What next after burnout from big4

[Peachhearttree]

2 months after burnout from Big4. I have started to feel more like myself again but I don’t think there is going back to this environment so will hand my resignation.

The time I have had to heal has been great, I am so exercising more, eating better, reading, feel happier and more relaxed, loving the freedom but may feel different in winter with the short days and teens back to school.

I am an Accountant, I don’t want to go back to the rat race but need to make a living; I am early 50s, not enough pension. DH wants to retire in 4 years when DC2 finishes school.

What options are out there? Term time jobs, part time jobs, work for myself, work in a school,

Would be grateful for any advice.

Get yourself into industry, far less stress and generally better salary and bonus

Can you take steps to mitigate against what caused you to burn out, rather than quitting immediately? The consultancies are all undergoing massive restructures and the job market is tricky with a lot of experienced people looking. You could regret that quickly, especially if you could miss out on a redundancy pay out option in the near future.

If you need to work I would firstly see how you can manage your working hours and energy levels going back, especially if you’ll get occupational health support to return. It can be lovely to have that total break and it can feel like an escape, but it’s not real while you’re being paid.

Being stressed about being unemployed and under pressure to find something as time ticks can be equally if not more damaging to your mental health. I would think twice before resigning with nothing to go to, and make a reasoned plan to return and start looking at what other options you have while you still have an income to give you more runway.

Term time jobs are vanishingly rare. Part time is sector dependent but you’ll know from your industry it’s hard to negotiate and five days is very much default.

Working in a school in a supportive capacity often pays under £20k unless you teach or lead.

Being self employed can be good, but you need to have a business plan and run the numbers. Drumming up business is a different kind of stress and a task that never ends (or not until you’re so established people are coming to you).

Agree with PP, could you do some sort of phased return while looking for another job?

Thank you all. I appreciate the advice.

The team culture I as in at the moment has been one of the reasons for burnout. I have the feeling I was being managed out. High expectations on long hours, utilisation, an up or out culture and some discrimination treatment.

These has been happening for a few months now but I was trying not to take it personally and hold in there; it ultimately impacted me.

I do get nervous about the current job market though and having to find a new job. Not sure what is worse stay or go.

What level are you OP? (Also big4, thinking fit might be easier to suggest options if we knew)

This has been my thoughts. Hopefully I will find something. I am not sure I can stay in current job as it is damaging my confidence and mental health. I need to get moving with job hunting.

Manager. Lots of experience in industry prior yo this job.

Can you move within your company? I’m an accountant at a big 4 but I’m not client facing which I think makes a difference.

Manager is the worst level - trapped between the juniors who do a crap job, and the partners who demand the impossible.

Id say go for industry for sure. Not sure working in a school would be a sensible move.

Would love that. As I like the company in general, My preference will be staying but in enabling services. I need to speak yo Occupational health to see if they will support a transfer.

Agree

I've moved from big4 to a next7 company and never looked back. I feel great at my current firm. Not as hierarchical and KPI-run, and the culture is completely different.

What is your specialism as this makes a difference - banking tax or audit is always going to be a nightmare but if you are in an area like personal tax or smaller businesses it should be easier to move out to a smaller firm where the office closes at 5.30 pm and the lights are out by 5.45.

You could look at moving internally to eg training or into industry or the public sector. SIL had enough and moved first to training and then to the Charity Commission where the hours were family friendly and she could take a decent chunk of school holidays off.

Stupid question from me (given I am Big 4) - never heard of Next 7 - what is it? Even Professor Google doesn’t know.

Thank you

Will look into these options: internal move, industry or public sector.

Depending on salary you need, HE needs accountants. Finance departments growing to cope with challenges

Try local authority but go for accountant level rather than above to avoid stress.

Parish and Town Councils

they are the droid you seek

Thank you. Where do I look for jobs in public service?

Previous jobs have bern through net working, indeed, reed.

I guess I should approach recruiters directly too

I work in my Big4 equivalent of enabling services. Not directly client facing. I rarely work beyond my contracted hours and have loads of flexibility. I would think at manager grade there would be lots of options for non-specialist roles.

Yep me too. We don’t call it enabling services but I assume it’s the same thing. My team is very flexible, I don’t do long hours, and there’s lots of options to move around within the non-client facing areas for different experience.

walk away from the recruiters
look at the employers

where do you live
look at the councils

Ahh. There is hope.

I am desperate to move out of client facing roles. Most of my experience has been in industry. I like my Company but no current team and would like to stay if possible.

I think quitting will force me into getting going with the job hunting, approaching contacts.

Try NHS Jobs, Civil Service Jobs and searching "public sector jobs <county>" to find the public sector advertising website for your area.

Presumably you're on 70k or so as a manager?

What do you need to get paid?

I think you'd find Grade 6-7 jobs in the civil service broadly right for your level, or 8a-b-c in the NHS. Pay will be lower but the pension is a decent top up and would make a nice addition to your retirement pot (though bear in mind you'd need to find out the value if you took it earlier than 67).