The answer? It depends…on you.
There’s no universal “right time” to make a career move, especially in accounting and finance, where timing, role type, sector, and market conditions play a big part. But what often separates a proactive career move from a reactive one is preparation.
What Stage Are You at in Your Career?
The best time to consider a move depends on where you are in your professional journey.
- CPAs in public accounting often weigh transitions before and after busy season, or once they’ve reached a promotion milestone such as Manager or Senior Manager.
- Industry CPAs working in areas like financial reporting, corporate accounting, or controllership, tend to move after the year-end process in Q1, in Q2 after bonus payouts, or September to November before year-end preparation begins.
- CPAs in other functional areas such as FP&A may need to time their moves around planning season, budgeting and forecasting cycles, or various finance projects.
And here’s a critical, but often overlooked, factor: understanding when hiring activity peaks in your industry sector and area of expertise.
At CAC, we track hiring trends across many CPA disciplines. Whether it’s Q1 surges in finance hiring with new headcount spend, Q2 hiring post-bonus payouts, or Q3/Q4 hiring demand before year-end, we keep CPAs informed on when the most opportunities are available…so you can plan your move strategically, not reactively.
Should You Wait or Move Now?
These are some of the most common questions we hear from CPAs:
- “Should I wait to get my CPA designation before switching jobs?”
- “Is it worth staying one more year to get promoted to Manager?”
- “Should I invest more time in my current position, or start fresh elsewhere?”
The truth is, there’s no single right answer. And that’s where an experienced, objective recruiter can make a difference.
At CAC, we help candidates evaluate both sides of the decision: what you gain by staying, and what you could gain by leaving. Sometimes it makes sense to hold tight, strengthen your resume, and go after a better role next year. But in other cases, waiting too long may mean missing out on well-aligned opportunities or getting stuck in a role with limited upside.
Our role is to help you make an informed, confident decision—one that moves you forward in your career on the right path to achieve your goals.
Preparation Is the Right Move
Career growth doesn’t happen by chance, it happens by design. That’s why CAC recommends CPAs don’t wait until they need a job to start preparing for their next move.
If you’re thinking about a change this year or next, now’s the time to:
- Refresh your résumé with clear, concise achievements, updated responsibilities, new skills and experience.
- Research market trends and salary benchmarks for your level, industry, and location
- Reassess your long-term goals—what’s important to you in your next move?
- Reflect on what’s missing in your current role—and what you’d like more of?
- Create a list of experience you’d like to gain in your next opportunity
- Remove: Practice interview techniques and build confidence through mock Q&As
Why Work With a Specialized CPA Recruiter?
We’re not generalists. We know accounting and finance; and we know the CPA job market in Toronto inside and out.
When you partner with CAC, we help you:
- Identify timing windows when your skills are most in demand
- Understand compensation ranges and where you fit in the market
- Evaluate your readiness to move and the risk/reward of staying vs. leaving
- Navigate your job search with confidence and preparation
- Gain access to exclusive opportunities that align with your goals
We don’t just forward résumés, we act as your career advisor. We advocate for you, advise you honestly, and match you with the right opportunities for long-term success.
CPAs Plan Ahead for the Right Exit
If you’re aiming for a move this year or next, start the conversation now.
Many of the best roles are filled before they’re posted publicly. The best-prepared candidates don’t wait until they feel stuck or reach a dead end. They get ahead of the curve. They build options before they need them. And they partner with experts who can open doors that don’t exist on job boards.
Let CAC Help You Navigate What’s Next
You don’t need to be actively looking to be open to opportunities. But you do need a plan.
Whether you’re deciding when to leave public accounting, considering a lateral move to gain broader experience, or make a progressive move to the next level, CAC is here to support your career journey.
Talk to your career advisor at CAC today to get the conversation started.
