Carr, Riggs & Ingram

Pros: The people here are genuinely great, which makes even the long hours bearable. I really liked the hybrid work setup; it gave some flexibility during slower times. For Staff Accountant roles, you learn a ton about different clients.
Cons: Work-life balance can really take a hit during tax season and busy periods. We're talking 60+ hours, sometimes more, doing a lot of detailed public accounting work. The pressure in the Atlanta office gets pretty intense.
Advice to Management: Try to distribute the workload more evenly during busy seasons and consider better support for junior Staff Accountants. Burnout is a real issue in public accounting, and it impacts retention.

Pros: Outside of tax season, the work-life balance isn't too bad for public accounting roles. They really try to offer some hybrid work options when things aren't totally crazy. It's a decent place to learn a lot.
Cons: During tax season, forget about work-life balance; it's almost non-existent. As a Senior Tax Accountant in the Orlando, FL office, I'm often pulling 60-70 hour weeks. Client deadlines are brutal and even WFH doesn't make the workload lighter.
Advice to Management: Management needs to staff more effectively during tax season to reduce burnout across all levels. Also, explore strategies to better manage client expectations to ease the pressure on public accounting staff.

Pros: I liked the team aspect; colleagues were usually super helpful and supportive. It’s a good environment to learn the ropes as a Staff Accountant. For a large accounting firm, they do try to foster connection events.
Cons: The work-life balance isn't great, especially during busy tax season or audit engagements. Company culture can feel a bit rigid. There's not much flexibility for remote work; you're mostly onsite in the Atlanta office.
Advice to Management: Try to offer more flexibility with remote work, even during busy periods. It would really help with burnout and make the culture feel more modern for current accounting professionals.