[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

[Iwillpasswithalife]

Possible yes your in the clear with a perm res, though I kinda would be stepping on the offer to help vw unless your interested in relocating to Austin, TX. I kinda like to see if the person I offered help is interested first.

They won't care about your schooling. A CA is highly respected. That's a very difficult test more difficult then the CPA exam IMO. They won't care about your state licensed in either since they have offices in both CA and TX.

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

[sums]

I dont mind relocating anywhere as long as I can find a decent job as an auditor. As you can see, its not just about interest but I am looking to build a career in auditing .

AUD84,FAR82,BEC77,Reg79

[Iwillpasswithalife]

Sounds good, shot me a private message. I can get you connected with one of the senior managers I know there. I can get you introduced etc and then you can go from there. I'll get you the foot in the door but after that it's up to you nail the phone calls and interviews. PM your e-mail so you can send me a resume etc. Obviously need to know more about you before I get you introduced with anyone lol.

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

[ww86]

I graduated from a CSU school. I don't know if I graduated at the wrong timing. When I took over the full-time position in Dec 2008. The partners told me that they are uncertain if the firm would be impacted by the economy, so they could only offered me 35k. Honestly, I don't think the firm is impacted by the economy at all. The partners still bill the client the same. The clients probably complain about the bills but we don't have any client go out of business or disengage with the firm. I want to ask for a raise, but I don't want to take the risk of losing my job. I am also counting on the them to sign off my experience for me. I am hoping it will be easier for me to go somewhere else pays better after I am done with the CPA exams. Can the partners refuse to sign off my experience for me if I quit and go somewhere else?

[Anonymous]

If i were you , considering you are left with less than 9 months to get the 2year required experience , i will stick around at the firm you are , and apply at other firms rather than leave with no firm offer on hand, the job market is currently not looking up.Pass the exam and weigh your options when you are done with the exam , hopefully in December 2010.

[NDIRISH]

Thanks.

My firm just moved phoenix from west to southwest.

but considering the cost of living in phoenix is low compared to la, i think it's competitive and i will be an AZ cpa next year sometime.

sum. maybe going to a macc program would help get in big 4. USC is a top school out there.

BEC 85, REG 79, FAR 77, AUD 81!!! DONE!!! PA

[sums]

I thought so too Ndirish .I think, I will finish my CPA and look for a few months .both Big 4s ..mid -size firms .If not I'll get back to school .

AUD84,FAR82,BEC77,Reg79

[NDIRISH]

I went back to school for the macc. 08 ugrad (top school, Non business.) will be graduating in may Go to a really good one though. Big 4 recruits only the top ones. Big 4 Arizona here i come.

BEC 85, REG 79, FAR 77, AUD 81!!! DONE!!! PA

[sums]

Which are the top /good business schools that don't cost you an arm and a leg? because financing is another issue for an unemployed like me to go to a school.i dont mind relocating ..I just need to find something reasonable …

AUD84,FAR82,BEC77,Reg79

[NDIRISH]

The government don't give out grants for students unfortunately for graduate school.

Top of my head is USC, Texas, BYU, ND, and Illinois for national recruiting.

For specific local offices. If you're looking at cal for Big 4, USC is obviously the best choice. I am not sure about the other schools in the region.

It will cost an arm and an leg. But you will recoup your investment when you go Big 4 and beyond.

BEC 85, REG 79, FAR 77, AUD 81!!! DONE!!! PA

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't believe the hype about the “top 25 schools”. I didn't graduate from a top 25 school, neither did any of my class mates, and there are plenty of us working Big 4. Big 4 recruit from hundreds of schools, not just a group of 25. Our graduates are very competitive in the workplace environment compared to some of the “bigger and better” schools.

You may get a slightly better education, but having gone to a smaller school for undergraduate and one of the top 25 for MAcc, I say don't waste your money on moving. Find a school that has a half decent reputation and the chances are that Big 4 recruit out of there.

[J]

I agree with dmjid0005 – Big 4 focus on recruitment at local universities. You've got to have at least a 3.0 (or even higher now) GPA and pretty decent grades in accounting / finance just to get an interview/offer – maybe before this wouldn't be a huge factor, but hiring is more competitive than before.

[PursuitCPA]

“Or even higher now” try 3.98 GPA anything less they think your lazy….unless your a hot model…its just that bad out there.

CPA EXAM - Passed

[NDIRISH]

The question for Big 4 is that what is the placement rate, and WHERE do you want to go?

Since Big 4 does most of the hiring through campus recruiting, if your school doesn't get that it's really tough.

A small school in Idaho for example would have a very hard time getting Big 4 in Boston MA just because it is hard for a referral and probably there are no partners or alums that work in Boston still for Big 4.

The top MACC programs consistently place 75-85% of its class in BIG 4 all across the country and where they want to go (most choices.) That's because of their great academics and also just the number of alumni throughout the country who is still working for the Big 4.

In short, stay within the regional area = any college that is recruited by Big 4, lower probability of success.

Going nationwide (as I am), top Macc would get you there.

And yes, Grades do matter. Showing a high (not 4.0 otherwise you don't have a life) GPA means you have the drive to do so.

BEC 85, REG 79, FAR 77, AUD 81!!! DONE!!! PA

[Anonymous]

I completely agree with NDIRISH. I graduated with a MAcc from a program that has had a lot of success in placing students nationwide. The school's recruiting process is really the only way to get into an entry level accounting in Big 4 or large regional firms if you want to work outside of your state of residence.

You must network like crazy during college. Join Beta Alpha Psi (I didn't but many others were successful through BAP). Try to make friends with recruiters, partners, and even staff of the firm you'd like to work for. If you want to go out of state, you must have a really good reason for working in a different state (family is probably the best reason).

I spoke with a partner from a Big 4 firm and he told me that the attrition rate (rate of leaving the job) is extremely high in the first few years for initial out-of-state employees. He told me that they invest around $50,000 in the first few years of new hires. Obviously, that is wasted if the candidate leaves within a short-time.

Good luck in the job hunt! You can do it if you play your cards right and really let your good qualities shine in recruiting and networking events.

[Author]

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