[texasman]

December 2013 Graduate with multiple offers on the table. Most appealing are a small one office firm (60 accountants) or Wipfli (roughly 1,200 national employees, primarily based in the Midwest).

I want to run through the pros and cons and get your insight. Ultimately I would like to work for at least 3 years, have my CPA license, then move to LA to try acting/voice acting. I’m going to live frugally, save money, and pay off my $20k in student debt. Climbing the career ladder in a corporation ins’t the most appealing to me, so if I bomb in LA I’d find some avenue to use my accounting experience, but not necessarily Corporate America.

I worked a tax internship before, did not enjoy tax that much, so want more of an audit role. Both firms will have me do tax come busy season, but offer more accounting/audit type work come off-season.

-=-=-Small Firm-=-=-:

Positives:

+Pays hourly until Director level. My offer is for $24.50/hr or roughly $54-57k/year.

+3 weeks PTO base, can bank overtime into additional OT (i.e. not uncommon to have 6 weeks PTO in the summer)

+$2k signing bonus paid over my first 3-4 months.

+Great people

+$4k CPA pass bonus, first two attempts on each test are paid for, and first two attempts on each test are PTO

Negatives:

– Not well known outside of local market.

– I would have to find a subleaser, move, find a new place, etc. Money is tight right now. (Land lord said there’s a possibility she may already have someone if I do decide to move)

– Office is in the suburbs of a metro area I’m not the fondest of.

-=-=-Wipfli-=-=-:

Positives:

+Internship offer just got upgraded to full-time as they knew I was debating other offers

+Office is a 10 minute walk from my current apartment

+Would not have to move.

+Standard accounting firm benefits

+More well known than small firm

+Multiple locations. They mentioned I could work in my current city and move to a bigger office if I please.

+I like the city I’m in quite a bit, although it’s small.

+Will get exposure to forensic accounting as multiple CFEs are on staff and partner said he’d get me in touch with them after busy season.

Negatives:

-Salary is about $45k, standard for this area, but the cost of living in the bigger city of the small firm does not justify the $10k less money.

-Weaker monetary benefits outside of pay (less PTO, smaller CPA pass bonus, etc.).

-If I take the FT offer in my current city, even outside of tax season it’s gonna be more tax related than small firm.

__________

Overall, I like both firm’s culture and people. All offices I’ve visited have their own parking garage that’s free and underground. I can avoid most of the heavy traffic, etc. So basically it comes down to reputation, money, and location. Thoughts from the wiser bunch?

[kmaahs]

Your positives for Wipfli are mostly about your location over the job itself.

Based on your description I get the vibe you might have more interest in the smaller firm. And quite simply, there is nothing wrong with that.

C.P.A.

[jeff]

Unless it's a Big 4 firm, I don't think the name will mean anything to an industry employer. They will care more about the experience.

I've never heard of the larger firm – which doesn't mean anything other than if I haven't heard of it, your average hiring person in corporate isn't likely to either…for what that's worth.

[jeff]

Unless it's a Big 4 firm, I don't think the name will mean anything to an industry employer. They will care more about the experience.

I've never heard of the larger firm – which doesn't mean anything other than if I haven't heard of it, your average hiring person in corporate isn't likely to either…for what that's worth.

[texasman]

Logic is saying go with the small firm for me, but it's weird that my gut is keeping Wipfli in the race strictly due to location. Must this mean something or am I being foolish?

[texasman]

Logic is saying go with the small firm for me, but it's weird that my gut is keeping Wipfli in the race strictly due to location. Must this mean something or am I being foolish?

[jeff]

How many hours a week will you put in on average at large firm?

[jeff]

How many hours a week will you put in on average at large firm?

[texasman]

During my interview they said the busy season is less daunting than it was at McGladrey (where I interned before; we both have experience with them). I told them I did 65-70 for a few weeks in a row and she seemed shocked.

They said they usually top out at 60 hours during the busiest weeks.

[texasman]

During my interview they said the busy season is less daunting than it was at McGladrey (where I interned before; we both have experience with them). I told them I did 65-70 for a few weeks in a row and she seemed shocked.

They said they usually top out at 60 hours during the busiest weeks.

[jeff]

Essentially – take the 45k and divide it by the # of hours you'll work per year and compare that to the average hourly rate when you account for OT with the other firm.

[jeff]

Essentially – take the 45k and divide it by the # of hours you'll work per year and compare that to the average hourly rate when you account for OT with the other firm.

[texasman]

Just got off the phone with a new associate who I have classes with. He said he's at $43k and busy season topped out at 60, with the majority of weeks being 55. 40 or slightly less during the off-season.

[texasman]

Just got off the phone with a new associate who I have classes with. He said he's at $43k and busy season topped out at 60, with the majority of weeks being 55. 40 or slightly less during the off-season.

[Anonymous]

I actually just started in one of Wipfli's Wisconsin offices in June. I'm currently in the manufacturing department of audit, and have found it to be pretty enjoyable. They try to do “pooling” of staff accountants during busy season, but I am currently booked for only 3 weeks of tax. You hit just about everything on the head with the pros/cons of Wipfli.

Like others said, it depends on what is going to make you happy, that's the ultimate spot to base your decision off of. I think Wipfli is pretty flexible between audit and tax, but the pay isn't hourly and you will make more at the small firm. It sounds like you have big plans in the future, so do what will be enjoyable for 3 or so years until you move on in life. Good luck with your decision!

[Anonymous]

I actually just started in one of Wipfli's Wisconsin offices in June. I'm currently in the manufacturing department of audit, and have found it to be pretty enjoyable. They try to do “pooling” of staff accountants during busy season, but I am currently booked for only 3 weeks of tax. You hit just about everything on the head with the pros/cons of Wipfli.

Like others said, it depends on what is going to make you happy, that's the ultimate spot to base your decision off of. I think Wipfli is pretty flexible between audit and tax, but the pay isn't hourly and you will make more at the small firm. It sounds like you have big plans in the future, so do what will be enjoyable for 3 or so years until you move on in life. Good luck with your decision!

[Author]

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