How I Found My Way Back to Accounting and Landed a Mid-Level Role in Pampanga

There was a time when I thought leaving accounting would ruin my career path. I felt like I was making a mistake, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. Back in 2018, I told myself that my path had to be straight, study accounting, land a stable job, and work toward becoming a CPA. My dream was to find a better accounting jobs in Pampanga and slowly climb up the ladder.

But life doesn’t always go the way we plan. After working two years as a junior accounting clerk, I found myself saying “yes” to a marketing role in 2020. At that time, I really thought I was making a mistake. I felt like I was going off-track, “pa-curve sa career ko,” and maybe even delaying my future in accounting. Little did I know, that detour would later give me the edge I needed to come back stronger.

A Career Shift Beyond Accounting

When I first started as a junior accounting clerk in 2018, my world was all about balancing books, preparing reports, and making sure everything aligned with the numbers. It was safe and steady, but also repetitive at times.

So when a marketing opportunity came along in 2020, I got curious. I wanted to try something new, something that would challenge me differently. Of course, part of me felt nervous. Was I throwing away the years I spent studying accountancy? Would this move make me “behind” compared to my peers who stayed in the field?

The truth is, I carried that guilt for years. Every time I saw classmates advancing in their accounting careers, I felt like I was stuck on a side road.

Landing the Mid-Level Role in Pampanga

In my resume and interviews, I highlighted how I learned to explain numbers clearly, manage budgets creatively, and think strategically. Instead of hiding my detour, I showed how it made me a more well-rounded professional. These strategies worked. By late 2023, I was hired as a mid-level accountant in Pampanga.

The application process wasn’t easy, I went through multiple interviews, but what helped me stand out was showing how I could connect numbers with insights that mattered to the business. Here’s how I approached my job search:

Attended job hiring events in Clark, Pampanga

I made the effort to show up at local career fairs and job caravans, where I could meet recruiters face-to-face. These events often highlighted accountant job openings, which gave me the chance to ask questions, submit my resume directly, and make a personal impression beyond just sending an online application.

Joined Facebook groups focused on Pampanga job postings

I realized that many accounting firms and recruiters post openings there before they appear on big job platforms. Being active in those groups allowed me to spot opportunities quickly and apply ahead of others.

Applied online only through trusted sites and company websites 

I stayed careful by submitting my applications through legitimate job portals and official company career pages. This not only kept me safe from scams but also ensured my resume reached the right HR channels.

In my resume and interviews, I highlighted how I learned to explain numbers clearly, manage budgets creatively, and think strategically. Instead of hiding my detour, I showed how it made me a more well-rounded professional.

What My Career Detour Taught Me About Returning Stronger to Accounting

When I stepped away from accounting for a while. I didn’t realize I was quietly sharpening skills that would later help me land my mid-level role through hiring accounting in Pampanga. Here’s what that detour taught me:

Clearer communication with non-accountants

I learned how to explain financial data to people outside the field whether managers, operations staff, or clients. This became a huge plus when I had to present audits and financial statements in a way everyone could understand.

Process improvement mindset

My break gave me a fresh perspective on workflows. When I came back, I wasn’t just following the system. I was looking for ways to streamline reporting processes and make them more accurate.

Adaptability in fast-changing environments

Working in a different field taught me to adjust quickly. This skill translated well in accounting when dealing with unexpected changes in compliance requirements or tax updates.

Confidence in presenting and leading

Outside accounting, I had to step up in meetings, share ideas, and defend decisions. That practice helped me lead audit discussions with authority when I returned.

Strategic problem-solving

Instead of just “balancing numbers,” I learned to connect the figures with business impact. Employers noticed I wasn’t only technical, I could also think strategically, which made me stand out for a mid-level role.

Now, in 2025, my role includes handling audits, ensuring tax compliance, preparing financial statements, and even presenting reports to department heads. I’m no longer just a “support” role, I’m trusted with responsibilities that shape decisions. And honestly, stepping into that office on my first day back in accounting felt like coming home but stronger, more confident, and more prepared than before

Conclusion

If you told me in 2019 that my time in marketing would eventually help me land a mid-level accounting role, I wouldn’t have believed you. But now, I see it differently. That so-called “delay” gave me an edge. For anyone searching for jobs in Clark, Pampanga, remember that leaving accounting for a while didn’t end my career, it enriched it.

To my fellow accountants and job seekers in Pampanga, don’t stress if your path isn’t straight. Every experience, even those outside accounting, can build you into the professional you’re meant to be. Leaving accounting for a while didn’t end my career, it enriched it.

And maybe that’s the lesson we all need: what feels like a setback today could actually be the very thing preparing you for a bigger comeback tomorrow.