In need of inspiration/hope

[nyxst]

My office has changed a lot over the 10 year period that I have worked here. I don't mind change, and most of it tends to be for the better, once the discomfort of "newness" wears off.  But right now, the change is very different. Over the last few months, colleagues from our headquarters in Italy have been moved into management positions here in the US (near Philadelphia, PA) and they are treating everyone terribly.  The tension is terrible. I make pretty good money and I like the work.  I have a problem solver type of personality... and even I am finding myself at a point where I wonder if coming in to work is worth it all anymore.  I have a lot of good benefits and my children and I have excellent health insurance through the company.. matching 3 percent into a Simple IRA... used to be a "flexible schedule" to work around parenting needs (meaning I skip my lunch to come in later in the day to get my kids off to school)... and, up until now, pleasant people to work with.   I have been earning my degree after work for years now, and will finally have a BS in Accounting in December (my last two classes start this Fall.) 
I don't want to leave this "good" job just to go work in another office with different problems.... I don't want to stay in this job much longer either.  I am trying to convince myself that I have what it takes to earn enough working independently.  After so many years with the same company, there is a lot of fear in the idea of quitting without another "job" lined up.... And I can't even decide what I should do with my degree... should I test for my CPA and earn the next 30 required credits and be an independent accountant? Should I find an accounting firm that hires out jobs to independent contractors and put off the CPA for now? Should I stay working at this place until the wheels completely fall off and collect as much money from them as possible, hoping I eventually get fired or laid off? I have about $150,000 saved up, certainly not enough to sit back and do nothing, but just enough to call it "FU Money" and walk out....
I have had previous employers ask me if I could do jobs for them (people who employed me 15 years ago, which I take as such a compliment, since I like that they remember I did good work!) and I could do those kinds of odd jobs for a short while, but I really would love to work from home doing remote accounting type work...
Anybody have feedback, inspiration, ideas, or even just tell me to suck it up and be happy with what I have? All are appreciated!

[TheWifeHalf]

I think, until you have a job lined up that also has'excellent health insurance' you're kind of obligated to make sure your kids are covered. No one said being a mom was without sacrifice.
(Mom here, totally understand)

[mozar]

should I test for my CPA?

How easy would you find this to be? Are you a good tester? Would you be able to study 3 hours a day for however long it takes to pass all 4 tests? You can start looking into the process now. You can even buy a cpa test book and start doing the questions to see how it goes. I recommend starting with FAR which most people find to be the most difficult.
If you can pass the CPA exam you can basically write your own ticket. You can freelance, start your own company, take over someone else's company etc, a lot easier than without the credentials.
In fact I think within the next ten years most accounting will be automated and the only work left will be for CPA's. Reports keep saying that audit is a growth area but once all accounting is automated there won't be much to audit unless you are an IT auditor.

earn the next 30 required credits and be an independent

If you can take the test first I would do that and then do the credentials. That's not the case in my state.

Should I find an accounting firm that hires out jobs to independent contractors and put off the CPA for now

Where I live the big firms will hire people for a few months each year for the audit season. It would be a lot easier to get hired to do that (and get paid well) if you had the CPA. With kids though it might be difficult because you are expected to work 70+ hours a week during audit season.

I have had previous employers ask me if I could do jobs for them (people who employed me 15 years ago, which I take as such a compliment, since I like that they remember I did good work!) and I could do those kinds of odd jobs for a short while, but I really would love to work from home doing remote accounting type work...

Can you start taking these odd jobs remotely now? That way you will have a runway to another career if you are laid off.

I don't recommend quitting if you still find your job bearable. If you don't mind sharing what type of accounting you do, I or others might have more specific advice.

[nyxst]

@TheWifeHalf - This is why I have not gone anywhere yet. My kids having health coverage is so wonderful, I definitely know that is a great perk.  It will likely be changing soon, since they keep hiring top management people and we are already top-heavy with salaries... they will be looking to see where they can cut costs and the health insurance will be the first to go.  At that point, it will not be worth staying there anymore.  It has been about 2 years of a slow decline, and it is finally to a point now where I really feel like it's becoming too stressful to stay... They are firing people who have been around forever, and they are like family to me now, so it is really difficult.

@mozar - In PA, once you have a Bachelors degree, you can test for the CPA and then finish the employment and education requirements within a certain amount of time. I think you make a good point... I should take the test first and then worry about the rest. At my work I have moved "up the ladder" and have to wear many hats. 
I guess they have been training me as the Controller, but they actually haven't been training me at all, so I think that is another frustrating point for me.  I am somehow the IT department, the HR department, the accountant for day-to-day activities, do a lot of the work to close the periods and run the reports for top management, oversee production work flow, all kinds of stuff.. plus all of the projects they start (always big projects...) I would love to find a way to make peace with it all and stay there... They seem to have a lack of respect for women, and they question everything that I say... so I feel like they will likely send over an Italian man to do my job... I have been trying to convince myself it is bound to start getting better at some point.  I just don't know. They have a mindset where everyone should be seriously overworked... if you don't have to jog to the copier to get your work, then you must not be busy enough... is isn't very pleasant right now, and continues to get worse.

The old employer "odd jobs" are so tempting... there aren't a lot of hours, but it would be doing will and estate planning and processing.  Even when I quit working there many years ago, I still came in a few days per week and they paid me well.  I might be able to see if I could do it remotely just to add a bit of income that I can save, and strengthen the ties I have with that law firm, just in case something else comes along... Something to ponder at least

[mozar]

From my perspective you have a lot of options. You can start applying for controller positions since you have the required experience. I also think it's highly possible you will be able to find an employer that isn't sexist. And at least for now you can fall back on the ACA (obamacare) if an Italian bro takes your job.

[nyxst]

and it's probably free at your local library.   

Thank you! I did find that my library has this book and I placed a hold on it so I can go pick it up. I know it will be helpful!

[nyxst]

Can you try to fix the current problems?

What are these people (guys?) doing that's making your job harder?

Are they willing to sit down and talk?

I am working on that also. We have the VP/General Manager here that has always been great to me, and I work well with him, but he is also clearly being phased out.. They already hired his replacement, though they didn't give the new guy the same title yet, but shifted all the same responsibilities.  I think they are trying to make him so uncomfortable that he quits, and maybe they are doing the same to me. The culture is very different and it is getting more regimented. They actually passed out papers with instructions on where/how to stand when talking to customers... for example, it is now written that we are not allowed to cross our arms or put our hands in our pockets when talking to any customers... I don't have face to face contact with the customers, only phone, so this doesn't matter for me, but it has really gotten under the skin of everyone else. It's a shame, because it has always been such a pleasant place to work.