[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!

[Anonymous]

I have been working for 7 years and switched jobs twice, I was asked to provide my last paystub once. When I switch job, I always asked for 10% more than my current salary.

To OP, I find it more interesting they asked how much per hour for a permanent role rather than annual salary. I would love to work under hourly wage with OT :). However, if I were you and trying to land your first permanent job, I would not be too picky and just go with whatever the going rate is for an entry level position.

[Anonymous]

I have been working for 7 years and switched jobs twice, I was asked to provide my last paystub once. When I switch job, I always asked for 10% more than my current salary.

To OP, I find it more interesting they asked how much per hour for a permanent role rather than annual salary. I would love to work under hourly wage with OT :). However, if I were you and trying to land your first permanent job, I would not be too picky and just go with whatever the going rate is for an entry level position.

[fuzyfro89]

Ginan: a background check will show your old salaries. I received a background from one company I was offered a position with, and requested a copy, and it showed dates of employment, job title, and ending salary.

They even called a reference and summarized what they said about me.

[fuzyfro89]

Ginan: a background check will show your old salaries. I received a background from one company I was offered a position with, and requested a copy, and it showed dates of employment, job title, and ending salary.

They even called a reference and summarized what they said about me.

[san4596]

Previous employers are limited in what information they can release when contacted by a potential employer. From what I have heard from individuals in HR, they cannot even say why an employee was fired let alone their salary without being in violation of some law. Privacy Laws exist to protect the release of your financial information, salary included. Background checks are mainly for criminal history and include previous addresses, which is mostly based on public information. The only report that I see including your salary would be a credit report, and that is to check your debt to income ratio. The salary included on the credit report would have been provided by you, and includes the employer you listed at the time of the loan request. This means that information could be out of date. So, I can only assume the report “fuzy” was given would have been a combined report that included both the background check and credit report in 1.

Overall, I have never been asked for a W2 or a paystub from a potential employer, and would never provide such documentation to them, as it is unethical for them to even ask for such personal information. I have also had multiple employers over the years, and have been on many interviews in my life.

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

[san4596]

Previous employers are limited in what information they can release when contacted by a potential employer. From what I have heard from individuals in HR, they cannot even say why an employee was fired let alone their salary without being in violation of some law. Privacy Laws exist to protect the release of your financial information, salary included. Background checks are mainly for criminal history and include previous addresses, which is mostly based on public information. The only report that I see including your salary would be a credit report, and that is to check your debt to income ratio. The salary included on the credit report would have been provided by you, and includes the employer you listed at the time of the loan request. This means that information could be out of date. So, I can only assume the report “fuzy” was given would have been a combined report that included both the background check and credit report in 1.

Overall, I have never been asked for a W2 or a paystub from a potential employer, and would never provide such documentation to them, as it is unethical for them to even ask for such personal information. I have also had multiple employers over the years, and have been on many interviews in my life.

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

[Miss Cindy]

San: Are you seriously advocating lying to a potential employer? That is absolutely pitiful advice. If a candidate doesn't think that their current salary is any of the potential employer's business then he/she can politely tell the potential employer that. The entire accounting profession is founded on ethics and honesty. You give us all a bad name. Calling it “a small fib” does not change the fact that it is lying. It is black and white. There is telling the truth and then there is telling a lie. You are 1/3 of the way around the fraud triangle with this sort of rationalization.

Gian: You could probably get a hefty pay increase by pulling an investment scam or some insurance fraud. Would you advocate those options as well?

I am blown away that two different posters have advised nonsense like this. We are supposed to be better than that.

[Miss Cindy]

San: Are you seriously advocating lying to a potential employer? That is absolutely pitiful advice. If a candidate doesn't think that their current salary is any of the potential employer's business then he/she can politely tell the potential employer that. The entire accounting profession is founded on ethics and honesty. You give us all a bad name. Calling it “a small fib” does not change the fact that it is lying. It is black and white. There is telling the truth and then there is telling a lie. You are 1/3 of the way around the fraud triangle with this sort of rationalization.

Gian: You could probably get a hefty pay increase by pulling an investment scam or some insurance fraud. Would you advocate those options as well?

I am blown away that two different posters have advised nonsense like this. We are supposed to be better than that.

[mla1169]

Reputable sources make 3 points clear:

1. Do not lie.

2. Employers may ask for salary history and it is not against any rules to do so. They can also ask for proof of what you claim your salary to be. Its not at all unethical to ask you to back up what you just told someone your salary was. It might be put-offish and make you decide it is not someplace you want to work, but they can do it if they want.

3. Do your homework about the salary before the interview.

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/do-you-have-to-reveal-income

https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/02/15/how-to-negotiate-your-salary-2/

https://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/getting-started/lying-in-your-job-search/article.aspx

And it can be a civil case, if you had a crazy vindictive employer who somehow found out that you inflated your salary figure:

People lie about their salaries all the time and never get caught. I am not one of them nor am I inclined to do so. I'm much more compelled by professional websites like those I posted above than message boards on professional advice, I suggest others conducting job search seek out experts to have such discussions with.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Reputable sources make 3 points clear:

1. Do not lie.

2. Employers may ask for salary history and it is not against any rules to do so. They can also ask for proof of what you claim your salary to be. Its not at all unethical to ask you to back up what you just told someone your salary was. It might be put-offish and make you decide it is not someplace you want to work, but they can do it if they want.

3. Do your homework about the salary before the interview.

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/do-you-have-to-reveal-income

https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/02/15/how-to-negotiate-your-salary-2/

https://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/getting-started/lying-in-your-job-search/article.aspx

And it can be a civil case, if you had a crazy vindictive employer who somehow found out that you inflated your salary figure:

People lie about their salaries all the time and never get caught. I am not one of them nor am I inclined to do so. I'm much more compelled by professional websites like those I posted above than message boards on professional advice, I suggest others conducting job search seek out experts to have such discussions with.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[san4596]

Cindy – I find it childish that you attack me on a personal level and compare my actions to fraud. You are over exaggerating the situation even more by saying I give us all a bad name. I obey all laws/regulations in every situation, and am a honest person, with the exception of being asked what my current salary is in an interview.

Additionally, not all situations are black and white when is comes to ethics, and you should have learned that in an ethics course.

I can see now that the Drama Ninja may pay this thread a visit.

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

[san4596]

Cindy – I find it childish that you attack me on a personal level and compare my actions to fraud. You are over exaggerating the situation even more by saying I give us all a bad name. I obey all laws/regulations in every situation, and am a honest person, with the exception of being asked what my current salary is in an interview.

Additionally, not all situations are black and white when is comes to ethics, and you should have learned that in an ethics course.

I can see now that the Drama Ninja may pay this thread a visit.

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

[Miss Cindy]

…so you are an honest person with the exception of lying?…

[Miss Cindy]

…so you are an honest person with the exception of lying?…

[Miss Cindy]

How can you possibly justify something like that by saying that it's not black and white? In this situation, the truth is the truth and a lie is a lie. I do agree with you that often times there are ethical dilemmas where there is not a clear right and wrong answer. This is not one of those situations. The underlying benefit to one's own situation is not what makes a matter ethically gray.

[Author]

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