[Anonymous]

Help me evaluate this offer please:

my background:

1 year as an oil and gas cost accountant at a top oil and gas services company (huge company);

undergrad from a top 10 school; double major econ/accounting;

0 parts of the CPA passed but about to take my 1st part (confident I will pass)

pay = 55k + 10% bonus + standard package (already got my raise + bonus for the year. Started out at 50k)

not much room for growth; i would grow in the same position (inventory)

job offer:

unknown company doing the same thing my company does but on a smaller scale

30% added responsibilities (forecasting, budgeting, etc)

most likely longer hours (I already work 50 hrs/wk; this will be 55-60 hrs/wk)

lots of room for growth (newish company and making lots of $$)

pay = 66k + 8% bonus potential + standard package

all things being equal, what would you do?

[Anonymous]

DESTROPRIME,

Looks like a good deal ; I am in Houston too, making 45K as staff accountant for 4 years, passed 3 parts of CPA exam. Hopefully will be CPA by this summer. Comparing to what I have right now, you really have a good deal. I would say go for it.

[Anonymous]

DESTROPRIME,

Looks like a good deal ; I am in Houston too, making 45K as staff accountant for 4 years, passed 3 parts of CPA exam. Hopefully will be CPA by this summer. Comparing to what I have right now, you really have a good deal. I would say go for it.

[Anonymous]

@destoprime

I think the offer sounds great- but 60 hours/week and studying for the exam would be pretty brutal.

[Anonymous]

@destoprime

I think the offer sounds great- but 60 hours/week and studying for the exam would be pretty brutal.

[Wanna_B_TXCPA2014]

Go for it. The worst thing that could happen if it doesnt work it is you get another job.

[Wanna_B_TXCPA2014]

Go for it. The worst thing that could happen if it doesnt work it is you get another job.

[r1racer]

Crazy how avg pay for an entry level accountant has been the same for the past 10+ years. Meanwhile the cost of living continues to rise. I wonder how much longer we have until the Great Correction starts.

Anyway, it all depends on what you value the most. Do you value money, time, experience, job security, a challenge? If it were me I would go with the smaller company assuming they are healthy. You will likely gain more experience, be exposed to much more and have room for growth. Experience is worth its weight in gold in the accounting profession. Also, you may end up working similar hours anyway.

[r1racer]

Crazy how avg pay for an entry level accountant has been the same for the past 10+ years. Meanwhile the cost of living continues to rise. I wonder how much longer we have until the Great Correction starts.

Anyway, it all depends on what you value the most. Do you value money, time, experience, job security, a challenge? If it were me I would go with the smaller company assuming they are healthy. You will likely gain more experience, be exposed to much more and have room for growth. Experience is worth its weight in gold in the accounting profession. Also, you may end up working similar hours anyway.

[StephAV]

@r1racer – I know! I feel like now that the economy is starting to recover there is getting to be more competition for employers again. I started at $40k back in 2005… I never thought almost 10 years later I still wouldn't have hit $60k. I'm almost there now and with my CPA license I'm feeling more confident that my pay won't lag forever.

As far as the job, I guess my main concern would be if you are working more hours will you still be able to study? If yes, then it sounds like a good opportunity. You may want to just concentrate on passing the exam for a while then make your move? Only you can make that decision.

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]

@r1racer – I know! I feel like now that the economy is starting to recover there is getting to be more competition for employers again. I started at $40k back in 2005… I never thought almost 10 years later I still wouldn't have hit $60k. I'm almost there now and with my CPA license I'm feeling more confident that my pay won't lag forever.

As far as the job, I guess my main concern would be if you are working more hours will you still be able to study? If yes, then it sounds like a good opportunity. You may want to just concentrate on passing the exam for a while then make your move? Only you can make that decision.

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.

[fuzyfro89]

Destro: I don't know your motivation, but if you started working 50-60 hours a week would you still be able to manage to get some studying done? If you are confident in your abilities, even with a heavier workload, then absolutely go for it! It will be tough so don't underestimate it.

If you decide you are confident in your motivation and abilities given longer work hours, then the next question is a no brainer. When was the last time you heard of a oil gas company going under? I doubt you have to worry about job security. The again, you're more likely to get fired for underperforming than the entire company going under.

55+5 bonus to 66+5 bonus is a big raise! It's over $900 extra per month! Seems like you also will get better experience at your level.

Do you have any reservations? You didn't mention any besides the CPA , though you did say you're confident in being able to pass it.

[fuzyfro89]

Destro: I don't know your motivation, but if you started working 50-60 hours a week would you still be able to manage to get some studying done? If you are confident in your abilities, even with a heavier workload, then absolutely go for it! It will be tough so don't underestimate it.

If you decide you are confident in your motivation and abilities given longer work hours, then the next question is a no brainer. When was the last time you heard of a oil gas company going under? I doubt you have to worry about job security. The again, you're more likely to get fired for underperforming than the entire company going under.

55+5 bonus to 66+5 bonus is a big raise! It's over $900 extra per month! Seems like you also will get better experience at your level.

Do you have any reservations? You didn't mention any besides the CPA , though you did say you're confident in being able to pass it.

[tomq04]

Is the CPA required? If the new job is overwhelming, then you could reconsider and wait a 6 months-year until things are settled enough to start again.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[tomq04]

Is the CPA required? If the new job is overwhelming, then you could reconsider and wait a 6 months-year until things are settled enough to start again.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Anonymous]

cpa2012: thx! are you in O&G? If you're in Houston, imo you should be in O&G b/c I think you'll learn more, more challenging, more valuable skills, and you get paid a lot more. But just my free advice so take it for what it's worth.

Aggie_CPA: agreed. I plan on trying to streamline this job asap (hopefully within 3-6 months), but if that doesn't work out, I still think this job will put my career on a faster track than earning the CPA based off job responsibilities + talent I'd be working with.

Wanna_B_TXCPA2014: ya but I anticipate staying here for 2-4 years minimum so I don't chop my resume up.

r1racer: very solid points! I ran the #'s again on how much I'll be working AND factored in drive time… I'll only be working 2-4 extra hrs per week at the new job and 5-7 extra hrs during month-end close. I value the job I'll have in 10 years the most… so my goal is to do whatever it takes the next few years to get me to that job in the most efficient way possible. The “job” is most likely VP FP&A (I know I'm not on the best career path, but I've evaluated everything and this is the best route given my circumstances) at an O&G company.

StephAV: Well I'm in Houston and in O&G and this industry/location pays above mkt. I doubt I'll be able to really study for the first 3 months at a minimum. I do think I will be able to put in 1-2 hrs/day after that which should get me to pass.

fuzyfro89: good points! Honestly, I can't tell for certain if I'll be a workhorse putting in 60hr weeks or if it'll die down after a few months. But the job experience will outweigh me having my CPA in the next 1-2 years I think. Especially since I anticipate staying at this company for at least 2 years. So right now the goal for the worst case scenario is to outperform the first 6-12 months, then get the CPA the following 12 months.

tomq04: While I don't think the job will be overwhelming, it will definitely push me close to my limits. But I'm very confident in myself… and really want to be on the fast track on my career so if I nearly drown, but somehow survive, then it'll be worth it.

Thanks all!

[Author]

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