[HoldMyBeerCPA]

I’ll try to keep it short.

I received an offer with a CPA firm for an audit position. Once I received the offer letter, I signed it electronically and returned it via email. I hand-signed a hard copy to keep for my records. Once we agreed to a start date of July 9th, I got a request from my current employer to extend that start date given the fact that they wouldn’t be able to bring anyone up to speed when busy season rolls around in August for us. I let the CPA firm know of this and the partner who interviewed me and hired me said he’ll discuss a September 1st start date with the partner group so that 10-Q filing period for small reporting companies will be out the way. That was on Wednesday. I haven’t heard back from them since then. I followed up once via a phone call yesterday, but no answer. I’m getting a bit concerned because my job has been posted online, and I don’t have a guaranteed start date for the CPA firm. I emphasized how much I’m willing to start on the agreed date if they couldn’t extend it past July 9th. Here’s the worst part, my current employer got back to me yesterday stating that July 8th is fine in terms of my last day working there.

TL;DR:

– Received offer from CPA firm.

– Signed offer letter and background check authorization form.

– Agreed to start date of July 9th (Per the contract of my current employer, 1 month notice is requred for salaried employees)

– Current Employer inquired on whether I can extend start date for properly training my replacement

– I asked CPA firm if I could extend start date past July 9 in which they replied that September 1 would be possible?

– Partner who hired me said he would ask the rest of his partners and get back in touch with me on Wednesday.

– It’s Friday and after following up yesterday to let the know I can start on July 9, I haven’t heard back.

– Stressing out a bit because I don’t know if I failed the background check (there’s no reason why I should have), they’ve rescinded the offer, they’re trying to find someone else for the position who can start sooner, or If I actually do have the job and they’re taking their time to get me on-board. I’m really in the dark here.

Questions:

– Should I be concerned?

– Should I follow up one more time today at the close of business to let them know that I can (more so need) to start on the 9th since my current employer is finding my replacement ? If so, via email or phone?

– Is it common for an employer to rescind a job offer if a start date can’t be agreed upon, even if the employee signed the job offer?

– If I don’t hear anything, should I just show up on the 9th ready to work? (when I was originally told to show up and when they’ll have me start).

Any insight would really be great.

Thanks in advance!

-Shawn

[Anonymous]

I think you might be looking too much into this. Did you give HR a call to see the status of your position? I don't think they would rescind the offer without giving you notification.

[HoldMyBeerCPA]

@ClosestPoint they do not have an HR representative. It's a small firm (5 partners, 15 staff). I'm just wondering why they would take so long to respond? It's really starting to concern my because I've been down this road before and it led me to be unemployed for some time. At this rate, I'm not sure who to or how to call back. I'm getting discouraged and am considering telling my current employer never mind on the resignation, because the further I'm in the dark about this, the closer I am to my last day without any real knowledge of where I'll be working on July 9, if at all.

[Anonymous]

Try to relax. They aren't going to rescind the offer. However, I personally would never have agreed to stay on at your previous job for any longer than necessary. They would have had to offer me a huge incentive. Like doubling my pay during that time or a large bonus. Did you have a good reason?

Back to your question. If you haven't heard anything by mid next week, I would follow up with an email.

[HoldMyBeerCPA]

I only agreed to July 9th per my contract. One month's notice is required for salaried employees. Otherwise, I would've started on Monday. It's hard for me to relax, because I'm a person that really dislikes uncertainty. When it's to this type of magnitude, it's a much greater dislike. If they aren't going to rescind the offer, then what the heck are they doing to take them so long to answer one simple question which I already answered yesterday about my start date? It's scary and concerning is all.

[ruggercpa2b]

I would say relax because the firm has to figure out the impact it would cause to have you start at a later date since they were already planning on you starting in July. And also factor of the people that have to make that decision are they all in the office. I think we expect people to respond right away and forget that at the end of the day they still have clients and work to tend to.

What you are asking is not simple since they now have to allocate resources for the work they had planned to give you when you started July 9.

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.

[HoldMyBeerCPA]

@Rugger: I've told them yesterday that I could start on the 9th, because I got an update from my employer that they would be able to fill my position in a month. So in essence, I could start on July 9th. It was just a concern that I voiced for my employer to them (getting punished for being too nice and grateful). I'm thinking of doing one last email (at the end of the day) today in case my voicemail got lost in the shuffle. If I don't hear back from them…well I may be screwed and S.O.L. since my current employer is in the process of hiring my replacement.

[ruggercpa2b]

I honestly would not stress. Its friday and people rarely get any work done on friday. I would hold off on the email till Monday. And if end of day Monday you dont hear anything send a follow up email.

I would not be worried. It will be fine. They would not rescind your offer because it happens even in public accounting where sometimes they ask you to stay on and finish a project and employers will work around that. It says something about your character to be willing to stay and help out. Because if it were me I would have thrown deuces and peaced out. LOL.

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.

[HoldMyBeerCPA]

@rugger: Thanks for keeping me cool for a bit. I'm hoping they don't pull the offer as that would just be really disheartening and discouraging given the limited amount of positions available in Salt Lake City. It's funny that I'm stressing because I was casually told, “no worries, I will follow up with the partner group and get back to you. Thanks,” via email a couple of days ago but they haven't made it any less worrisome by not acknowledging that July 9 works. Hopefully I hear back on Monday though it will be hard getting through the weekend without knowing and being uncertain.

[Author]

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