5 signs you’re ready to exit audit

1. You’re not learning, you’re just surviving.

2. You crave flexibility, but it’s nowhere in sight.

3. You’ve earned the role, but not the reward.

4. You don’t see yourself in leadership anymore.

5. You’re asking, “Is this it?” more often than not.

Do you recognize these going concern signs?

In the past, whenever someone has “going concern*” issues within the team, I would be the one to talk to that person. I would invite the person to a coaching session over coffee/milktea.

During my coaching sessions, I ask what kept them motivated and what led to the loss of that motivation. I ask what they aspire to do in the long term. And more often than not, after those sessions, they end up staying at least for one more busy season.

I would like to believe that my coaching led them to become more aware of their goals and how they can link their current work to those goals. That’s why they stayed.

But I also committed the mistake of making people stay, despite knowing that their heart is no longer into the job. And for that, I felt guilty.

After all, I was protecting my reputation, the team, and the client I work for.

If a well-valued team member left, who’s going to take the work? How long will it take before we train a new member? And what would that mean for the overall efficiency? How would the decision of one person to leave affect the decisions of the rest of the team to stay?

These are questions I asked myself. And perhaps, you’ve asked yourself, too.

Do you also feel guilty for leaving, especially if you were so invested in the team? And when you leave, do you know what to do next? Do you already have a proper plan?

If you’ve started asking yourself these questions, may this guide help you to know better. I created this guide with auditors and accountants in mind, especially those who are feeling the itch to leave their current job and leap to a new one, wherever that may be.

Move to industry?

Move to a new country?

Change careers?

Start your business?

Whatever your next move is, let this decision-making tool, self-coaching guide lead you to finding personal happiness.

Even if you still feel deeply attached to your work, someone in the team may not. If you’re in a position to mentor/coach within your team, share this guide with your coachee/mentee.

Use this guide in your conversations to help your mentee/coachee become aware of their long-term aspirations. That way, they would not feel that you’re simply keeping them for the sake of work or the company. Instead, you show that you care enough to direct them to their long-term goals, even if that would mean having them exit audit.

PS. As a subscriber of BSJ, you and your coachees/team mates can enjoy this guide for free. Use code BSJ2025 upon check-out. But note that this discount code is limited to only 50 people. So if you absolutely must use the code now, feel free to do so.

PPS. If you’ve already left audit, how did you exit, and where did you go next? Share your answers by replying to this email. I will be happy to read about your experience.

*going concern = auditors’ code words for “I want to quit”

Tin here! Welcome to Busy Season Journals, a newsletter made especially for you by a fellow accountant/auditor, adventurer, and coach-guide. I write about my adventures as an accountant and auditor and everything in between. You get deeper insights and personal stories on how to shape a happy, meaningful journey.

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