[SC2014]

I recently passed my last part of the exam in December, ran that application to the post office, and received my license in January! Now, I am looking for advice on what should the reward be for this HUGE(in my opinion) accomplishment.

Background information: I work for a small local firm (staff auditor) with 40-50 professionals. No standard bonus or raise, no assistance with exam fees or material – the only thing we get is pay for the time spent sitting for the exam. I have been with the firm for almost 2 years, and I also have my masters. My starting salary was not even in the same ball park (LOW 40k’s) as my peers who were hired at regional firms, and it was barely adjusted for inflation last year. I accepted the offer as I desparately needed a job, travel is minimal, and busy season is fairly mild compared to large firms. We also have the perk of banking a certain amount of overtime to take as vacation later.

I have been doing my research looking for articles and comparable salary information (primarily Robert Half – where I am not even in the salary range for my job!) to present to the HR partner. Robert Half suggests +5-10% for certifications and graduate degrees. What are your opinions? What do other similar sized firms do for becoming a CPA? I saw several posts from two years ago (about the time that I was hired), where people took jobs with similar low salaries – how much of an improvement have any of you seen? Can I expect a small firm to be competative compared to what Robert Half reports?

(PS: There are about 3 of us at our firm that will be in the same situation by annual review time, and we are all hoping for a big increase.)

THANK YOU for your advice!!!

[kts1010]

I would personally start looking for a new job, cause odds are you are going to be seriously disappointed with what they give you. I was in the same position as you and they gave me a 5% raise when I asked for a raise and I also started in the low 40's for starting salary. It didn't matter so much to me anyways cause I sort of wanted to move into a different type of role anyways, but best of luck to you.

AUD - 08/20/12 - 82
REG - 10/30/12 - 82
FAR - 01/05/13 - 80
BEC - 04/15/13 - 84

[Groud]

Two things matter:

Experience

CPA License

In that order. It sounds to me like you are still on the new side, and combine that with the fact that you work at a small firm, I dont think youll be compensated like large firm peers yet, regardless of that CPA. If you are at a senior level after three years, with a CPA license, supervising your own audit team, you should be able to command a better comparable salary. But if you are still under two years in, I say you dont have much to stand on. Consider the quality of living is so much better at a small firm compared to Big4, I'd say wait it out until you are a Senior (you in audit?) then get your money or take your talents else where.

We have a few staff CPAs that have been at my firm (small firm) for 1-2 years and they look out of their league when talking/compared to the Seniors that dont have CPAs.

✓ AUD: (85) Apr2014 ~~ (87) Apr2016
✓ FAR: (74) Aug2015 ~~ (74) Oct2015 ~~ (79) Jun2016
✓ BEC: (77) Apr2015
REG: ___

[Groud]

Two things matter:

Experience

CPA License

In that order. It sounds to me like you are still on the new side, and combine that with the fact that you work at a small firm, I dont think youll be compensated like large firm peers yet, regardless of that CPA. If you are at a senior level after three years, with a CPA license, supervising your own audit team, you should be able to command a better comparable salary. But if you are still under two years in, I say you dont have much to stand on. Consider the quality of living is so much better at a small firm compared to Big4, I'd say wait it out until you are a Senior (you in audit?) then get your money or take your talents else where.

We have a few staff CPAs that have been at my firm (small firm) for 1-2 years and they look out of their league when talking/compared to the Seniors that dont have CPAs.

✓ AUD: (85) Apr2014 ~~ (87) Apr2016
✓ FAR: (74) Aug2015 ~~ (74) Oct2015 ~~ (79) Jun2016
✓ BEC: (77) Apr2015
REG: ___

[Author]

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