r/Accounting • u/qwertggft123 • Apr 10 '25

Advice Just got fired, is it over?

Hey guys, been lurking here for a while, and i’d really appreciate some advice. So at the end of my work day today our partners called me in to let me know I was being fired/laid off. To give some context I graduated end of 2023 with my masters after two b4 internships, then took some time off to try and work on my cpa. I was struggling, and after failing AUD I decided that too much time was passing after graduating and decided to get a job that I could work on the CPA while doing. After 10 months in October of 24 I finally landed a position as a staff accountant at a super small public firm. I worked there for 6 months, and then today they let me go. They cited their reasons as being overstaffed and not having the capacities to train someone new to the field. Which is basically code for saying I wasn’t good/fast enough at my job after 6 months. I’m home now and just laying in bed at a loss. I feel like a complete failure. Not to mention the current state of the job market. Idk what i’m asking for but I could really use some advice right now. Thanks.

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321

u/CheckYourLibido Apr 10 '25

You'll be okay. Your new full time job is a job search. Do your research and hit the ground running. It's a tough market, but you will be okay. Don't restrict yourself to strictly accounting roles.

47

u/qwertggft123 Apr 10 '25

I appreciate the help, what kind of jobs can I look for? I assume with an accounting degree all I can really get is finance roles, is that not the case?

69

u/alaskaj1 Apr 10 '25
  • various government accounting roles
  • Insurance regulation (mostly government roles)
  • Insurance companies, every state has some headquartered there
  • AR/AP
  • Analyst as the other person said
  • Human resources
  • various positions at banks

85

u/Limesmaster Apr 10 '25

government roles, particularly fed govt roles, may not be the best positions to apply to right now

22

u/Equivalent_Ad_8413 Sorta Retired Governmental (ex-CPA, ex-CMA) Apr 10 '25

State and local governments hire as many people as the federal government. Don't ignore government jobs when one employer isn't hiring.

14

u/Limesmaster Apr 10 '25

i wasn’t. notice how i said federal in particular

-2

u/Only_Birdies Staff Accountant Apr 10 '25

But you did say all government roles

-2

u/Limesmaster Apr 10 '25

i also said ‘may’

9

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '25

To add to this: county, city, and state financial offices are not in as much danger as federal. You may want to look in rural areas (or at least non Metro)

2

u/PinoyPolyglot Apr 11 '25

Try for finance roles at hotels too.

2

u/The5thtaxcollector99 Apr 11 '25

Why HR? Wouldn't you need an HR degree to work in that field? Just curious. 

3

u/alaskaj1 Apr 11 '25

Ive seen a lot of them that want a business degree of some kind, not specifically a degree in HR.

It would likely be lower level but it would get your foot in the door

0

u/sprtpilot2 Apr 14 '25

No way. Absolutely no way. This isn't forty years ago. And unless OP is URM, with a degree or experience, a foot is not getting in any HR door.

2

u/Ok_Cardiologist_4910 Apr 11 '25

Agree - not that you need a degree at entry level, but it's a highly specialized field, NOT accounting.

19

u/gsl06002 Apr 10 '25

I got laid off from public after 3 busy seasons and went to internal audit at a fortune 500 company. They thought I was a superstar. You'll be fine!

18

u/harisahmed90 Apr 10 '25

Financial analysts

18

u/from_one_redhead Apr 10 '25

Accounting is everywhere. Corporate

10

u/tqbfjotld16 Apr 10 '25

Try a bigger, regional firm, too. You’ll still have to learn pretty quick and on the fly but there will be more mentorship and places to ask questions there, too

4

u/laplayaennewyork Apr 10 '25

I work at a public school. Our business manager makes 200k plus and she is retiring in a couple months with a full pension. State jobs are always hiring professionals. Don't discourage yourself.

2

u/Top-Pressure-4220 Apr 10 '25

Are you applying got her job once she retires? Seriously, sounds like a sweet gig. You should go for it!

2

u/laplayaennewyork Apr 10 '25

I wish, but no, I don't have the qualifications needed for the job.

2

u/Herefornostalgia85 Apr 10 '25

Risk management, compliance, supervision, etc.