[weed74]

Hi Everyone,

I was just wondering, and have found no better area to ask this question, but what sorts of benefits are people receving at their public accounting job? Please include a general location to help apply relevance to the situation for myself and others.

My qualifications:

BS – Accounting and Finance

Masters – Accounting

Passed 2 of 4 parts of CPA so far

4 years experience with one 20-30 person firm, Southern Ohio

Benefits:

2 weeks vacation

No set personal/sick time policy

No Comp Time

No reimbursement for CPA or Schooling

Interest free loans for CPA/School (up to $5k)

1% of salary max match on 401k

4-5% of salary profit sharing employer contribution

salary around $50k, bonus generally between $2500-4000

total hours around 2300-2400 each year, of which about 1400-1500 are chargeable

AUD - 84
BEC - 80
REG - 75
FAR - 80

[Puerto Rico Romo]

Haven't worked in accounting since I did a tax internship in 08, went straight to Law School after I graduated from college. Worked for a big 4 during that tax internship and it was brutal. Horrible hours, personal issues did not let me focus @ work among other stuff.

[skiw97]

thanks for your input, PR Romo.

FAR 11/13 - 78, BEC 1/13 - 82, AUD 2/23 - 94, REG 5/15 - 86

[J]

My qualifications:

BS – Accounting

4 years experience with B4

Started at $52. Currently $68K, audit 5-6% bonus during 2007/2008 (no bonus or raise for 2009) – during an audit, anywhere from 70-90 hour weeks; 40-45 hours otherwise. BTW, busy season is not limited to Jan-Mar …expect it to be year-round.

I agree with the Skiw97, get your experience and move on.

[LionGrad2001]

Blonde,

You have a very real gripe. I work in CA as well, and documented my career on page 1. I think you have a legitimate beef and would consider why you aren't being given raises/bonuses.

Have your performance reviews been positive? That may be a large factor. I know it is in our firm. Give it a thought.

A lot also depends on the financial viability of firms right now. Our firm is doing well; only letting people go when we are overstaffed. We get at least COLA every year and if you put in the time during the year, a handsome bonus.

We will be looking for some staff later on in the year (prior to school district audit busy season kicks off), so if you are up in Northern CA, keep this thread in the back of your mind and drop me PM around April if you are interested in hearing more about our firm.

[vincec]

I'm the head of a small accounting department at a local investment/accounting firm in Northern California. My stats:

– 7 years experience

– Bachelor Degree

– 3 tests passed and waiting on score of fourth

– Salary is 72k/year

– No set sick days policy

– No set vacation, just on honor system to not abuse it (I have used 3 days this past year)

– Exam fees are reimbursed

– Medical insurance

– Profit sharing bonus in cash/equity

BEC - Passed, AUD - Passed, REG - Passed, FAR - Passed, CA Ethics - Passed

[vincec]

Wow, BlondeAccountant, that is a raw deal you've got there. What part of California are you in?

BEC - Passed, AUD - Passed, REG - Passed, FAR - Passed, CA Ethics - Passed

[Anonymous]

Vincec, I'm in southern California. Does it make a big difference that I work 40 hours a week?

[vincec]

BlondeAccountant: I don't think so. For me, it's definitely quality that counts and not just hours. What it really comes down to, to me, is profitability. If you do value-added work, you should be compensated for it. In my position, I bill at $250/hour. My company makes a nice profit and I should share in that. By the way, I very rarely work more than 40 hours a week. Heck, during the slow season I might work 30. I definitely have a life outside of work and like it that way. Life is way too short to bury yourself in work and stress so just find what fits you best. By the way, around which area in SoCal are you? I lived there for quite a few years and it's interesting to hear about the market down there.

BEC - Passed, AUD - Passed, REG - Passed, FAR - Passed, CA Ethics - Passed

[Iwillpasswithalife]

Blonde,

You can work at a medium sized regional firm in Houston, Dallas, or Austin and make more than that as a brand new staff. I started as a senior at a small firm in Austin at $50K moved to industry working at a non-public company at $60K. Make $70K now in Austin and don't have a CPA yet. I get 401K matching here and a 90/10 medicial plan (some companies do 80/20). I don't work a lot of hours. I graduated in 2004 with a BS from USC.

I do have Big 4 Experience though working on 1st year SOX and an S-1 filing for a $250M revenue a year client that that got me good looks when I went out of state. Cost of living is probably like 50% less here than in CA. My electric bill in Austin is $80 a month with a 2000 sq ft house because I live in a co-op. Houses in my neighborhood go from $130-275K depending on how ridiculous of a home you want and is on a golf course.

REG - 67, 76 (Q4 2009) - Used CPAExcel first time, Used CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
BEC - 83 (Q1 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
AUD - 89 (Q2 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
FAR - 81 (Q4 2010) - Roger CPA + CPAReviwForFree

[financeguy]

Iwillpass…

Are you a CA native? How do you like TX compared to CA?

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[Iwillpasswithalife]

Yes, I grew up in CA. North CA Bay Area. I loved CA, but the cost of living is ridiculous there. Austin to me is very similar to San Franciso except Austin gets better weather and it's cheaper to live here. There is a good mix of liberals and conservatives which is a good thing to me. Too many liberals and conservatives in one area is just bad in general imo. They have a lot of music and art events in downtown. The live music scence is strong here.

Downside is there is no beach and the weather here is pretty wicked compared to CA. Texas is also one of the big allergy capitals in the country so if you have allergies it can get pretty bad. I have no allergies in CA or AZ but have them in TX. Very mild though. If your into gardening, Austin is pretty tough to garden in. We either have clay or stone here and both are pretty hard on gardens and landscaping. I love Texas and won't be moving back to CA unless I become uber wealthy. I would probably have to make double of what I make now to have the quality of living I have here. Really the only reasons I have to go to CA now is for family and my desire to train MMA out there because they have great no-gi training out in CA. My community pool has waterslides and a gym and they are building a school in the community…I can't imagine what a community like that would cost in the bay area.

I have not lived in Dallas or Houston, but I actually think Houston is nicer than Dallas. Houston has a lot of greeny everywhere dispite it's size. There are trees everywhere there, but it's too close to gulf coast for comfort. I've only seen the rougher parts of Dallas though.

REG - 67, 76 (Q4 2009) - Used CPAExcel first time, Used CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
BEC - 83 (Q1 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
AUD - 89 (Q2 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
FAR - 81 (Q4 2010) - Roger CPA + CPAReviwForFree

[financeguy]

I've lived in CA all my life…grew up on the coast but am in Sac now. I hear a lot of good things about Austin. I'm getting really sick of all the welfare and handout and taxes in CA, and I hear more and more things that I think are being done right in TX. Plus, you guys have Ron Paul…pretty much the most level headed politician of my lifetime.

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[Iwillpasswithalife]

The only thing Texas is dropping the ball on is on renewable energy but they are working on it. I do know that Austin Energy has the most generous solar panel incentive in the country. They cover half the cost plus you get the federal credit so your payoff timeframe is reduced by half.

REG - 67, 76 (Q4 2009) - Used CPAExcel first time, Used CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
BEC - 83 (Q1 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
AUD - 89 (Q2 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
FAR - 81 (Q4 2010) - Roger CPA + CPAReviwForFree

[Anonymous]

Are any of you working in accounting in a non-profit organization? I knew I'd be taking a pay-cut to work in non-profit, but gees! I'm in KY.

[NY GT girl]

BS: Management – Georgia Tech (2008)

Masters of Professional Accounting – University of Texas at Austin (Summer 2011)

experience: 18 months part time internships at two small local firms in Atlanta

Starting in tax at a Big 4 in NYC in the fall.

Salary: 56,000

Relocation: 1,000

Signing Bonus: 0

Becker: direct bill

CPA Bonus: 5,000 if passed in 1st year

CPA exam reimbursement: when you pass (only for 1st go round)

sick days: 15

paid holidays: 12

personal days: 3

sick time: unlimited as long as you don't abuse it

not sure on 401(k) & health ins yet.

i hear busy season is 70-90hrs/week depending on your client and non-busy season is 40-50.

NY Candidate using Becker: FAR (2/20) - 81, AUD (4/3) - 92, REG (5/3) - 95, BEC (5/29) - 89 DONE!!!

[Author]

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