[zizou10]

I was just curious, how i should approach my manager regarding a raise and bonus after i pass my exam?

Some background info:

Work in a small accounting department, currently staff, but will most likely be promoted in a year or less to senior. Salary is in the mid 50’s. Live in So Cal.

Even if i didn’t take the CPA i feel i had a good shot at getting promoted to Senior. I’m not sure exactly what my raise would have been, but researching online, it would probably be in the mid to low 60’s.

So, i’m not sure how i should negotiate my raise and bonus after i pass the exam (assuming i pass before the start of the next FY) since i already had a really good shot at getting promoted to Senior. Should i just add another 1k – 2k to the raise i would have received even without the CPA? Has anyone been in a situation similar to mine?

FAR - 81
AUD - 86
REG - 74, Feb/2013
BEC - 79

[Anonymous]

You will not get a raise from your current firm. I was in the same position. You want a reward? Look outside your firm. Even to another small firm. Sometimes, a smaller firm will snatch you up and pay you more.

[michaelabs22]

I disagree with the above poster, respectfully. I work at a small firm on the east coast. I am currently staff and will be promoted next year I believe. I get a 10% raise immediately upon getting my license, outside of any other raises. So it's definitely worth at least looking into in your company. Maybe ask the office manager or secretary if they have been there longer than you and like you, they might be able to give you some info on what happened in the company to accountants before you were there? Good luck!

A - 10/28/12 - Passed!!!
B - 11/20/12 - Passed!!!
F - 11/12/13 - Passed!!!
R - 02/01/13 - Passed!!!

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RI Licensed CPA.

[spongfunk]

I'm not sure how it is at your firm, but at the firm where I work you get a one time bonus for passing the CPA. Other than your bonus passing the CPA exam is more of a hurdle than a leverage. What I mean by that is you are expected to pass the CPA exam. If you don't pass it within a few years they just let you go because in order to even be promoted to Senior at our firm you have to be liscensed. Raises are determined based on your realization rate and number of billable hours because these directly impact how much money you make for the firm.

All of that being said, whenever the time comes for your firm to discuss raises and promotions bring up the fact that you are liscensed in your evaluation but don't request a specific amount simply because you have passed. Instead use that as a piece of your argument then mention your realization rates, your hours worked, and what you have contributed to the firm to justify your raise.

FAR: 85
AUD: 80
REG: 78
BEC: 82

[Serena]

I think how you approach depends on if you are at an accounting firm or a company. From your post it seems like you work for a company. In that case, you can't really justify/argue behind billable hours.You can, however, go in armed with other things you have brought to the table, such as process improvements/efficiencies, best practices, analytics, and cost-savings etc. I work for a subsidiary of a multi-billion dollar public company (also in SoCal), and will be in a similar situation to you when I pass. My ‘team' consists of a cost accounting manager, an accounting manager (CPA), FP&A manager (Chartered Accountant from the UK), financial analyst (staff), and myself (staff accountant). We keep acquiring companies and our parent company has many other subs that are always needing finance team support, so there are opportunities to grow in the company. I am hoping it will be pretty easy to go in to meet with my CFO and ask for a reward for always taking on new projects, having a positive attitude AND having become a licensed CPA on my own dime.

However you do it (if you haven't yet), just remember to bring facts, poise, and respect to the table when you do it and be willing to take on additional responsibility (to justify your raise) with your new CPA title.. Good luck!

AZ
AUD - 10/20/2011 - 77
BEC - 7/28/2012 - 79
FAR - 4/6/2013 - 79
REG - 4/18/2013 - 75 (3rd time's a charm!)

[Go_Frogs88]

So I've been with my current firm for about 8 months. I'm waiting on my final score being released on Tuesday (hopefully I'll be all done!). Anyways, my firm was very gracious to me this past Christmas. I received a raise, a bonus, even a iPad! They also pay for my prep course and exam fees after I pass each section. I know all of this seems like I would be greedy asking for a raise after I pass but I work for a small firm and not many of the other staff auditors have their CPA license yet so I would be a special exception on our audit team. What do y'all think? Should I mention a CPA raise or just wait until my next review?

B 8/30/2012 - 83
A 11/29/2012 - 78
R 10/27/2012 - 73 - 1/5/2013 - 81 DONE!!
F 7/1/2012 - 83

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[wizards8507]

@Go_Frogs88

If you're going to be a licensed CPA as a staff auditor, I would be discussing a promotion rather than a raise in your current role.

NY CPA

[wizards8507]

@Spotter86

You're a staff analyst at a multi-billion dollar company and you can walk into the CFOs office and start demanding a raise just like that?

NY CPA

[Author]

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