[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am a recent college graduate from UCLA in 2012, and I recently passed the CPA exam and am in the job market looking for jobs in Los Angeles/Irvine. I still need one year of work experience in order to obtain the license. Prior to this, I have 7 months of experience of working part-time as a finance intern in a fortune 500 company, and I have 2 years of VITA (Volunteer income tax assistant) experience.

With that, a small Chinese CPA firm with about 10 employees made me an offer of $14 per hour on probation, and $15 per hour afterwards. Health insurance included. I am not sure if that’s a good deal for me. I understand I have limited experience. Do you guys think the offer is legit? Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

[kudawudashuda]

I graduated from Cal Poly Pomona and was working a bit at a CPA firm based in San Diego. They started me at $23/hr.

Definitely aim higher since you graduated from UCLA. I know Asian places will try to lowball you.

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

Thank you all for your input. All your inputs have given me great insight of what I should expect at this point in my life. I just feel a little frustrated because most big CPA firms seem to be not hiring entry level positions at the moment. I hope everyone here the best success in passing the exam and getting the dream job they want! 🙂

[mystical guy]

People say it's too low but there was a time when I would have paid someone to even let me volunteer. Hold on to what you've got and be grateful. If something else shows up, take it.

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[On2Sum]

How the hell did you find out about this CPA firm?

Did someone refer you to them? Don't ever speak to that person again!!

I am fuming with RAGE as a type these comments!! $14/hour???? I will tell them to go do something anatomically impossible with themselves–Something very VULGAR!

Do me a favor, go to or call UCLA career placement office and talk to someone.

For good measure, respond to the cheapskates looking for slave labor and tell them you'd consider $30/hour

FAR - 79
REG - 76
AUD - 94
BEC - 77

DONE! DONE!! DONE!!!

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts"
-Winston Churchill

[Amay]

Straight after undergrad, no CPA, no Masters yet, small firm paid me $25/hr

BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀

*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂

[Anonymous]

Im in Chicago and can never get an interview for an accounting firm paying more than $16 an hour but most of the places I interview at pay $14 an hour. Keep in mind we have similar cost of living. I have been looking for a job for 16 months. I would take anything. If you get a better offer just leave. You shouldnt feel any obligation/loyalty to a firm that undervalues you.

I am in the same boat as you but I dont have the 7 months experience

[fuzyfro89]

Has the economy hit the LA area that hard? I'd be shocked if they can get CPA licensed/candidates to accept salaries like that. As a rough benchmark, big 4 starts in the low 50s in 2011. Maybe low/mid 50s now?

At that level of pay, you have to take a bet:

– hold out and keep trying for something better

– take the low salary and have it drag down your pay on the next job in 2-4 years

IMO, the risk of waiting for something better is low, because another employer would not likely offer much lower, but by waiting you have the upside of a fair salary 45-55k. If you take this now, it will haunt you at least until you get licensed (assuming they don't drag their feet in certifying your experience knowing you will jump ship soon).

As someone who is screening for qualified accountants, auditors, analysts, etc st my current company, people who make too little are regularly screened out as being “unqualified”. At best, you are seen as a poor negotiator and someone who can't stand up for themselves, (right or wrong, we can debate this later). At worst, you may be seen as unqualified because someone who should be paid 55 would never be doing that work for 30.

Not trying to bring you done or insult you, just offering my personal experience and opinion.

Passing your CPA should help get your foot in the door in many places. If nothing land out, move up to the Bay Area. At least if you make peanuts there, you'll have competiton for qualified CPA bring you up in a year or toe.

[I Believe You Have My Stapler]

I agree with everyone else, WAY too low. I made about $25/hr interning and my starting salary was in the same ballpark. You can do better… or you can come to Texas! We have crazy demand here.

AUD- 97! (May 2014)
BEC- 79 (August 2014)
REG- 64, 83 (February 2015)
FAR- May 2015

[Anonymous]

People forget if you don't graduate with an internship then good luck even finding a job. Your best bet is to take the job and work for 6 months. After six months it will be easy for you to get a job that pays the salary you deserve.

[The Ex Lurker]

@ i believe you have my stapler, which part of Texas?

F: Apr 14' Passed
A: May 14' Passed
R: Jul 14' Passed
B: Aug 14' Rematch in Oct *Passed*

[I Believe You Have My Stapler]

I'm in the Houston area. I get messages on LinkedIn and my office line ALL THE TIME about jobs and HR Reps wanting to network. I have several friends and colleagues in DFW who tell me they get the same and the market is good there as well. Houston actually just made the list of Top Ten Cities for Accounting and Finance Professionals by… I think it was AICPA, Accounting Today, or Journal of Accountancy.

AUD- 97! (May 2014)
BEC- 79 (August 2014)
REG- 64, 83 (February 2015)
FAR- May 2015

[How many letters do you need]

I wonder if the summer ball sweat factor was taken into account in that survey…..

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Hank Scorpio]

That is very low for Irvine. If they are going to pay you that little then perhaps they have a reputation in the area. It may be harder to leave if people know that firm trained you. There should be some meet the firms coming up at UCLA. Go to those and network. I networked as much as I could and it took me 6 months to land a job. Keep your head down and network like crazy.

AUD - 71, 79
BEC - 69, 74, 75
FAR - 71, 74, 80
REG - 74, 78

FAR - 10/3/16
BEC - 69 - 10/31/16
AUD - November 2016
REG - December 2016

[fuzyfro89]

May I also ask what you've been doing since 2012? YOu mentioned a part-time finance internship for 6 months, but it's been 2 years?

Were some family problems or health issues keeping you from working full time? Did you have a child in the past few years and are just returning to the work force? Or, have you just had trouble finding a full time job?

Just trying to understand your background, which recruiters will wonder as well since 2 years out of school is a long time.

[Anonymous]

I live in Southern California and work for a mid sized CPA firm in OC that started in the low 40's back in 2008 when I graduated from Cal Poly. With your exams passed, you shouldn't take anything less than mid 40's at this point. There are regional and big firms in the LA and Irvine that are hiring now. Put you resume out there and you'll land something.

[Author]

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