CPA due in Feb, aka Busy Season - Advice needed!

Lich1123 · June 2014

Hi all - I am a lurker here and just found out I am PG with my 2nd and due in Feb. it took me 2 years to have my first, so I thought about trying to time it around busy season, but just decided I didn't want to put my life on hold and didn't know how long it would take this time around. So now that I am knocked up, I am freaking out about what people are going to think. I am a partner in a firm and work full time. I don't know if I should just not care what people think and ignore it, or if I should address it up front with the managing partners and say "listen, I know the timing isn't great, but...." Any advice would be appreciated!!

welly01 · June 2014

I am a CPA (though was only staff while in public practice) and I don't think you should apologize or feel bad about the timing of the pregnancy. When you're ready to tell your boss, I would just let them know that you'll do whatever you can to make sure your clients are covered during your time out. But you should absolutely still take as long a leave as you want (full 12 weeks or whatever).

We had a partner whose wife passed away during busy season and everyone just worked to cover his load while he was out. Life happens and you just have to deal with it sometimes. Also, our partners took rotating sabbaticals lasting a month (although usually during summer). But they still had to get someone to cover things while they were out.

Even if you feel bad (which you shouldn't) and the timing is horrible, what else are you going to do? You're already pregnant (congrats by the way!). Take a deep breath and just embrace it! The world will go on regardless of when you get pregnant and family is so much more important than work.

litzo27 · June 2014

I think the mature thing to do is acknowledge the elephant in the room. I'm assuming your are a managing partner on some accounts and the annual reports are prepared in Feb? So someone is going to have to step in and oversee? I think it's only reasonable to discuss this as soon as possible (after you feel comfortable sharing, of course).

In my case I had difficult timing too. I teach in the spring semester and was able to time my first two to be late summer babies but DD was due Jan 29. I told my colleagues and the aministration as soon as I felt comfortable sharing (10 weeks) and they worked with me to actually change the teaching matrix so I could stack classes and have a proper 6 weeks leave.

In your case I definitely wouldn't apologize (it's not a crime to get pregnant and like you said - you can't time these things perfectly). I would just state that your due date and your expected maternity leave duration and lay out your suggestions for the coverage of your accounts. Including whether you plan to be available by phone, etc.

And congrats!!

TheBorg7of9 · June 2014

Don't you dare apologize for having a baby!

khaze · June 2014

welly01 said:

I am a CPA (though was only staff while in public practice) and I don't think you should apologize or feel bad about the timing of the pregnancy. When you're ready to tell your boss, I would just let them know that you'll do whatever you can to make sure your clients are covered during your time out. But you should absolutely still take as long a leave as you want (full 12 weeks or whatever).

We had a partner whose wife passed away during busy season and everyone just worked to cover his load while he was out. Life happens and you just have to deal with it sometimes. Also, our partners took rotating sabbaticals lasting a month (although usually during summer). But they still had to get someone to cover things while they were out.

Even if you feel bad (which you shouldn't) and the timing is horrible, what else are you going to do? You're already pregnant (congrats by the way!). Take a deep breath and just embrace it! The world will go on regardless of when you get pregnant and family is so much more important than work.

I am also a CPA and had my first February 21 while I was in public practice. I just gave as much heads up notice as possible and worked my butt off for the portion of busy season I was there. It's going to be hard, but I think with proper planning you will be just fine.

mlee116 · June 2014

I agree with PPs. I am an accountant (though not a CPA) and worked in a public firm for years. Yes it's busy, but life happens. My boss's brother was in a terrible accident in January and was hospitalized for months then died right before April 15th. I just took on as many of her projects as I could and we made it work.

I think if you give them adequate time to plan, you should be fine. I would try my best to get everything in order and tie up any loose ends before you go to eliminate a crisis on their part and any phone calls/emails while you're out on ML.

Don't feel bad for having a baby! Look at the big picture: You're adding a new member to your family that will be a part of your life forever. You probably won't look back and say "I'm really sorry I missed tax season 2015."

welly01 · June 2014

mlee116 said:

Don't feel bad for having a baby! Look at the big picture: You're adding a new member to your family that will be a part of your life forever. You probably won't look back and say "I'm really sorry I missed tax season 2015."

Exactly. That's a good way to put it in perspective.

Lich1123 · June 2014

welly01 said:

mlee116 said:

Don't feel bad for having a baby! Look at the big picture: You're adding a new member to your family that will be a part of your life forever. You probably won't look back and say "I'm really sorry I missed tax season 2015."
Exactly. That's a good way to put it in perspective.

hahah, thats a great way to put it. Thanks ladies, I feel a bit better and will talk to them in a couple weeks after my first u/s to give plenty of time for planning. :-)

kursem · June 2014

I work in accounting too (not public anymore though) and head up the audit department for a region of hotels...I was pretty nervous that i'm due in late Jan too. However, when i told the corporate controller (my boss) her response was 'Oh well that's actually good timing because the auditors come in Nov/Dec and we'll be done with most of our year-end reporting by mid january'

LOL. Meaning - i freaked out for no reason. People have babies all the time, and as long as you're professional and upfront about communicating it to your managing partners, I think you'll be fine. Just have a 'game plan' like others have mentioned as far as ensuring coverage for your key clients.

Congrats btw

sandrabrooke · June 2014

This is why I'm in internal audit....

No, just kidding. Don't put your life on hold! I figure that it ends up washing out in the long run too. There will always be someone who is busy with something during busy season. Due to an accident, baby, turnover, etc etc. People have to be flexible, and you just gotta show your stuff when you can!

*sparky* · June 2014

As the others aid, address it upfront, don't apologize, and just try to plan as much as you can for your absence. Before making your announcement, have an idea of how much leave you plan to take, if you will be available at all while you are out, and who can take the reins while you are on leave.

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CPA due in Feb, aka Busy Season - Advice needed!

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