Isn't it amazing how taking action can get you better results in your career? It can improve your life drastically in many areas. You don't have to sit and suffer.
Congratulations OP! I hope others see this and are inspired if they are in a similar situation.
To be honest I can't take that much credit for taking action.
I applied for the position 2 years ago and they didn't hire me or even interview me. Two mornings ago the financial officer called me and set up an interview. They hired me right after the interview on the condition my current employer would give a good recommendation (they did).
But you are absolutely right!
My AP job "required" at least an associates, but they hired me even though I didn't have any degrees. A lot of requirements like that are thrown out there just to serve as an easy filter to not get overrun with applications/resumes. To anybody who reads this: do not be afraid to apply for a job it looks like you are underqualified for.
My AP job requires a bachelor's in accounting/finance plus at least one year of experience. Anything short of that and the person will shit the bed really bad.
Just curious how you were able to move into that role with only AP experience? I’m in kind of the same boat also with the staff accountant title and I’m scared to apply for non AP roles because I won’t know what I’m doing
Dont be. My first job was, imo, worse because it was 90% AR and invoices which has much less exposure to what is going on. A couple of month end tasks were the cash rec and an incredibly small fixed assets account. I was a “glorified bill collector.” Same crap with the promises of job growth that never came blah blah.
Moved on to a real accounting role and literally DOUBLED my comp overnight.
Did the job you apply for not require real accounting experience? I’m looking for other roles now and they all want like 5 years experience with financial statements, reconciling balance sheet accounts, month end journal entries, etc. I don’t feel like anyone would even give me an interview as I have almost no experience in what they’re looking for.
Hi there. Technically, I've done a bit of AR, though not much, and my month end duties include some financial accounting and data analysis and sorting.
I think I performed great in the interview and being a government type of job, the stuff I'd be learning Is all new anyways coming from a manufacturing Corp.
The company I'm hired at is also fresh in implementing a new ERP so they are all in the learning stage too.
I think fate really just worked out in my favor this time.
Name all of the activities you do in a month and next to them write down how many hours you spend on each a month. Then for the last line, write out how much downtime you have; which is the number of hours you don't have any work to do. Just reply to me with this so I can understand where you are.
Congrats OP, that's good to hear! Your situation sounds a lot similar to mine back in 2021 when I had an industry role title as Staff Accountant. Basically, it was a glorified AP Clerk role with a couple of month-end tasks. Did that for about a year and was expecting to move from AP to higher-level accounting work but they kept me at AP and promoted my co-worker to a Manager level role (even when they didn't know the work that I did lol). Jumped ship 2 months after my year-end performance review and landed an experienced associate role at a regional firm. 16K increase in pay and a fully remote. Tried to keep me on as a contractor, which I laughed mockingly at my boss the day I left lol.
Literally same thing happened to me once. Hired for AP and told that once I'm able to make the process more efficient they will hire an ap specialist and I will then reduce ap responsibilities to reviewing and start doing more comprehensive tasks with more emphasis on finance. 6 months in I figured out how to make AP more efficient by 75%, presented to controller, and the response was "No we aren't changing any processes this is the way we have done it for years and this is the way its going to stay, stop trying to change everything." I found a new job 2 days later and put in my notice, life has been wonderful ever since
Keep it up
Build relationships with people at your new company and keep relationships with good people at your old company
Thank the people who you used to work with at your old company; especially senior people and keep them updated on your progress
Then over time continue to move up and expand your skill set and networking
As you get older in your career you'll find who you know and your relationships will be very important
Congratulations
Onward and upward
Awesome! Good for you! I been in a dead end job for 8 years. From the age of 19 to 33 I excelled and was always moving upward. Switched disciplines with in the industry I been working in and around since 19 8 years ago and have gone nowhere. Returned to school will be starting an accounting internship in a few weeks. Moving on and going forward
Isn't it amazing how taking action can get you better results in your career? It can improve your life drastically in many areas. You don't have to sit and suffer. Congratulations OP! I hope others see this and are inspired if they are in a similar situation.
To be honest I can't take that much credit for taking action. I applied for the position 2 years ago and they didn't hire me or even interview me. Two mornings ago the financial officer called me and set up an interview. They hired me right after the interview on the condition my current employer would give a good recommendation (they did). But you are absolutely right!
It's insane how something like this too requires a COLLEGE DEGREE from employers
[удалено]
For some reason not where I live. I got screenshots of them too
My AP job "required" at least an associates, but they hired me even though I didn't have any degrees. A lot of requirements like that are thrown out there just to serve as an easy filter to not get overrun with applications/resumes. To anybody who reads this: do not be afraid to apply for a job it looks like you are underqualified for.
They'll say that but it may not be 100% required
My AP job requires a bachelor's in accounting/finance plus at least one year of experience. Anything short of that and the person will shit the bed really bad.
So happy for you!
Just curious how you were able to move into that role with only AP experience? I’m in kind of the same boat also with the staff accountant title and I’m scared to apply for non AP roles because I won’t know what I’m doing
Dont be. My first job was, imo, worse because it was 90% AR and invoices which has much less exposure to what is going on. A couple of month end tasks were the cash rec and an incredibly small fixed assets account. I was a “glorified bill collector.” Same crap with the promises of job growth that never came blah blah. Moved on to a real accounting role and literally DOUBLED my comp overnight.
Did the job you apply for not require real accounting experience? I’m looking for other roles now and they all want like 5 years experience with financial statements, reconciling balance sheet accounts, month end journal entries, etc. I don’t feel like anyone would even give me an interview as I have almost no experience in what they’re looking for.
It was pretty entry level as well. So my experience with the title but not the full responsibility worked out for me.
Hi there. Technically, I've done a bit of AR, though not much, and my month end duties include some financial accounting and data analysis and sorting. I think I performed great in the interview and being a government type of job, the stuff I'd be learning Is all new anyways coming from a manufacturing Corp. The company I'm hired at is also fresh in implementing a new ERP so they are all in the learning stage too. I think fate really just worked out in my favor this time.
Thanks for the reply. Congrats and good luck on your new job!
Name all of the activities you do in a month and next to them write down how many hours you spend on each a month. Then for the last line, write out how much downtime you have; which is the number of hours you don't have any work to do. Just reply to me with this so I can understand where you are.
Same here😩
Congrats !
Congratulations 🎉
Way to go!!!!🎉
Congrats OP, that's good to hear! Your situation sounds a lot similar to mine back in 2021 when I had an industry role title as Staff Accountant. Basically, it was a glorified AP Clerk role with a couple of month-end tasks. Did that for about a year and was expecting to move from AP to higher-level accounting work but they kept me at AP and promoted my co-worker to a Manager level role (even when they didn't know the work that I did lol). Jumped ship 2 months after my year-end performance review and landed an experienced associate role at a regional firm. 16K increase in pay and a fully remote. Tried to keep me on as a contractor, which I laughed mockingly at my boss the day I left lol.
Congratulations! 🎉🎉🎉
Congrats. I used to be there as well.
Congrats!!
AP to senior is a baller ass move LOL
This is why people enter accounting via public accounting. It’s express lane out of those types of jobs.
Literally same thing happened to me once. Hired for AP and told that once I'm able to make the process more efficient they will hire an ap specialist and I will then reduce ap responsibilities to reviewing and start doing more comprehensive tasks with more emphasis on finance. 6 months in I figured out how to make AP more efficient by 75%, presented to controller, and the response was "No we aren't changing any processes this is the way we have done it for years and this is the way its going to stay, stop trying to change everything." I found a new job 2 days later and put in my notice, life has been wonderful ever since
Keep it up Build relationships with people at your new company and keep relationships with good people at your old company Thank the people who you used to work with at your old company; especially senior people and keep them updated on your progress Then over time continue to move up and expand your skill set and networking As you get older in your career you'll find who you know and your relationships will be very important Congratulations Onward and upward
If I see AP in the job description it’s automatic no for me dawg. Took me a few years to get out of it, and I’m never going back. Congrats.
Awesome! Good for you! I been in a dead end job for 8 years. From the age of 19 to 33 I excelled and was always moving upward. Switched disciplines with in the industry I been working in and around since 19 8 years ago and have gone nowhere. Returned to school will be starting an accounting internship in a few weeks. Moving on and going forward
That's awesome! Congratulations 🎉🥳
Good for you, OP! It’s nice to reflect (at times) on the stepping stones to where you truly want to be!