[Keely]

Forgive any typos as I’m on my phone.

I posted a few weeks back freaking our about my first public accounting interview, but I did well and was offered an staff auditor position with a 75 person firm. I’d like some feedback as to whether this is a fair offer. FYI I have no experience, this is an entry level job.

$53K. This is in the DC area, so that is about $40 K where I’m moving, if that. Maybe closer to $37K, depending on who you ask. A $1000 raise when I get certified, plus a $1000 reimbursement for review course. They have some perks like paying half my metro fares and half a gym membership. My insurance plan can be as little as $50 a month or as much as $130, depends on what plan I go with.

How does that compare to others in my situation?

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Keely]

Sorry, they offered my 53K and that is about 37 to 40 where I'm moving FROM.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[khum2011]

I'd say it sounds pretty fair. When I was recruiting for firms in Denver, Co I think one of my professor's said the average starting salary was around $47K. Do you know how much vacation time you'll be getting? Do they offer any comp time?

FAR - 82
BEC - 77
AUD - 79
REG - 81

Done 🙂

[FindaJob]

Deloitte are giving me 51k ! No raise when i get certified i guess ! lol ! i feel cheated :D>

what do you mean by “about 37 to 40 where I'm moving FROM.” ? is that how much they are paying you now ?

two to go !

[The Dingo]

The OP is making a cost of living comparison to his / her current location.

The thing with DC is it falls in the, “Nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to…” category, in fact, DC owns that category.

Unless you have a bizarre desire to live there, want to work in a Federal practice or are trying to get out of Detroit or Cleveland, my short recommendations is this: DON'T.

[Keely]

I honestly hate DC. I am from small town VA, but live in Houston and love it. However, I only know my boyfriend and his friends, and we just recently broke up. I know no one professionally in Houston, and don't have a job there, I was just studying for CPA full time. I was back visiting my family in VA and thought I'd send out a resume to get some interview experience. I sent out one resume, which resulted in an interview, which resulted in an offer. I really wasn't expecting any of this. All my family is in VA and the firm I am considering seems so nice. Everyone was sweet and motherly (interviewed with all women) and they really seem to genuinely care about your success. It's also laid back, people in khakis and the two staffs I went to lunch with said they work no more than 60 hours during busy season. So that's why I'm considering the move.

Sorry, I don't have much knowledge about job perk stuff. My offer says I can accumulate 17 days of vacation from years one through five then it increase to 22. 10 sick days. What is comp time? They will pay out my unused sick days at 50% and they will pay me overtime at my regular hourly rate, whatever that will come to.

I really love Texas and the people and culture. I find DC culture to be very unappealing. However I did find a potential apartment one mile from my office and a two minute metro ride away! So that eliminates the commute horror.

Basically I feel this was offered to me on a silver platter and I should take it even if it is not my ideal location, get the experience the try to transition back to where I want to live. But this all just came on so fast I am just wondering if I am making the right decision. I never made any ‘connections' in college or after, and these people were so casual and easy to get along with, are so sweet, and I figure I should give that some weight as well since I will see them everyday!

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[futuremdcpa]

Thats pretty fair. Big 4 is giving me 57k.

REG: PASS || BEC: PASS || AUD: PASS || F: SCORE PENDING..

[wickedrentlover]

@keelydare, I live in Alexandria and love it here. You just have to find the right places to go. I think that's pretty fair for the area, I work for KPMG in the DC office and my starting salary is 56k. For a smaller firm, that seems like it's a pretty competitive package to me.

REG (2/24/12) - 89
AUD (4/5/12) - 89
FAR (5/31/12) - 91
BEC (7/7/12) - 84

[Keely]

Can anyone tell me what the proper way to accept the position is? The HR woman called to tell me she was emailing me details of the offer and said “let us know by July 5th.” Should I call or email or both?

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[futuremdcpa]

@keelydare1 – Congrats first of all! Many people who graduated this semester with me, still can't find jobs in the DC/MD/VA area, so consider yourself lucky! Did you receive the offer through the phone or email?

If through email, I would email the acceptance response back to HR, and I would wait a few hours or so and call the person you are dealing with to ensure that she received your email and that everything looks good on her part.

REG: PASS || BEC: PASS || AUD: PASS || F: SCORE PENDING..

[Keely]

@futuremdcpa: Thank you 🙂 She first called and we talked for just a few minutes. She gave me the salary offering over the phone then said she was going to email and snail mail me the offer package describing everything else. Her email said something like, “Here is our offer. Please look over it and I look forward to your response by July 5th.”

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[futuremdcpa]

No prob! I would do both, I would first email her, and wait a day. If no reply within 24 hours I would call and say “Hi, Im so and so, and I was calling to make sure that my offer acceptance was recieved VIA email and wanted to know if you still require anything else of me as of now?” When I accepted through the Big 4, I did email the HR person back saying something similar to above. I also added “I really look forward to working with everyone!” They seem to like people who are enthusiastic about joining the firm.

When I accepted a gov't audit position during my senior year, I was emailed an offer letter, and was called. I accepted through the phone. I also made sure to email saying Hi Ms. XXX, Thank you for taking the time to help me through this process. I really look forward to joining everyone at XXX Fed Agency. Is there anything else you require of me?” She replied within a few hours saying nope and that they look forward to having me.

So like I said, I would email first, and then call within 24 hours or so just to confirm. And again, about the 53K salary in DC, I am in the MD/DC/VA area, and I received 57k for my first year. A few other of my friends received anywhere from 48-56 max. So what you received is a pretty solid salary.

REG: PASS || BEC: PASS || AUD: PASS || F: SCORE PENDING..

[Keely]

Thanks! Can I ask you a question about living in the area? How expensive is it, really? I will be working in Bethesda and everything I see is just so ungodly expensive, it makes me want to cry. I can't decide if I want to slum it basically and save a lot of money, or if I want to pay for the convenience. I found a place for $1350 (all utilities included) for a large studio right on top of my work, practically. But coming from a place where I paid $750 (that was in Houston) and $550 for a two bedroom before that in my hometown…it just hurts to see that. Is there any chance for paying $1000 or so and not living in the ghetto?

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[wickedrentlover]

@Keelydare, short answer is no. 1350 for a studio is pretty typical for the area. My fiance and I paid 1150 for a 1 bedroom in Arlington for a year and you can bet we got out of there as fast as possible…cockroaches, poor building maintenance…not to mention the fact that I got stuck in my bathroom for over an hour one day because the door wouldn't freaking open. We pay 1725 for a 1 bedroom in Alexandria now and it's much better–the extra cost is definitely worth it. Bethesda is definitely one of the more expensive areas. You may be able to save some money by going a little bit outside Bethesda and commuting, but whether that's worth it to you is your call.

REG (2/24/12) - 89
AUD (4/5/12) - 89
FAR (5/31/12) - 91
BEC (7/7/12) - 84

[futuremdcpa]

@ keelydare1 – I agree with wickedrentlover. Bethesda is a pretty expensive place to reside in. Everything there is expensive. I actually still live with my family for the time being. (I do have to commute 1hr 30ish mins) to work every morning because of traffic.

What I would suggest is try to look outside Bethesda, maybe Gaithersburg, Rockville, somewhere 15-30 mins away (if youre okay with commuting). But $1350 for a studio is CRAZY! Also, like wickedrentlover said – Arlington is pretty expensive as well. Also McLean – close to Arlington is very expensive. I would suggest that you try to find something cheaper for the first year or so, and save all your money. With the $1350 you'd be paying you could afford a nice townhouse in some areas with a mortgage near $1350.

It really depends on what you want. But trust me, Bethesda, Arlington, McLean, Potomac are VERY expensive. I would love to live in all those areas, but its not worth the extra $$ I would have to worry about making.

REG: PASS || BEC: PASS || AUD: PASS || F: SCORE PENDING..

[Keely]

Thanks, guys. I am going to start looking elsewhere. I don't want half my income going down the drain for rent.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Author]

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