[Kay]

I am in internal audit team in a public company where I joined in 2011. In 2012, I got 0% raise because the economy condition wasn’t great, and only 2.5% bonus because it was my 4th month when the bonus was determined for employees. But in 2013, I got 1.1% raise, and 6.6% bonus (these numbers are minimum in raise, and bonus)

I couldn’t understand such a low compensation after I had received extremely positive feedbacks from seniors, managers, senior manager (who is my people manager) – I exceeded expectation, and took care of more responsibilities from upper level (senior roles). However, what my boss told me is that even though I met and exceeded my goals as an auditor, I didn’t contribute further for internal audit department. What else was I supposed to do to contribute more to the internal audit department as a staff auditor? I didn’t get it. The only way I thought of, and he indicated was to do more of administrative work for management and senior managements. Basically, unless I get directly exposed to senior management by doing more than audit work as usual, then there is no way I get even average amount of raise or bonus.

My compensation numbers will be determined and released end of this month. I did some of admin work in 2013, hope this pays me off. Also, I have been doing senior role since beginning of last year. Boss told me that they don’t have open senior position in my current team, so I am transitioning to another team where they urgently need strong senior (and my people manager recommended me to that team). It sounds very promising for promotion, so I decided to make a move to the other team. But who knows.. there might be tons of reasons that discourage me to get promoted to senior level. I liked my people manager, managers, and seniors. thats why I wanted to stay long in this company. But if I don’t get what I am expecting, then I may need to consider other opportunities.

How raise and bonus are determined in other companies?

Currently:
CPA - Class of 2013
ALMI (Associate, Life Management Institute)
CISA - Passed in 2011, Certified in 2014

In Progress:
ASA (Associate of Society of Actuaries) - EXAM P (O), EXAM FM (O), EXAM MFE (X), EXAM MLC (X), EXAM C (X)

[mla1169]

You realize I hope that raises and bonuses depend only in part on your performance. Was the company you worked for profitable in those years? Is the stock in your company increasing in value or tanking? Is the company making acquisitions and trying to hold on to its cash?

When our company is not profitable there are no raises. Not even cost of living. In fact ONCE when the company was tanking everybody was forced to take a 5% pay CUT.

When we're doing well, our bonuses can be up to 30% of your income.

But that said its entirely possible to be a model employee and get nothing, or a total screw off who gets a huge bonus.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

You realize I hope that raises and bonuses depend only in part on your performance. Was the company you worked for profitable in those years? Is the stock in your company increasing in value or tanking? Is the company making acquisitions and trying to hold on to its cash?

When our company is not profitable there are no raises. Not even cost of living. In fact ONCE when the company was tanking everybody was forced to take a 5% pay CUT.

When we're doing well, our bonuses can be up to 30% of your income.

But that said its entirely possible to be a model employee and get nothing, or a total screw off who gets a huge bonus.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Kay]

actually, our salary increase ranges 1% to 5%, and bonus is 5% to 15% a year.

while I got 1.1% raise, and 6.6% bonus last year, some people in the same team received 5% raise, and 15% bonus. – they worked a lot with senior management.

Currently:
CPA - Class of 2013
ALMI (Associate, Life Management Institute)
CISA - Passed in 2011, Certified in 2014

In Progress:
ASA (Associate of Society of Actuaries) - EXAM P (O), EXAM FM (O), EXAM MFE (X), EXAM MLC (X), EXAM C (X)

[Kay]

actually, our salary increase ranges 1% to 5%, and bonus is 5% to 15% a year.

while I got 1.1% raise, and 6.6% bonus last year, some people in the same team received 5% raise, and 15% bonus. – they worked a lot with senior management.

Currently:
CPA - Class of 2013
ALMI (Associate, Life Management Institute)
CISA - Passed in 2011, Certified in 2014

In Progress:
ASA (Associate of Society of Actuaries) - EXAM P (O), EXAM FM (O), EXAM MFE (X), EXAM MLC (X), EXAM C (X)

[tough_kitty]

Interesting topic. Sorry I can't help with the answer but what you described really sucks!

State employees in California get a 5% raise annually within their salary range based on the title. Normally, if you start from the base pay, you max out after about 7 years. So, the goal is to move up before you max out….assuming I don't get the admin position (not into office politics), my max. salary is most likely going to be around $90K unless I leave the state and try to make more in private….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Interesting topic. Sorry I can't help with the answer but what you described really sucks!

State employees in California get a 5% raise annually within their salary range based on the title. Normally, if you start from the base pay, you max out after about 7 years. So, the goal is to move up before you max out….assuming I don't get the admin position (not into office politics), my max. salary is most likely going to be around $90K unless I leave the state and try to make more in private….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Not a Quitter]

@toughkitty Interesting to hear how it works for state employees there. Do you get any other increases? Our general assembly sometimes approves cost of living increases and pay increase are given by either increased job duties or “for performance” as deemed by your supervisor under the guidlines of each particular agency.

FAR- 85 I'm DONE!
BEC- 75
REG- 60,60,75
AUD- 74,74,83

CPAExcel used for BEC, AUD, REG
Exam Matrix used for FAR plus NINJA Blitz, cpareviewforfree and a little CPAExcel

[Not a Quitter]

@toughkitty Interesting to hear how it works for state employees there. Do you get any other increases? Our general assembly sometimes approves cost of living increases and pay increase are given by either increased job duties or “for performance” as deemed by your supervisor under the guidlines of each particular agency.

FAR- 85 I'm DONE!
BEC- 75
REG- 60,60,75
AUD- 74,74,83

CPAExcel used for BEC, AUD, REG
Exam Matrix used for FAR plus NINJA Blitz, cpareviewforfree and a little CPAExcel

[StephAV]

My organization did no raises this year… I got a just over 2% bonus. They don't announce how they come to these numbers. I'm totally underpaid, no doubt about it. I asked for at least 10% increase in October to get me to the bottom of the Senior Accountant pay range per the RHI Salary Survey – it hasn't happened. We got a new controller this year and I have worked my tail off. It is disappointing.The COO says once I pass the exam I'll get an increase and the controller told me I'll get a promotion once I'm licensed. Really all that would change is my title and pay. I'm already doing the job.

I beleive that pay increases are steady org wide, if they give 2%, everyone is getting 2%…

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[StephAV]

My organization did no raises this year… I got a just over 2% bonus. They don't announce how they come to these numbers. I'm totally underpaid, no doubt about it. I asked for at least 10% increase in October to get me to the bottom of the Senior Accountant pay range per the RHI Salary Survey – it hasn't happened. We got a new controller this year and I have worked my tail off. It is disappointing.The COO says once I pass the exam I'll get an increase and the controller told me I'll get a promotion once I'm licensed. Really all that would change is my title and pay. I'm already doing the job.

I beleive that pay increases are steady org wide, if they give 2%, everyone is getting 2%…

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[sbarkerACPA]

I am a Accountant for the State of MS. Statewide raises are across the board and decided by the Legislature. They are not often, in fact the last one was in 2006 I think. However, within the agency if the money has been appropriated then it is up to your Supervisor and have to be justified. The last couple of years have been fair to me agency wise but for other employees ..not so much.

Also, it is determined using a formula not a percentage..like rocket science!!

BEC: 74;81
AUD: 77
REG: 71; 80
FAR: 78
License for CPA----APPROVED
CPA Class of 2013

[sbarkerACPA]

I am a Accountant for the State of MS. Statewide raises are across the board and decided by the Legislature. They are not often, in fact the last one was in 2006 I think. However, within the agency if the money has been appropriated then it is up to your Supervisor and have to be justified. The last couple of years have been fair to me agency wise but for other employees ..not so much.

Also, it is determined using a formula not a percentage..like rocket science!!

BEC: 74;81
AUD: 77
REG: 71; 80
FAR: 78
License for CPA----APPROVED
CPA Class of 2013

[tough_kitty]

@NotaQuitter: Apart from what I described, not really. However, it all depends on a union contract. We had to take a 5% pay cut in 2011 and 2013 but now we will be getting a 2.5% and a 2% raises in 2014 and 2015 respectively or all at once in 2015 depending on the circumstances (to make a long story short). That's on top of the 5% annual increases.

Also, last year they raised the maximum salary amounts for salary ranges by 3%.

Can't really complain about my salary…but they do charge us about $60-80/month for union dues.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

@NotaQuitter: Apart from what I described, not really. However, it all depends on a union contract. We had to take a 5% pay cut in 2011 and 2013 but now we will be getting a 2.5% and a 2% raises in 2014 and 2015 respectively or all at once in 2015 depending on the circumstances (to make a long story short). That's on top of the 5% annual increases.

Also, last year they raised the maximum salary amounts for salary ranges by 3%.

Can't really complain about my salary…but they do charge us about $60-80/month for union dues.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Not a Quitter]

Ah, you are unionized. Sounds like a better deal than mine for sure 😉

FAR- 85 I'm DONE!
BEC- 75
REG- 60,60,75
AUD- 74,74,83

CPAExcel used for BEC, AUD, REG
Exam Matrix used for FAR plus NINJA Blitz, cpareviewforfree and a little CPAExcel

[Author]

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