[MrCPA2B]

Hey Ninjas! Hadn’t posted in a while! I am in my final days of my Masters in Accounting program and will graduate next weekend! Recently, I have been interviewing and applying to different accounting jobs that more closely align with my career goals. Now I work as an accounting clerk or as they like to say at my job accounting associate for $12 bucks an hour. During my last 2 final interviews i had with 2 different companies last week they wanted to discuss salary and asked how much are you worth? He stated I’m not sure how much per hour typically a person of your caliber is worth. I completely blanked and said the stupidest thing “I honestly can care less about salary, I am more focused on the experience and growth”. My question is How much should I be expecting with a Masters in Accounting? Also, how can i explain to employers that working as an accounting clerk will make me valuable to their position? Sorry but this has been on my mind ever since the interview and now im depressed because I feel worthless! Mostly because i didn’t secure a job in public accounting right after undergrad.

I live in Virginia BTW…

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[mla1169]

I was asked by 2 companies to provide my W-2. I excused myself from the interviews both times when the person asking couldn't understand that your W-2 is not your salary because it shows your wages net of pre tax deductions. One has since offered me a job.

And clerks are most definately overpaid if they're making $18/hr with a high school diploma, I'd like to look up jobs in that area. I'm less than 20 min north of Boston and ap and at clerks start around $12/hour here.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Guti]

mla1169, how big were these companies? I dont see a 500 Million dollar company asking for a w-2. Like I said before, they dont care what you were making or what you think you are worth. They only want to see if you are on their budget or not. If you are not, then they will go with the next candidate.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Guti]

mla1169, how big were these companies? I dont see a 500 Million dollar company asking for a w-2. Like I said before, they dont care what you were making or what you think you are worth. They only want to see if you are on their budget or not. If you are not, then they will go with the next candidate.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[mla1169]

500 million dollar companies at least in New England let placement agencies send them candidates and act in their best interest on the salary negotiations. Asking for W-2 is rare, I never said it was common practice- I've been on hundreds of job interviews in the 25 or so years I've been working and literally only asked twice. But make no mistake even the biggest companies are trying to get bargain basement salaries for top notch talent. When they decide to hire, they set a very wide salary range for a position. Sometimes a $30k difference between the low and high end.

To answer your question it was a high end executive placement agency filling an assistant controller position for a fortune 150 company who did not directly advertise the position.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

500 million dollar companies at least in New England let placement agencies send them candidates and act in their best interest on the salary negotiations. Asking for W-2 is rare, I never said it was common practice- I've been on hundreds of job interviews in the 25 or so years I've been working and literally only asked twice. But make no mistake even the biggest companies are trying to get bargain basement salaries for top notch talent. When they decide to hire, they set a very wide salary range for a position. Sometimes a $30k difference between the low and high end.

To answer your question it was a high end executive placement agency filling an assistant controller position for a fortune 150 company who did not directly advertise the position.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[pikachu]

Don't lie about salary or your resume. That's terrible advice. Background checks. W2s.

I just got a bump from $45,000 to $60,000 in Atlanta. Granted, they almost offered $55,000 but changed their mind.

For your situation, I would ask for $40,000 if they wanted a specific number. That kind of boxes you in, but at the same time, it's a big raise for you, and reasonable to them.

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[pikachu]

Don't lie about salary or your resume. That's terrible advice. Background checks. W2s.

I just got a bump from $45,000 to $60,000 in Atlanta. Granted, they almost offered $55,000 but changed their mind.

For your situation, I would ask for $40,000 if they wanted a specific number. That kind of boxes you in, but at the same time, it's a big raise for you, and reasonable to them.

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[Guti]

pikachu, since when background checks include w-2s? I don’t know where you guys come up with this information, but you need open your eyes a bit more. You behave like robots. There are other colors besides black and white. I dont want any drama so the back and forth stops here for me.

mla1169, your resume must be very impressive to be able to get an interview for an assistant controller position at a fortune 150 company. You must be one of those individuals that finish the CPA exam in one window.

MrCPA2B, you can follow any advice you want, but try to leave that company ASAP, they are taking advantage of you.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Guti]

pikachu, since when background checks include w-2s? I don’t know where you guys come up with this information, but you need open your eyes a bit more. You behave like robots. There are other colors besides black and white. I dont want any drama so the back and forth stops here for me.

mla1169, your resume must be very impressive to be able to get an interview for an assistant controller position at a fortune 150 company. You must be one of those individuals that finish the CPA exam in one window.

MrCPA2B, you can follow any advice you want, but try to leave that company ASAP, they are taking advantage of you.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[mla1169]

Gian my resume is very impressive, thank you. I have controller experience and while I wish I finished the exam in one window you can see by my scores in my signature that would not have been possible. Someday when you've been in the real world as long as I have you'll tone down your arrogance. Maybe then you can talk to big companies about management positions.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Gian my resume is very impressive, thank you. I have controller experience and while I wish I finished the exam in one window you can see by my scores in my signature that would not have been possible. Someday when you've been in the real world as long as I have you'll tone down your arrogance. Maybe then you can talk to big companies about management positions.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Guti]

I’m not arrogant at all, I couldn’t be arrogant after studying FAR for 3 months, and not knowing if I will pass the exam or not. After seen individuals passing all 4 parts in one window or even two windows I don’t think I have the nerve to be arrogant. I have seen a couple of individuals who have struggled with this exam yet they are still arrogant.

It is very hard to land an interview with a fortune 150 company just for a staff accountant position. Now for an assistant controller, that is something else. You are talking about a 30 Billion dollar monster, and like I said before, your resume must be top notch and I’m not being sarcastic.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Guti]

I’m not arrogant at all, I couldn’t be arrogant after studying FAR for 3 months, and not knowing if I will pass the exam or not. After seen individuals passing all 4 parts in one window or even two windows I don’t think I have the nerve to be arrogant. I have seen a couple of individuals who have struggled with this exam yet they are still arrogant.

It is very hard to land an interview with a fortune 150 company just for a staff accountant position. Now for an assistant controller, that is something else. You are talking about a 30 Billion dollar monster, and like I said before, your resume must be top notch and I’m not being sarcastic.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[pikachu]

I meant between background checks, requests for W2s, they can and will rescind your job offer if they catch you lying.

These companies are asking how much you think you are worth, not how much you are paid right now. Your accounting clerk experience is relevant because you're learning from the bottom up, plus you have a master's. Again, if they ask that question, since you are brand new out of college (I'm not sure where you live though), I would target $40k at least (you don't have much experience or your CPA yet).

Also, don't fret about not getting a public accounting job out of college. I graduated in 2011 jobless, found an accounting clerk kind of job for $15 an hour, got promoted 30% to $40,000 salary and transitioned to financial analyst.

A couple months later after just over a year at that company, I got a $5000 raise to a Fortune 50 company as a financial analyst.

And I just got a 33% raise 2 months ago, doing pretty charting with Tableau, working with olap cubes, SSRS reports, sql 🙂

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[pikachu]

I meant between background checks, requests for W2s, they can and will rescind your job offer if they catch you lying.

These companies are asking how much you think you are worth, not how much you are paid right now. Your accounting clerk experience is relevant because you're learning from the bottom up, plus you have a master's. Again, if they ask that question, since you are brand new out of college (I'm not sure where you live though), I would target $40k at least (you don't have much experience or your CPA yet).

Also, don't fret about not getting a public accounting job out of college. I graduated in 2011 jobless, found an accounting clerk kind of job for $15 an hour, got promoted 30% to $40,000 salary and transitioned to financial analyst.

A couple months later after just over a year at that company, I got a $5000 raise to a Fortune 50 company as a financial analyst.

And I just got a 33% raise 2 months ago, doing pretty charting with Tableau, working with olap cubes, SSRS reports, sql 🙂

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[Author]

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