I can’t believe it’s already been three months at Eclipse LLP. Time has flown by! Before joining, I spent about 13 months at a national firm, so I’ve experienced both worlds. When I made the switch, I wanted a place where I could learn a lot, improve my skills, be more involved, and really feel like part of the team. I also wanted work that would challenge me and help me become a great accountant. So far, Eclipse LLP has been everything I hoped for. I’ve worked on audits, corporate reviews, and some tricky files that have made me think in new ways. Some days are tough, but I can feel myself improving, and that’s the best part.
Variety of Work
One of the biggest differences is the variety of work. In just a few months, I’ve worked on investment files, non-profits, retail, trucking, healthcare, and manufacturing. At the national firm, things moved slower, and I didn’t always get challenging files right away. Here, I have more control. I just need to talk to the partners and managers, and they let me take on files that match my interests. At national firms, resourcing teams assign work based on experience level, so you don’t always get to explore different industries early on. Having this flexibility has helped me learn faster and gain more experience.
Immediate Feedback
Feedback is another major difference. Since we all work in the same office, I get quick feedback from managers and partners. If I need to fix something, I hear about it right away instead of waiting weeks for a formal review. This has helped me adjust and improve much faster. At the national firm, feedback followed structured review cycles, so it took longer. Having instant feedback here has made a huge difference.
Direct Client Interaction
Getting to work directly with clients has been another big shift. During tax season, I helped clients understand complex tax issues and answered their questions. At the national firm, these conversations were usually handled by managers or partners, so I wasn’t as involved. Talking to clients myself has really helped me build confidence and improve my communication skills.
Pay and Retention
One thing that really surprised me was pay. Midsized firms actually pay a lot more than national firms. I wasn’t expecting such a big difference, but it’s clear they focus on keeping their employees, which makes a huge difference when choosing where to work.
Final Thoughts
Switching to a midsized firm has been a great experience. Some days are challenging, but that’s exactly what I wanted, a job that pushes me to grow and keeps me engaged. The ability to choose my own files, work closely with clients, and get fast feedback has made a big difference. I’m excited to see how the next few months go!
