When I graduated from college, I had a solid foundation in accounting principles and professional behavior (thanks to my professors at GSU), but there were still many unknowns about what my future career would truly look like! While I thought I had a good idea of what to expect, the reality of starting my accounting career at WBL has turned out to be very different from what I imagined. Here are the top unexpected realities of my experience as an audit associate at WBL:
1. Work/Life Balance:
a. Expectations: Going into the profession, I had heard a lot about the infamous "busy seasons" in public accounting. Late nights, weekends, and the stress of deadlines were common themes in the stories I'd heard during my undergrad years. Honestly, it almost scared me away from the profession entirely!
b. Reality: To my surprise, WBL really prioritizes work-life balance. They recognize that consistently expecting associates to work late into the night or over weekends isn't sustainable, ethical, or conducive to delivering quality work. Instead of a "work harder, work longer" mentality, WBL makes a concerted effort to balance workloads, spreading tasks out over slower months. They also closely monitor everyone's schedules to ensure that deadlines are realistic and manageable, allowing for a healthier work-life balance and reducing the risk of burnout.
2. Flexible Work Environment:
a. Expectations: I walked into my first accounting role expecting a formal, rigid work environment. I thought I'd be closely monitored, with little room for flexibility in terms of arrival and departure times. Given the nature of the profession and the post-COVID return-to-office push, I assumed a full return to the office was inevitable, with little regard for flexibility.
b. Reality: To my surprise, WBL has embraced a hybrid work model that allows for much more flexibility than I expected. While we are expected to be available during standard operating hours, there is plenty of room to manage personal appointments, family commitments, or other situations.
WBL also offers a compressed workweek during certain months, which gives employees extra time off when needed. As long as you establish yourself as a reliable associate and respect the balance, the flexibility is there.
3. Social Environment & Communication:
a. Expectations: I walked into my accounting role expecting a rather dull, solitary work environment. I thought I'd spend my days alone with my spreadsheets, crunching numbers in silence with limited social interaction.
b. Reality: WBL fosters a collaborative and communicative team environment. In the audit department, for example, we work closely within small teams that require frequent discussion and problem-solving. There's a mix of extroverts and introverts, which allows everyone to adapt their working style to the team dynamic.
As you progress in your role, you also have more opportunities to interact with clients, further broadening your professional network. This balance of focused, independent work and social interaction has been key to helping me develop my communication skills—without overwhelming me (fellow introverts will understand).
I hope this gives you some insight into the reality of being a WBL associate and the perks of a midsize firm.