[jydotcom]

I guess I’m at the crossroads debating on whether to leave the federal government to corporate accounting (or others) before I spend too much time here. I currently audit for a federal agency, benefits are good, but the type of work/work environment is depressing and it has nothing to do with financials/tax etc. The pay is decent, but not much comes with a CPA or other credentials. 1 year from now, I’ll be at 77k, this is California salary btw. 5 years from then, I’ll be at 85k. Bad thing is it’ll take me probably 20 years to hit 100k… Is it worth to jump ship to corporate accounting or another position? Anyone else in a similar situation?

BEC - Passed!
AUD - ??
REG - ??
FAR - (July 2014)

Using Roger CPA Review, Wiley Test Bank, and NINJA Notes/Video/MCQ.

[mgnyc]

I agree with your sentiment that the longer you are in govt the harder it will be to switch out. So yes if you have the chance to leave do it as it will likely get harder down the road. I'm in NFP and find it difficult to leave the longer I stay. That being said, by embracing my specialty I've been able to move up so I'm not really stuck. So if you do stay in govt go all in (including CPA) and I bet you will get to that 100K faster than anticipated.

Aud 73, 79
Reg 70, 60, 67, 76
Far 70, 66, 72, 87
Bec 77

[mgnyc]

I agree with your sentiment that the longer you are in govt the harder it will be to switch out. So yes if you have the chance to leave do it as it will likely get harder down the road. I'm in NFP and find it difficult to leave the longer I stay. That being said, by embracing my specialty I've been able to move up so I'm not really stuck. So if you do stay in govt go all in (including CPA) and I bet you will get to that 100K faster than anticipated.

Aud 73, 79
Reg 70, 60, 67, 76
Far 70, 66, 72, 87
Bec 77

[jdwalton19]

@jydotcom – I am in the same boat. I am currently a 12 and have a good change at getting my 13 later this year, and am wondering if I should go public or corporate before getting to invested. It's a tough choice because as you stated, the benefits are good, and the job is very stable. It's a tough choice…

FAR - MAY - 84
AUD - AUG - 88
REG - AUG - 92
BEC - Dec - 82

KY Licensed!

Yaeger

[jdwalton19]

@jydotcom – I am in the same boat. I am currently a 12 and have a good change at getting my 13 later this year, and am wondering if I should go public or corporate before getting to invested. It's a tough choice because as you stated, the benefits are good, and the job is very stable. It's a tough choice…

FAR - MAY - 84
AUD - AUG - 88
REG - AUG - 92
BEC - Dec - 82

KY Licensed!

Yaeger

[Anonymous]

In the same boat as well…and similar to jdwalton19, will be a 12 next year and a 13 following that, which is a pretty tough lifestyle to beat for reasons already mentioned. I feel like, as long as you find what you do now challenging or at least stimulating in some way, I wouldn't expect much more out of the public or private accounting realm. That's my opinion for now…we'll see if that changes along the way.

[Anonymous]

In the same boat as well…and similar to jdwalton19, will be a 12 next year and a 13 following that, which is a pretty tough lifestyle to beat for reasons already mentioned. I feel like, as long as you find what you do now challenging or at least stimulating in some way, I wouldn't expect much more out of the public or private accounting realm. That's my opinion for now…we'll see if that changes along the way.

[jydotcom]

@ jdwalton19 – You have a chance for 13, that's good! Only way I can get a 13 quickly is supervisory, which I dread. It looks like you have a young one and the job probably suits your lifestyle more now. My mind might change once I do as well.

@ chiguy4 – You don't have to compete for the 13? If you don't, that is great.

If you compare your salary to private (I know position/title have different salariea), but compare to general accounting field, how competitive you think the GS scale is?

BEC - Passed!
AUD - ??
REG - ??
FAR - (July 2014)

Using Roger CPA Review, Wiley Test Bank, and NINJA Notes/Video/MCQ.

[jydotcom]

@ jdwalton19 – You have a chance for 13, that's good! Only way I can get a 13 quickly is supervisory, which I dread. It looks like you have a young one and the job probably suits your lifestyle more now. My mind might change once I do as well.

@ chiguy4 – You don't have to compete for the 13? If you don't, that is great.

If you compare your salary to private (I know position/title have different salariea), but compare to general accounting field, how competitive you think the GS scale is?

BEC - Passed!
AUD - ??
REG - ??
FAR - (July 2014)

Using Roger CPA Review, Wiley Test Bank, and NINJA Notes/Video/MCQ.

[Anonymous]

@jydotcom – Yeah, I got hired on at a 11/12/13 ladder position. No one in the office is below an 11 and there are a decent amount of 13s and 14s so that's mostly why. As for comparing it to other industries, I can't comment on private but in terms of public, the GS scale seems to be pretty fair to me as long as you get to 11 and higher. Coming from a major market, an 11 is about equal to the staff level, 12 equal to senior, 13 equal to manager, and then 14 and 15 close to senior managers in public (give or take some of course). So, obviously you top out there but unless your goal is to make partner, you wouldn't be too out of line with public while in government. That's not to say that 14s/15s are any easier to get than making senior manager, but I think you see where I am coming from.

[Anonymous]

@jydotcom – Yeah, I got hired on at a 11/12/13 ladder position. No one in the office is below an 11 and there are a decent amount of 13s and 14s so that's mostly why. As for comparing it to other industries, I can't comment on private but in terms of public, the GS scale seems to be pretty fair to me as long as you get to 11 and higher. Coming from a major market, an 11 is about equal to the staff level, 12 equal to senior, 13 equal to manager, and then 14 and 15 close to senior managers in public (give or take some of course). So, obviously you top out there but unless your goal is to make partner, you wouldn't be too out of line with public while in government. That's not to say that 14s/15s are any easier to get than making senior manager, but I think you see where I am coming from.

[jydotcom]

@ chiguy4 – What agency are you in if you don't mind me asking? A noncompetitive 13 seems very promising and align with what I want to accomplish. Thanks for the clarification! Given the amount of time I would have to put in at a public firm, I guess the government isn't as bad as I thought.

BEC - Passed!
AUD - ??
REG - ??
FAR - (July 2014)

Using Roger CPA Review, Wiley Test Bank, and NINJA Notes/Video/MCQ.

[jydotcom]

@ chiguy4 – What agency are you in if you don't mind me asking? A noncompetitive 13 seems very promising and align with what I want to accomplish. Thanks for the clarification! Given the amount of time I would have to put in at a public firm, I guess the government isn't as bad as I thought.

BEC - Passed!
AUD - ??
REG - ??
FAR - (July 2014)

Using Roger CPA Review, Wiley Test Bank, and NINJA Notes/Video/MCQ.

[Study Monk]

Do accountants really make that much more than 75k in California? I imagine that even with your CPA and little accounting/financial auditing experience you are looking at 50 to 60k starting. Maybe 75k with 5 years experience. I would love to be wrong here, as I have little accounting experience but will have my CPA by the end of the year.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

Do accountants really make that much more than 75k in California? I imagine that even with your CPA and little accounting/financial auditing experience you are looking at 50 to 60k starting. Maybe 75k with 5 years experience. I would love to be wrong here, as I have little accounting experience but will have my CPA by the end of the year.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Author]

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