Why Some CPAs Thrive and Others Get Stuck

If you’re a finance professional questioning your next move after public accounting, this episode will completely change the way you think about career growth. In this episode of The Next Moves, Joe Diubaldo sits down with Ana Garcia, former KPMG auditor turned recruiter at Clarity Recruitment (findingclarity.com), to unpack the hidden realities of career transitions in finance. From work-life balance and burnout to curiosity, company context, and why titles alone don’t guarantee fulfillment, Ana shares what finance professionals consistently overlook when making career decisions. They explore the difference between chasing the “logical next step” versus building a career aligned with your strengths, lifestyle, and long-term goals. Ana also reveals what recruiters actually look for in Big 4 candidates, the resume mistakes most professionals make, and why understanding company context matters more than most people realize. If you’re a CPA, senior accountant, finance manager, or someone feeling stuck after a busy season, this episode will help you think differently about your career path and what truly makes a role the right fit. ____________________________________ Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:40 Ana’s Career Pivot 03:08 The Big 4 Career Myth 06:07 Why Ana Left Accounting 08:21 What Recruitment Is Really Like 11:23 What Holds Careers Back 13:33 Making a Nonlinear Career Move 16:15 Career Advice for Finance Professionals 18:14 The #1 Trait Hiring Managers Want ____________________________________ Watch the full interview and subscribe for more conversations with the operators behind the world’s most resilient businesses. Connect with guest Ana Garcia on LinkedIn ➡   / ana03garcia   Connect with Host Joe Diubaldo on LinkedIn ➡   / joediubaldo   If this conversation resonated with you, like the episode and subscribe to stay up to date on future conversations with founders and operators. Joe Diubaldo, host of The Next Moves and Founder of Clarity Recruitment, has made it his life to help people build better careers and better companies. Along the way, there’s been one lesson that always stands out… We all get stuck. The Next Moves podcast has been curated to help you get unstuck; to help you plan the next move and then the move after that.