By Daniela Posillico, Senior Associate, Accounting & Finance
For professionals in public accounting, deciding when to make the move into industry or a fund can be a nerve-racking decision. Candidates often view this as a transitional moment, one they make with the hope of staying in industry or at a fund for the rest of their career. Many candidates find themselves weighing whether to leave before a promotion, wait until they reach Senior Associate, or stay through Manager. While there are common milestones that can influence the timing of a move, there is no universal answer.
The right time to leave public accounting ultimately depends on what you want from your next role and what you are hoping to accomplish through your job search. For candidates looking to transition into a fund, the number of busy seasons completed and the type of experience gained can be important factors. At the same time, candidates may be competing with professionals who have both public and private accounting experience.
Understanding how your experience translates to the roles you want, and what matters most to you in your next opportunity, can help you determine when the timing is right.
Watch the Video
[Daniela Posillico discusses when accounting professionals should consider leaving public accounting and how career goals, experience, and job market competition can influence the timing.]
Key Takeaways
Promotions are a major consideration when thinking about a career move. Candidates may wonder whether leaving before a promotion could limit their opportunities, or whether waiting until Senior Associate or Manager will make them more competitive.
The answer depends largely on the type of role you are targeting. For candidates looking to move into a fund, many entry-level opportunities seek two to four years of experience. In public accounting, that experience can often be measured by the number of busy seasons you have completed.
As candidates progress toward Manager, the types of opportunities available can also change. Manager-level experience may position candidates for roles such as Assistant Controller, compared with Accountant or Senior Accountant opportunities earlier in their careers.
At the same time, candidates should be aware of the competitive landscape. Professionals pursuing these opportunities may be competing against candidates who have both public and private accounting experience. That is why simply reaching a certain title or number of years does not automatically make one point in a career the “right” time to leave.
Instead, candidates should think about what they want their next role to accomplish. Ask yourself:
- Are you looking to move into a fund?
- Are you focused on increasing your responsibilities?
- Are you targeting a specific level or type of role?
- Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years from now?
Your answers can help determine whether it makes sense to begin exploring opportunities now or gain additional experience first.
One of the best ways to make that decision is to speak with a recruiter before you are actively looking to leave. Having that conversation early can help you understand how your experience translates to the market, what opportunities may be available, and what timing makes the most sense for your individual goals.
Planning Your Next Career Move
The timing of a move out of public accounting depends on the experience you have gained and the roles you want to pursue. Rather than waiting for a specific title or milestone, consider how your current experience aligns with your long-term career goals and the opportunities available in the market. Starting the conversation with a recruiter early can help you understand your options and make a more informed decision when the right opportunity comes along.
Transcript
Daniela Posillico:
In public accounting, a lot of candidates find out if they got the promotion to Senior Associate anywhere from May to August. A lot of times, the conversations I have with candidates are: Should I wait for that promotion? Should I leave before it? Should I leave after it? Or should I stay until Manager?
That truly depends on what you’re looking for out of the job search process.
For example, many of the jobs that are entry-level, let’s just say you’re trying to get into a fund, are looking for two to four years of experience. Those years of experience go by the number of busy seasons you’ve completed.
The true indicator of getting you up a level in terms of the job title is when you become a Manager, and maybe you’re going up for those Assistant Controller jobs versus Accountant or Senior Accountant-type roles.
However, at that rate, you’re also going up against candidates that have both public and private experience.
So there’s no true answer of when you should look. It depends on your goals and what you’re looking for out of the job search.
I recommend to candidates to speak with a recruiter way before you’re looking to leave, so that you can figure out what means the most to you and what’s going to work for you.
About Daniela Posillico
Daniela Posillico is a Senior Associate on Landing Point’s Accounting & Finance team, where she focuses on recruiting accounting professionals for investment firms primarily across New York and Connecticut. She recruits for roles within asset management, private equity, hedge funds, and family offices, pairing diligent research with strong relationship management to deliver a high-quality candidate experience.
Before joining Landing Point, Daniela worked at PwC as an Audit Associate within Asset & Wealth Management, where she developed financial analytical skills and deep insight into the investment industry. That foundation enables her to communicate effectively with both clients and candidates on matters of technical expertise and cultural fit.
Daniela graduated with a B.S. in Accounting and an M.S. in Accountancy from Binghamton University’s School of Management and is a licensed CPA. She regularly advises early-career professionals on building trust with recruiters and navigating career moves in finance. Outside of work, Daniela enjoys traveling, pickleball, and spending time with friends and family.