[littlenumberrobot]

June 1st I will hit the 3 year mark in public accounting. I’ve never had a performance review and I know I am not perfect, I’d really like to know where I need to grow or things I need to work on. My first 1.5 years was at a crazy firm with working lots of hours, I was given a raise after 6 months(I guess that was kind of a review but no one sat down and told me anything good or bad) and stayed at that pay until I left for a much smaller firm. When I changed jobs I was given a higher starting wage than the firm before. Now I’ve been with the small firm for 1.5 years. My boss barely remembers to pay us so I know I will need to ask for a raise. I plan to be done with my exams (last one in May) before talking to my boss. But I am seriously afraid of asking(and all the silly Yahoo articles that pop up on my home page are not helping!). I know I won’t get anything without asking, but I think I’m afraid of rejection and not getting what I think I deserve, plus making things awkward in the workplace. I really don’t know… I’ve never had to do this. Any positive advice out there for me?!

Thanks A71!!

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[jsmithsae]

Each person is different but I would ask to sit down with your boss and explain your value to the company. Go over your merits, improvements, certifications, etc. Most bosses should be receptive to that, in addition you have achieved your CPA license(hopefully) by then. The worst he/she can say is no.

One tip, and it is very important. NEVER state why you are better than someone else when asking for a raise/promotion. You never have to put someone else down to highlight your own achievements. Ie. you are not the best candidate for a job because you are better than the next person…you are the best because you have a CPA, high client satisfaction, 90% billable hours, etc. (whatever your company uses for goal setting).

Good Luck passing the exam…and i am sure the raise will follow!

BEC-75!
AUD-84!
REG-78!
FAR-83!
Ethics-Passed!
Experience-Got that too

Used Becker 2013 Self-Study & NINJA 10pt Combo Lite(AUD)

[mla1169]

I would wait until you have license in hand, not when you've passed all 4 exams (unless thats what you meant). Because you work in public your billable rate changes when you are licensed and that in itself is reason to ask for a raise, they can charge clients more for your hours.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[littlenumberrobot]

mla1169 – I was planning to ask in June due to it being my 1.5 year mark with the company and I am planning to have the 4th passed by then also. Just hoping the timing is right. I do understand about the billable rate changes. My boss told me I would get an annual review which hasn't occured yet, so maybe I can just start with asking for the review portion.

jsmithsae – thank you! It will be easy not to compare myself to anyone in the office being that I am the only one at my level with my experience(I'm the “baby” of the office). But I like how you have listed some of the things I can talk about to show my own value to the company.

Thank you both for replying!

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[littlenumberrobot]

Update: Well my boss just told me I would have a formal review coming up soon. Excited and nervous at the same time. He also said some really nice things to me already, like he thinks I am doing great there(been there 1.5 years now) and has heard a lot of good things from clients about me. So that was encouraging and definitely made me feel more confident for when the review happens. I do believe a compensation review will be included, and if not I am bringing it up. Honestly I think he may be waiting until I pass my last exam so he can do it all at once.

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[mla1169]

Make sure to study for this like studying for one of the exams, go in with a clear idea of what you think you're worth and be prepared to present proof of what you've done, how you've benefitted them, etc.

Its been my experience that bosses memory of the past year fades when they're presenting a performance review, its your job to be the reminder!

Good luck!

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[littlenumberrobot]

@mla1169 – Thanks! I've already been making lists of things I want to bring up since seeing several threads on here about the same issue.

Thanks again. I appreciate your advice.

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[Jade CPA-to-be]

littlenumber,

good luck. let us know the good news soon.

I work in a really small CPA firm for 1.5 years. My boss never talked to me about any yearly review or any raise for getting my license. I should be getting my license at end of July, if nothing happens, I will look for another job. LOL

CPA Licensed in California- Class of 2013

[littlenumberrobot]

AH!!!!!!!!!!!! I got to work today at 730 my usual time, but my boss was there too! I thought this is strange…. well he called me in for my review… it went great. He said really good things. Had nothing bad to say, but then again it would have to be really bad for him to confront about anything. He does like confrontation. Said he wanted to give me a raise. Asked what I thought I deserved. I said my little spiel, gave an amount. He gave me $1 more than I asked for. All together 25% raise. I AM HAPPY!!

Thank you all for your words. I appreciate it.

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[MintsRGood]

Congrats Little#!!!!!!!!! You deserve it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[smp73]

Congrats! That's awesome!!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[Anonymous]

Awesome! 🙂 I'm more in the position of your first post, knowing it needs to happen and won't happen on its own, but not knowing how to approach it…so good to read the conclusion that it went well and you got a great raise out of it! Pretty impressive that he gave you more than you asked for…must mean you're really doing well!

[Author]

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