You’re going to have a lot of moments in your career where you think “what the hell do these numbers mean?”

I also preferred managerial accounting over audit. I was always told by my father, “go to PricewaterhouseCoopers and get your CPA.” That’s good advice that I didn’t take. I went directly into an A/P role out of college and almost lost myself in a sea of cubicles filled with sloppy, depressed underachievers and University of Phoenix leadership. This is where accountants went to die.

My direct supervisor had had enough. A longtime ago he was collegiate athlete with the dream of playing in the big leagues ahead of him. His reality now was quite different. He only had one emotion - anger. He was angry that he couldn’t balance his bank rec. Angry that someone made a mistake. Most of all he was angry because his life didn’t turn out as he had planned. There is something insidious about poor workplace culture. If you’re not careful it will rob you of your potential.

I only made it 16 months in that department before corporate accounting functions were consolidated by the parent. In that time I was promoted twice and became a mother fucking wizard in the excel. Thankfully, losing my job allowed me resisted the urge to assimilate into a culture where failure was acceptable.

Eventually, I found a position in a small, growing company that was in need of an accountant with strong people skills. I fit in immediately with the competitive, “get your work done” environment. I chalked up my meager wage and shit hours as a learning opportunity. Today I provide direction to a team of clerks, accountants and analysts as the Controller. Thank god for corporate consolidation.

TL/DR - Grind it in public. Get your CPA or CMA. Don’t stay at a shitty company because they recognize you.