Your accounting career options are broader than you think

Kristen Steffen, a tax expert with TurboTax Live, who works remotely from Apex, North Carolina, has been on the Intuit team since 2021. She started her career at a Big Four accounting firm, but eventually realized the Big Four couldn’t match the work-life balance Intuit provides its employees.

Big Four: A dream job unfit for me

I worked hard to earn a master’s degree, and I parlayed that into a fantastic offer from a big accounting firm. It’s the route many tax and accounting experts spend years dreaming about, but I discovered that, while it’s a great fit for some people, it wasn’t the right fit for me. I kept working really long hours and couldn’t have the work-life balance I wanted.

I gave birth to my child while at the big firm, and family will always come first for me. I worked out a plan with my manager so I could be there part time—and by part time, I mean forty hours a week. But deep down I knew this wouldn’t work. I couldn’t just walk out at 5 PM when everyone alongside me was staying until 10 PM or later. So I made a big decision: I quit and sought out a new career path.

Finding flexibility

Eventually, I joined Intuit as a tax expert for TurboTax Live—and I’m proud to say this company is the best. In case you didn’t know, Intuit is a global technology platform that helps our customers and communities overcome their most important financial challenges. Serving millions of customers worldwide with TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper. We work tirelessly to find new, innovative ways to deliver on this belief.

As a SelectTime employee, I work year-round, scheduling myself for a minimum of 30 hours a week. The benefits, including comprehensive medical coverage for families, are fantastic. Now I have the flexibility I need to spend time caring for my aging parents. This year, I said to myself, “You know what? I’m going to work nights and weekends during tax season so I can have the freedom to help my parents on weekdays.” It’s worked out great. Intuit always needs tax and bookkeeping experts on weekends during tax time, and they offer financial incentives to work those hours—putting more money in my pocket.

Never be bored

The work I do is fascinating. My customers are from all over the country. They have different life experiences. Different income levels. Different needs. Helping a broad range of people—from those who are well off, to others who are just getting by—is as gratifying as it is intellectually stimulating. If I had my own practice, my scope would be limited. If there’s a question that I don’t know the answer to, I can reach out to my teammates via our messaging platform. Though I work remotely from my home in North Carolina, I can always count on someone to lend a hand via our internal portal or messaging tools!

What separates Intuit from other companies?

Simply put: Our reputation. Everyone I meet has a positive view of Intuit. Whether it’s from seeing our commercials during the big game or using one of our products for their own taxes, bookkeeping, or marketing needs, our name has clout. I take pride in working for a team that’s known around the world.

Wherever you are in your professional journey, you can use your expertise in a meaningful career that gives you the time and space to enjoy your personal life. Join our mission to power prosperity around the world. See all our tax and bookkeeping opportunities.