Career Advice

My career experience is 8 years of Internal Audit experience:

• 2017 to 2021: 4 years Public Accounting Advisory services testing SOX financial reporting controls, executing Co-Sourced Internal Audit Services, and managing staff augmentations. I received a Staff to Senior promotion during that time.
• 2021 to 2025: 4 years at a Publicly Traded Insurance Company managing and reviewing SOX financial reporting control testing and risk-based audits. I received a Senior to Supervisor promotion during that time.

I ended up moving away in 2024. While my sr manager and director at the insurance company were supportive of me working remote, the deal was I need to come back for a full week every 6-8 weeks to show face. The company is super aggressive about in person requirements, but for the time being I was an exception to that policy and their support and my good standing with the company is what made that happen with HR. However, I didn’t really trust that to sustain long term and thought ultimately they would snub me from growth/promotion there because I wasn’t getting badge swipes as frequently as my peers.

The cherry on top of my departure from the insurance company was, a lot of my expenses to come back every 6-8 weeks were paid out of my pocket. They covered the flight, but meals and transportation were not covered. Hotels were even spotty so I used to crash on a friends couch. When I asked to revise that portion of the deal after 8 months of making this arrangement successful, I was denied. So in March-April 2025 I decided to look for work locally at my new home.

In April 2025 I received an offer for an IA Manager at a local bank for 30% more money. I presented this to my old director in hopes to get a counter, but it ended ugly (she literally spazzed at me and said “the bridge is burnt” lol) so I put my 2 weeks in and accepted the new offer.

Turns out, it was an Audit Compliance Manager role in banking and with my background, I’m having a difficult time navigating this new space. I don’t love Internal Audit lol, but have always been successful at it since starting my career. So far, I dont feel successful in my new role and all feedback I receive is super passive aggressive. I definitely feel like all my questions and takes are out in left field, no matter how hard I try. I think this banking compliance space is not for me.

How would you handle this situation? Should I continue to try this Audit Compliance role in banking knowing it’s leading towards poor performance (which is making me paranoid about job security and the role I play in my family)? Should I go back to my old employer and see if they still want me? Should I look for another job in the IA field locally? If I do look for more work, how do I explain my short lived time in Compliance Audit for a bank?

Appreciate the input as I’m having a tough time navigating my career situation.

TLDR; Had to leave a job I felt like I was successful at, just not recognized and compensated adequately. Found a new job that promoted me and gave me 30% more money. However, Now I’m not successful at my new job. Do I stick it out and continue to munch this shit sandwich? Or do I look for a new job?