[Anonymous]

Hey all,

Does anyone have experience with asking for raises of this size? Long story short, I work at a small firm (12 employees, 5 of which are CPA’s) in Central PA. I have been working there since August 2012 and am called a Senior Accountant, though I think my actual responsibilities fall more towards supervisor/manager. I work primarily on audits and am in charge of audits from planning to completion. In tax season I handle the tax work for most of our largest manufacturing clients. I have my CPA license, CMA Certification, and a Master’s Degree in accounting.

My current salary is $39,000. We get paid overtime so I think it winds up around $43,000-$45,000. I’ve done a fair bit of research using Robert Half, Glassdoor, trade journals, etc, and the consensus I am seeing is that a senior accountant should be making around $50,000-$55,000 minimum (adjusted to my local market), not including overtime. To make matters worse, there are private industry postings around here for accounting jobs that make $60,000, without the utter chaos of tax season to deal with.

I have a review coming up in a month or two and am trying to figure out what to do. I absolutely love where I work and the workplace environment could not be replicated anywhere else, but at the same time I have student loans and a mortgage and the bills need paid. I would like to discuss my salary being brought up to the $53,000 to $54,000 range, but I don’t know how to phrase that without the powers that be shutting down before I can even make my case. If I was on the other side of the table, if someone started talking about a 35-40% raise I would probably shut down too. I don’t have very much insight into the financial health of the company, but I do know that it is very profitable and growth has been absolutely exponential in the last few years.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? How did you approach it/how did it go?

Thanks!

[Lindrobe]

I hate to say it, but I agree with 005. I am in the same situation and my employer basically laughed at me when I asked for a raise. I have learned that most of the time, you have to change jobs to get a significant pay increase.

I disagree with mla1169 about your company having to pay more than they are paying you to replace you. The sad thing is, there are many desperate people out there that will gladly take the $39,000 that you are getting paid.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[mla1169]

Lindrobe sometimes it is the case that someone will take the position for chump change. But I'll tell you I've worked in payroll and in management and have seen the need to hire an accounting manager or controller to replace the responsibilities of a departing senior accountant. I've seen a company refuse a 10% raise then have to hire TWO people to replace the incumbent. I shake my head don't get me wrong but many times like this OP, the actual job description exceeds the title of the incumbent. People with the required credentials to replace a senior or supervisor will not work for $39k.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Lindrobe sometimes it is the case that someone will take the position for chump change. But I'll tell you I've worked in payroll and in management and have seen the need to hire an accounting manager or controller to replace the responsibilities of a departing senior accountant. I've seen a company refuse a 10% raise then have to hire TWO people to replace the incumbent. I shake my head don't get me wrong but many times like this OP, the actual job description exceeds the title of the incumbent. People with the required credentials to replace a senior or supervisor will not work for $39k.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[klink24]

You're underpaid, period. CPA and CMA alone should net you more than you're getting. Add MAcc and experience on top of that, you should definitely be in the $60k+ range, maybe much more. My advice though, get an offer elsewhere that you would truly consider, then play your hand on the raise. Not to play two parties against one another, but to force your current employer's hand. If you go in with no leverage, they're not going to budge. Plus, now they will know you'll begin looking soon and isolate you (possibly). You can't bluff though. You have to be ready to move on to the other position if they can't give you the increase.

If they do budge, you have to wonder, all this time they could have paid me more but they hadn't. What does that say about them as an employer? And what does it say about you in regards to knowing your worth? Never undervalue yourself and have confidence!

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[klink24]

You're underpaid, period. CPA and CMA alone should net you more than you're getting. Add MAcc and experience on top of that, you should definitely be in the $60k+ range, maybe much more. My advice though, get an offer elsewhere that you would truly consider, then play your hand on the raise. Not to play two parties against one another, but to force your current employer's hand. If you go in with no leverage, they're not going to budge. Plus, now they will know you'll begin looking soon and isolate you (possibly). You can't bluff though. You have to be ready to move on to the other position if they can't give you the increase.

If they do budge, you have to wonder, all this time they could have paid me more but they hadn't. What does that say about them as an employer? And what does it say about you in regards to knowing your worth? Never undervalue yourself and have confidence!

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[zieba]

Tough spot dude. You are getting underpaid, there is no doubt about that. This is irrespective of which market you're in. The problem with staying only for the money – and letting them know by accepting their counter to your other offer – is that they know you'll bail when it comes to it again, or if a better offer comes along. They may isolate or pass up for promotions… not sure if you're planning staying that long anyway.

It really isn't personal, I guarantee you the person on the other side of the desk knows this.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[zieba]

Tough spot dude. You are getting underpaid, there is no doubt about that. This is irrespective of which market you're in. The problem with staying only for the money – and letting them know by accepting their counter to your other offer – is that they know you'll bail when it comes to it again, or if a better offer comes along. They may isolate or pass up for promotions… not sure if you're planning staying that long anyway.

It really isn't personal, I guarantee you the person on the other side of the desk knows this.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[NYCaccountant]

What's the typical raise you get when you get promoted within? I have gotten a 20% raise, but I hear you get larger jumps in salary when you change firms. is this generally true?

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[NYCaccountant]

What's the typical raise you get when you get promoted within? I have gotten a 20% raise, but I hear you get larger jumps in salary when you change firms. is this generally true?

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[Anonymous]

I received a 43% raise after I got my CPA license. It happened to be during a restructuring of accounting job titles and pay grades, so I didn't have to ask. However, I work for a large employer in industry, so my raise was a drop in the bucket overall.

[Anonymous]

I received a 43% raise after I got my CPA license. It happened to be during a restructuring of accounting job titles and pay grades, so I didn't have to ask. However, I work for a large employer in industry, so my raise was a drop in the bucket overall.

[NYCaccountant]

Nice! I can only wish for now.

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[NYCaccountant]

Nice! I can only wish for now.

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[san4596]

You should tell your boss to at least use some lube while screwing you. I have a BA, MBA, and working on my CPA. My base pay is $47K and make more than $50K after overtime, which is just below average in my area. My job title is Staff Accountant, and the firm I work for only has 8 people total. You should start getting your resume out there now, since they will probably not give you the raise you are looking for.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[san4596]

You should tell your boss to at least use some lube while screwing you. I have a BA, MBA, and working on my CPA. My base pay is $47K and make more than $50K after overtime, which is just below average in my area. My job title is Staff Accountant, and the firm I work for only has 8 people total. You should start getting your resume out there now, since they will probably not give you the raise you are looking for.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[Author]

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