[san4596]

I have recently been approached with a possible opportunity at a Manufacturing Company. My question is what limitations are there with working at a manufacturing company? If any?

Also, I could not be approached at a worse time of year! Tax season is near, and it would put the firm I work for in a terrible position. What would it take for you to leave, and possibly burn a bridge? What % increase in salary?

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[mla1169]

I think if I were you, I'd pursue the opportunity and find out what it has to offer. Theres not a lot of sense to anticipating what if scenarios about offers, % salary increases, etc until you know exactly what is on the table. Just fyi it can take MONTHS to go from being considered for an interview to actually walking in for your first day, you may well be able to stay put through tax season. The job I start on Jan 26 I actually applied to around Thanksgiving.

I've never worked in public but spent half my career doing accounting for a service providing company and the other half in manufacturing. I happen to LOVE cost accounting, it really is my thing, and I wouldn't have/do it any other way. I wouldn't even consider a job that wasn't in mfg but it suits my strengths and ambitions. Can't think of any limitations, really.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[san4596]

mla – The position is titled Operations Manager and reports directly to the CFO. They are looking to make a move soon from what I understand. I do not even have an offer on the table, and this is hypothetical for the mean time.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[mla1169]

It would take a lot for me to burn a bridge, and there's so much more to it than salary.

But for the right opportunity I would certainly move on even during tax season. Lots of factors to consider, first and foremost WHAT is the job description. Operations Manager couldn't be more vague, in fact its rarely used for an accounting or finance position at all. Is it something you truly could see yourself doing, is it a pretty big stretch for your skill set and if so will there be ample training and mentoring. Big salary boost isn't worth a job that makes you positively miserable.

Once the job description is known, is the salary being offered comparable to similar positions in the same area. I don't care if it doubles your current salary, if its not in line with the same job in the same sized company I'd walk away from it. Also to be considered are the benefits and hours. Again it doesn't matter if the salary is substantially greater if your current employer is paying 80% of your insurance and this place pays 50% or less.

If it all worked out your new employer may consider letting you work reduced days/hours while you're getting up to speed and helping your current employer through tax season, or offer to stay on part time to help through tax season. They may not take you up on it but you're less likely to have burnt a bridge.

I guess my point is I would walk away from a position and risk burning bridges even for a CUT in salary if it was the best opportunity for me. On the other hand there are some jobs that aren't worth a HUGE increase in Salary for any reason.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[ruggercpa2b]

Having worked in public accounting they actually expected people to leave either before, during or after busy season. Unless you are really rude at the time you leave you do not burn any bridges. I remember people leaving in the middle of busy season and we would talk about how proud we were of them for taking a stand. After a few weeks we had moved on. People forget and move on. They will hire new people to replace you and you end up being just a thing of the past. Don't pass up on a good opportunity! At the end of the day the partners could care less.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[san4596]

I have an issue though. A new higher with absolutely no experience in public accounting and a recent grad is making just below what I make. Me and another employee are both a little upset by this given our experience level compared to theirs. My moral for the firm is shot, but I love the people working for the firm. I would hate to put them through the pressure of handling my workload, which has only grown every year. I have an issue of letting clients go because I want to make sure they are well taken care of. My other issue is getting experience sign off when I pass my final exam, which will hopefully be in Feb.

Last time I had this feeling was 5 years ago, and 1 week later my current employer made me an offer. Went from not-for-profit to public accounting.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[ruggercpa2b]

Sometimes when you say you are leaving or put in your 2 weeks' notice they might offer you more money to have you stay. I know when I left public they told me they were planning on promoting me but I was just over it and I was getting a 35% raise and I don't think they would have made me such an offer. It sounds like you care about your work and your clients, but if the people that own the firm don't value you as much as you think you should be valued do you really have any reason to be loyal? The work will go on and I am pretty sure the partners at your current firm will make sure those clients that were assigned to you are well taken care of.

I would look into the position and if you don't feel comfortable leaving after you have talked to the manufacturing people then you can just tell them you have decided not to pursue the position any further. I always felt like I was underpaid but they always told us we were paid market price. When I talked to my peers in industry they were all making way more money. I do not regret leaving one bit.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[mla1169]

Well you'll find thats often why people job hop. Lets say the going market rate for an inexperienced hire in 2009 is 40k. Lets also say the average raise is 3% annually in your company. By 2014 you're making just over $46k with just merit raises and no promotions and now have 5 years' experience to plump up your resume. Its entirely possible that by 2014 the going market rate for an inexperienced hire is $44k so yeah they're making very close to what someone with 5 years' experience. The merit raises alone barely keep pace with let alone outpace the increase in hiring rate. I've left jobs for that very reason.

The best way to have a gap between yourself and a new hire is through promotions and/or job hopping. This is another factor to consider by the way when thinking of making a move, has the company had to freeze wages and/or reduce their average merit raise over the last 5 or so years. You can't ask that in an interview but in many cases you can find out otherwise. There are people out there making exactly what they were 5 years ago.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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