[AJE]

The place I work at is awesome (or as awesome as public can be). We are in the 10-20 range (not big 4, but 20+ offices, etc). I started at ~58k (Master’s, 1k more than what out of undergrads start at lol).

What sort of raises/bonuses can I expect? Don’t want to go into these conversations knowing nothing. The below are pure guesses. It is easy for me to see what sort of salary offers are out there in the SF Bay Area for going to industry (seems about 65-85 for a “senior accountant” type position and 85-130 for higher than that),

My guesses (no idea about how any sort of bonuses work). Does this sound about right?

Staff – 58k

Experienced staff (after 1 year) – 63k?

Senior (after 2 years) – 70k

Manager (after 4 years) – 90k

Senior Manager (after 6.5 years) – 110k

FAR 91 - 04/16
BEC 87 - 05/15
REG 77 - 07/27
AUD 92 - 08/31

[ruggercpa2b]

If this is your first year at your firm you will kind of have to go through that first review to get a sense of how they do promotions. When I worked at the green dot it was based on performance ratings. The partner would always give us the talk of how the firm allocates so much money for the 2 ratings and 3 ratings etc. And only so many people can get a rating of 4 which was the highest. In terms of bonuses you would have received something from HR when you were hired that tells you if you get a bonus or if bonuses are offered who all is eligible. Some places its seniors and above other places its managers and above.

Going concern has a salaries section where people post the areas they are in, title and how much they got as a raise. That might help you get an idea.

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.

[AJE]

Yeah, definitely. I'm just extrapolating these timelines based on LinkedIn profiles of people at the firm. I guess I'm mainly curious about what sort of salary can be expected since it is so crazy expensive living in SF. Big 4 salary information is pretty easy to find, but haven't come across much of what sort of salary jumps + big city for people at large regional firms. Additionally, I can't tell if there is some sort of “negotiation” process or whether people take what is offered.

Edit: Re-read your post and saw something about Going Concern. Thanks – I'll check it out though that place always seems a bit drab/people too negative.

FAR 91 - 04/16
BEC 87 - 05/15
REG 77 - 07/27
AUD 92 - 08/31

[itsanaccrualworld]

You're about right. I would say theres probably a little more wiggle room for manager (90-110) and sr manager (110+). This is coming from a large regional standpoint. I would also there will definitely be miscellaneous items that you either dont pay for at all, or you get reimbursed for.

For instance on the audit side you usually get 25 cents a mile from the office to the client there and back for the time out there. On top of that, hotel costs are paid for, some to most lunches are ran through if ur at the client, partial cell phone reimbursement, and travel bonuses per night if u travel over a certain amount of days. Usually ends up saving 3-6k per year especially in a city like San Francisco.

FAR - 75
REG - 69, September 16
BEC - 80
AUD - 69, October 16

[AJE]

Thanks for the info.

FAR 91 - 04/16
BEC 87 - 05/15
REG 77 - 07/27
AUD 92 - 08/31

[Hello2016]

I think the company size will make a big difference for salary range.

[Mayo]

Depends on the role of the “Senior”. On the high end a Senior can make up to $120k in the SF bay area with a Big 4 + industry mix of experience.

$85k for going to industry as a Senior is the low end if the company is in tech.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[MaLoTu]

I think associates are starting in the $60k range for competitive firms in SF (of various sizes).

[Mayo]

FWIW:

Big 4 Senior 1 – $62-64k when I was there.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[jm962011]

mayo, when were you there? I am a level 3 “staff”… 1 level away from senior at a large but not big 4 firm in Boston and I am at $63k. I thought it was a little low considering I moved FROM industry with 3 years of experience (wasn't a senior, wasn't even close to being a senior, really because industry years are not the same as public years) in the Midwest and I made $60k.

I feel like “Big 4 Senior 1 – $62-64k” is low for SF. The cost of living is crazy here in Boston but I'm pretty sure SF is worse, I've only visited.

[AJE]

Yeah, the cost of living here is so ridiculously high. A 1 bedroom in a decent part of town, nothing fancy, is around $2,700-$3,500.

As someone a bit older (30) it is good to hear that my salary will increase quite a bit in the next 5 years, regardless of whether I stay in public or move to industry. I think I interview well, am networked decently (all my friends are from here), so hopefully I can get something in the higher range. I think I'm doing well compared to the rest of my starting class. I'm the only one with the CPA completely passed and the only one even close to our billable hours quota (e.g., 90% for TYD versus everyone else around 70%). From what I can tell there is no place like Bay Area in terms of opportunities for public audit or exiting to industry.

JM, how long did it take you to get to Level 3 Staff?

FAR 91 - 04/16
BEC 87 - 05/15
REG 77 - 07/27
AUD 92 - 08/31

[jm962011]

I came in at Level 3 after moving to the area for personal reasons. This is my first public job. I had 3 years of sales and use tax accounting at 3 different companies in various industries combined with one busy season of corporate tax (very small c-corp fed and state returns that didn't have activity) that I got while doing sales and use tax.

I'm not doing any sales and use tax now. I've been doing hedgefund partnerships since I started Feb 1st. Things move much slower in private and the company has to be growing or someone has to die before you get promoted so I would never say my 3 years of sales and use tax in industry qualifies me to be a senior in public. When I was looking for jobs out here after moving on my own, I pretty much only applied to Experienced Associate levels in public accounting and senior roles in industry.

I have recently found out that of the 15 tax stuff in this office, it is only me and another girl that are completely done with our CPA exams so maybe that is why I got to come in at Level 1. I personally don't think I will be ready to be a senior in 1 year (not sure if that is a problem with my confidence) but sometimes I submit tax returns for review and I'm like “welp, hope that is right because I don't have a damn clue” and I don't check my work a lot of time. I am more of a speedy person who would rather get a draft out and do revisions than send in a draft that needs absolutely no changes.

[marqzho]

I work at a small private construction company in east bay for two years now. Looking for a way to work at public once I passed my CPA exam. How should I get started? Any thought ?

REG 90
FAR 95
AUD 98
BEC 84

[AJE]

You don't really need to pass your CPA exam to apply for public. Of the people that started at my firm almost all of us are not out of school recently (except me). There is a girl that started with me that did exactly what you did – accounting at a small construction company for 2 years and she is now here starting as a staff. She is studying for the CPA exam now (and getting it expensed + 5k bonus if she finishes it up this year)

I'd say instead of prolonging it you should reach out to recruiters for any/all the firms you are interested in. It's easy to find their contact information (just look on LinkedIn for the names and then find their corporate email address). I think the only main thing that would disqualify you is if you don't have 150 units or something like that (don't remember exactly).

FAR 91 - 04/16
BEC 87 - 05/15
REG 77 - 07/27
AUD 92 - 08/31

[Author]

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