I might end up bur”

“I left a very good industry position because no one in my company had a cpa to sign off on my work experience, and no I can't even get a single company to call back for an interview. Now that I have my CPA, it's like I am overqualified to be a regular staff accountant, but not experience enough for a senior accountant role. I've only submitted about 100 resumes so far (willing to relocate anywhere) but no one is interested. context : 25-28 year old male, willing to relocate anywhere”

“Hang in there Took me five years to feel fully confident in my ability. Take comfort in the fact that Claude and other AI can help tremendously with excel and accounting standard interpretation. [re: Having a very hard time in my first year and feel like I just can’t get anything right - for those later in their careers, what was your very start like and did you also struggle substantially in your first couple of years?]”

“Hi everyone, Needed to make this post to have some of your advices. This year going into my 4th busy seasons and a senior now. I am really tired of some aspects of this job. I actually enjoy the learning part of this job and I think I have acquire some really good knowledges over the past few years. Also in process to get my country cpa.But the others parts of the job is draining me way too much now. Firstly, since a few years on some jobs, I feel like I'm doing everything, from the work in”

“That's also something I'm wondering, if I get my CPA I could potentially have higher roles/position but at what price .. I like my work/life balance. I know one day my kids will grow up and maybe by then I'll feel like I can tackle more but they have been my priority for the last 8 years and I don't see how they could ever take the back seat.. [re: CPA or family?]”

“Hey all, I just want to vent out my frustration, I am a CPA with 4 years of experience in a accounting firm not part BIG4. In this four years I just realized na wala akong naiipon na pera normal po ba to sa mga nagwowork sa firm or ako lang huhuhu baka may marecommend naman kayo na High Paying Job. submitted by /u/LegalLadder6265 [link] [comments]”

“I abandoned my art degree for accounting because I no longer wanted to be a starving artist. Now I’m a starving accountant. [re: I would never tell anyone to go into accounting.]”

“What can I do to ensure I advance professionally (other than getting my CPA and adhering to office politics) submitted by /u/hypermiler2205 [link] [comments]”

“At that level it's usually a mix, but they'll be watching how you think through problems more than testing if you memorized the tax code. I'd expect a few scenario questions like "walk me through how you'd handle a state audit notice" or something about ASC 740 if they do provision work. The rest is mostly seeing if you'd fit with the team and can explain complex stuff without sounding like a textbook. The onsite final round is often more about culture than anything”

“I recommend talking with accountants face to face. You’ll learn more that way Also I don’t think people who are content with their life will go on reddit and create threads on how they are doing fine lol I don’t really enjoy the work, but I don’t hate it. It’s reliable work (as reliable as things are nowadays) and pays ok. Gives me space to do what I love, like music or improv. [re: Y’all are scaring me]”

“Currently working in Advisory/Internal Audit at a top 10 firm (not big 4) for 1.5 years making around 100k. Due to the stress, I feel like I’m not really cut out for a job like this. I’m not a great associate by any means of efficient. Might get kicked to the curb soon. I’m close to finishing my CPA and thinking about making the hop after that into industry for better WLB I don’t enjoy my job at all and find it incredibly boring and I have no desire to improve anymore. It’s just soul sucking. I”

“Yes, if you have the accommodation of insurance skills and an eye for numbers, you can pretty quickly make six figures doing bookkeeping work for agencies. It is crickets out there for real. [re: Growing Bookkeeping Business]”

“I’ve got about 8 years of professional experience. Qualified just over a year ago. My CV currently lists out 3 jobs, but I’ve had more. Job #1 I was a senior accountant for 4 years. I was then fired but got a new job pretty quickly. I think there is a 1 month gap between that job and the next job. Job #2 I was a group accountant for 3 months but decided to leave because I was causing trouble. My boss offered to put me on garden leave for another 3 months (so I was there a total of 6 months). I d”

“Background: Big4 advisory for 4 years, corporate accounting for 2 years. Anyone else get to a point and question why you even went the accounting/CPA route? Corporate accounting role/team leadership has me day dreaming of going back to Big4 believe it or not and feel like this is the reason I am questioning everything. Maybe changing jobs would help but so turned off of core accounting/close heavy roles right now. For those who have felt like this, how did you overcome it? Did you exit accountin”

“Why is it that I have so much experience but once I’m back in an accounts payable role it’s like I step in a mine field of cleaning up the previous accountant’s work. submitted by /u/Training_Breath9003 [link] [comments]”

“Yes, that’s what I was thinking. Thanks for the advice! Just need to make sure I set myself up for success so that I can have a somewhat decent wage while I try for the cpa. [re: Need advice on the better pathway to become a CPA.]”

“Currently in public, almost CPA designated in Canada. I hate it here, want to leave and do something better like full cycle accounting but I feel like that’s below CPA level submitted by /u/bradynotbrady [link] [comments]”

“Interviewing in a few weeks with BDO for tax, a little bit desperate for a job after passing 4/4 CPA exams. Feel free to give any insight! Edit: I only see the audit side getting LOTS of hate. how is the tax side? submitted by /u/Stock-Vegetable7572 [link] [comments]”

“I have a year of audit experience and i just got my CPA. I don't like audit really. I'm pretty interested in complex accounting and also private client tax. I think i could get paid more doing FDD but i like that tax lets you start your own practice. Any advice submitted by /u/Informal_Trainer_728 [link] [comments]”

“It doesn't even need to be a larger organization, it could be a smallish business with as few as one in-house accountant. Ideally you want to work under a designated CPA you can learn from though. The role ultimately just needs to be sophisticated enough to fulfill CPA's defined technical milestones though. By the time you reach the CPA program, the work experience requirement will change from the present "EVR" system though, so you'll need to do the research on the new pro”

“I wanted to make an update to my previous post because I’m still struggling to figure out how to get my career moving in the direction I actually want, and honestly, I’m starting to feel pretty hopeless about it. For some background, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in accounting in May 2025 and currently work as a Payroll Manager at a local CPA firm. I was originally hired as a Junior Accountant, but due to staffing issues, I ended up primarily working in payroll and eventually moved into”

“How are people supposed to break into tax accounting when entry-level opportunities seem almost nonexistent? submitted by /u/lokeevillian [link] [comments]”

“I’m coming off 6 months of medical leave and have roughly ten years of bookkeeping/small business tax that progressed into medical billing and like past 2 years. I have a few small clients and people who come to me to do their personal taxes. Nothing huge, but nets me ~500/month plus a couple thousand over tax season. I have a 1 year certificate I did online for accounting as some jobs I applied to for bookkeeping required these first year classes. I’m in some online classes this fall that’ll co”

submitted by /u/OutrageousRound2032 [link] [comments]

“Currently a staff 2 with CPA but have only worked on Insurance/Federal claim services. I haven’t got the chance to work on more accounting heavy projects just yet and worried im shooting my self in the foot. submitted by /u/Sure_Flounder_481 [link] [comments]”

“Im 33M currently working as a Senior Accountant at a midsize firm. I have been an accountant since 2020 and I absolutely hate it to the point that i have been slacking off at work and the work had been slowly piling up.I have been thinking of changing my career path completely and looking jobs that are not finance related but since I have been working as an accountant for 6 years I make a decent income, I am confused if I switch careers I will have to begin with a low paying job. I have around $”

“Im 33M currently working as a Senior Accountant at a midsize firm. I have been an accountant since 2020 and I absolutely hate it to the point that i have been slacking off at work and the work had been slowly piling up.I have been thinking of changing my career path completely and looking jobs that are not finance related but since I have been working as an accountant for 6 years I make a decent income, I am confused if I switch careers I will have to begin with a low paying job. I have around $”

“How do you put it on the resume properly to let them know your a cpa candidate because I’ve been struggling also [re: No job in accounting]”

“Not sure if the UK is the same, but FBP/FP&A/Management Accountants are all used somewhat interchangeably here (South Africa) and so I would imagine you're well positioned. [re: Finance Business Partners UK]”

“I have 12 years experience in accounting with a master's in accounting and currently put myself in a challenge to pass the enrolled agent exam. I've always been low balled at 65k.. and every time I work in a new position.. I'm the smartest one.. I'm shocked how a lot of my colleagues don't know much.. I will start looking for a new position... How do y'all get the 80k plus salaries... This is going to be my new challenge cause I'm pretty qualified submitted by &”

“I was in the same position a couple of months ago. I literally thought I was gonna be unemployed for nine months at the very least, so I signed myself up for the CPA. Surprisingly, I did get a job right before my graduation this October. I would say if you don’t get a job by graduation, apply for the CPA. If you have the funds to pay for the application and the classes while applying to jobs, that would be ideal. Many people start their CPA when their jobs paying for it, but in my experience wor”

“Yes, my most liked/commented posts are from other bookkeepers or accountants not people looking for bookkeepers [re: Growing Bookkeeping Business]”

“Hello everyone I am a Female 34yrs was laid of work in the beginning of August due to company restructure. I am a CPA and I have 10yrs experience. Any opportunities that I would explore? submitted by /u/that_mancitybiker [link] [comments]”

“Been laid off over a year ago. Moved and now back in the market and 0 bites. Is the accounting profession over for me? Not sure what to do with my career now. submitted by /u/Embarrassed-Ad-6529 [link] [comments]”

“Join www.taxproexchange.com as well, tax pros looking for bookkeepers [re: Growing Bookkeeping Business]”

“Hi I am a CPA at public accounting firm and ive been putting my resume into different Non CPA firms and I keep getting passed on. Im a senior associate and I do audit/tax. I have a little over 5 years total. I really dont understand why im getting passed on. I realize I dont have the exact experience of the industry jobs but as a CPA im the one who reviews the work of these places for the audit/tax return. I fix all their mistakes so you would think I could do the job or learn it. Maybe the plac”

“Hi everyone, I’m looking for some career advice because I’m honestly not sure what my next move should be. I was laid off from an accounting position last year due to outsourcing. Since then, I’ve been applying for jobs consistently and am approaching 400 applications, but I’ve had only three interviews. After my unemployment benefits ran out, I took a job in an unrelated field to keep some income coming in. I’ve tried just about everything I can think of. I’ve had professional connections try t”

“I'm 35, married, with a 1-year-old child and a second on the way. I'm a CPA with 12 years of experience and currently work independently as a consultant. My spouse is currently a stay-at-home parent, so I'm the sole income earner. We're in a relatively comfortable financial position, but I'm trying to figure out how to best position our family over the next 5 years, particularly when it comes to investing, homeownership, and potentially starting or acquiring a business. Curre”

“I'm 26, staff accountant in audit at a small local firm in a LCOL-MCOL area. No CPA, 3 YOE, master's degree, and just got married. I think I've finally found my way out of public, but the thought of actually leaving is bothering me a little. My father-in-law owns a successful local business and wants to bring me on to do a mix of FP&A, some operational stuff, and eventually take over the books. My goal would be to get their accounting to the point where they don't need an out”

“I'm relatively new to accounting and I've noticed how easily work stuff starts spilling into personal accounts. Clients sending documents to whatever email they have saved, random tax software signups, webinars, certification websites and recruiters constantly asking for contact info. One of my coworkers mentioned that he still gets emails from clients he worked with years ago because he gave them his personal address once. I'm starting to think I should be a lot more careful about w”

“How can I maximize my starting earning potential once I get my accounting degree. Going to Penn State World campus, I chose accounting because after my research I realized it has a more stable path than finance. I’m a machinist mate getting out in 2 years. Also, that’ll put me at the 9.5 year mark. I had knee surgery and recovery has been rough but I’m also burned out with my job. I know I’ll take a pay cut when I start accounting initially but how can I increase that starting pay. I have 65 cre”

“Why not ask your clients for feedback, or even trade work for mentoring? You’re in the room, start asking questions! [re: Note to self: don't be a CPA in your next life]”

“What other jobs besides directly being an accountant would CA/ CPA qualify you for? submitted by /u/alex123711 [link] [comments]”

“I could really use a sober assessment of my prospects right now. 9 years in public (nonprofit audit) with 6 years as a senior. Not big4 but top 10 largest at the same firm the entire time. I got into accounting late and didn’t really start until I had a family in my very late 20s. No cpa, and between working long PA hours and being husband and dad to a few kids I don’t know that I’m going to be getting it anytime soon. $106k in a somewhere between mcol and hcol city - no bonuses, and benefits ar”

“Hi I’m in my mid thirties, have worked in banking for 10 years, and currently earn around $110K. I’m tired of corporate politics and want to build something of my own rather than continue helping grow someone else’s business. I’m pursuing my CPA license and am currently 12 semester units short of qualifying for the CPA exam. My long-term goal is to start my own accounting practice, gain more control over my work, and build long-term wealth for my family. I understand this path requires significa”

“Any advice on where to find jobs postings that are for smaller firms or in industry? Any specific websites you use or search terms would be greatly appreciated. submitted by /u/Sad_Macaroon_456 [link] [comments]”

“By this logic, you should be able to increase prices and be picky with clients. Less supply same demand [re: Note to self: don't be a CPA in your next life]”

“On a serious note, I am pretty new into the profession. I’m just curious what would you rather do besides Accounting for work? When I was evaluating jobs I just felt like every other job has stuff that sucks. And Accounting was just like the least of all evils in my eyes [re: Note to self: don't be a CPA in your next life]”

“You should really get your name out there. Tax managers are hitting the $180k plus out there. Do some part-time/contractual work for other firms to test the waters. You might find the firm you need or maybe find the work as a contractor is the way to go. You got what’s needed out there, for sure. Full disclosure, I’m a CPA and an IRS Enrolled Agent, who owns a small accounting firm, so I might not have the greatest point of view. [re: Note to self: don't be a CPA in your next life]”

“Oh for sure! But it all compounds. [re: Note to self: don't be a CPA in your next life]”

It's all hard. 🤣😭 [re: Note to self: don't be a CPA in your next life]

“No shade just trying to laugh through this deadline 🤣 Glad you found something that works for you! [re: Note to self: don't be a CPA in your next life]”

“I'm a 31 y.o. CPA/Tax Manager in a small firm that doesn't have any real organization, but has massive high networth clients - Why did we do this again? Oh yeah.. to get rich, but all I do is see my clients get richer, bitch about taxes as they sit in their $2M vacation home, all while I still can't seem to get any of my debt balances to zero. Literally losing my shit. Burnt out. I don't want to do this anymore. Where do we go from here.. Buy a boat and eff off?.. But boats break”

“Basically am I doing good for where Im at? Stats: Age: 25 (4.5 YOE) Compensation: 85K + 10% Title: Senior Accountant Location: LCOL WLB: ~40 hrs Industry No CPA. 4 days in Office 15 min commute. Looking to see if maybe I could be making more money than what I’m doing. Feel like I’m doing okay, but honestly no good idea. Appreciate ya! submitted by /u/Parking_Two_2189 [link] [comments]”

“Hey everyone, I have about 3.5 years of experience in public accounting, but honestly, I’m reaching a point where I don’t think I can do it anymore. I’m completely burnt out, and it’s starting to affect my quality of life outside of work. Even on weekends, I have a hard time relaxing because I’m already thinking about the upcoming workweek. By the time I have free time, I’m usually too exhausted to enjoy my hobbies or do much of anything. Lately, even simple projects at work feel overwhelming, a”

“Planning to change career from office engineer to remodeling company. Wanted to see what is a timeline it takes from getting first few jobs. What was your initial profit margin and cost of doing business?how much and what did you do to do marketing? submitted by /u/Lost_Highway_1070 [link] [comments]”

“I am a 34 yo female with adhd/ocd who has worked as legal staff in six law firms since graduating college 9 years ago. I’ve done everything from monotonous clerical busywork to basically running entire cases, I’ve built up a department and helped start a new firm twice. Helping start a new firm the second time was the most fun but it completely burned me out and since I was just staff, I got nothing for it at all. Over all this time I’ve noticed some patterns: - I’m nearly always an “instant suc”

“I have worked within tax/accounting for the past 9 years since I graduated and am just feeling super unhappy recently. I can’t tell if I hate my current role, the industry, or just corporate America in general 🫠 I’d love to work with someone who can help me figure out what I want to do next and how to pivot. Would also love any advice on someone who pivoted careers in their 30s! submitted by /u/First-Spot6662 [link] [comments]”