[msgolds]

Alright everyone, so I am sort of in a tricky situation right now. Currently I am working as an Auditor for a government agency, and my employer paid for all of my Becker materials. When they did that, I had to sign a continuing service agreement that lasts until the beginning of February. I haven’t been entirely happy in this job, and I have been talking with the Government Contract Consulting arm of a mid-sized CPA firm. It is looking very likely that they will be offering me a job soon. I told them about the service agreement, and they said they might be able to give me a tentative offer to start in February.

My question is, if I get this job, when should I tell my current employer that I’ll be changing my employment? Should I tell them as soon as I get the offer, or do you think that would stir up bad blood? Should I give the standard two weeks?

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[MCLKT]

AFTER you get the solid job offer.

I would still only give 2 weeks – it's standard and fair.

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[Starlight]

Personally, I'd hold off and do the standard two weeks. You don't want to jeopardize that agreement. There's always the chance that they may ask you to leave sooner if you give more than two weeks notice.

I'm wondering if you're looking at the firm I think you are. If so, I have a good friend who used to be in that department.

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[homerun07]

will it be fairly easy for them to replace you?

if not, they may be appreciative if you gave them an early notice.

if it is easy then i personally would probably give them about a 3 week notice.

but either way, it shouldn't stir up any negativety since you are still sticking with the agreement and as long as it's done professionally it should be fine 🙂

[Anonymous]

I've worked in Government before and I've never seen anyone leave, for any reason, at any time, without everyone getting hateful about it! I know they did when I left. I gave 3 weeks notice. I thought that was plenty of time for them to hire a replacement and for me to train them. They didn't even advertise for the position until I was gone. It was a brutal 3 weeks, but I sleep so much better at night now!!! I would give the standard 2 weeks notice and just learn to overlook any snide comments.

[msgolds]

@homerun07, I don't think replacing me should be an issue.

@Starlight, It's possible. If I'm correct, there are three mid-sized firms in the area that offer these services.

@Kricket, that's the main thing I'm worried about. I do want to have enough time to finish up any in-progress assignments or to pass the work on smoothly to another auditor. I just feel like if I announce my plans too early I might stir up some bad feelings among the management.

BEC - 90 PASSED
FAR - 84 PASSED
AUD - 93 PASSED
REG - 84 PASSED

I DID IT!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study

"If we were put here to carry a great weight, then the very things we hate are here to build those muscles."

[Anonymous]

I'll give a different view.

Seal the job offer up and tell them that you cannot start until February when your contract is up. However, ask the new employer if–in the event your current employer sends you packing–you can start early. I've seen people give advanced notice and be told to hit the road. So you might be able to get out and start your new job sooner by giving notice now and having the old employer replace you or just let you go early from the contract.

[msgolds]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I think if I get the job offer then I'll just give my notice at 2 weeks.

@CPAPending, the issue with that approach is that if they terminate me because of that then I think I might need to repay the cost of my Becker course.

BEC - 90 PASSED
FAR - 84 PASSED
AUD - 93 PASSED
REG - 84 PASSED

I DID IT!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study

"If we were put here to carry a great weight, then the very things we hate are here to build those muscles."

[Anonymous]

Gotcha…well best of luck.

It's my opinion that if they terminate someone, the becker fee goes with them.

Any chance the new job can give you a signing bonus to cover Becker's fee?

[msgolds]

Follow-up, I got the job! Waiting out my service agreement and giving two weeks notice when the time comes.

BEC - 90 PASSED
FAR - 84 PASSED
AUD - 93 PASSED
REG - 84 PASSED

I DID IT!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study

"If we were put here to carry a great weight, then the very things we hate are here to build those muscles."

[Anonymous]

@msgolds – Government contract work? By any chance is it the DCAA? If so, how did you like working there? I passed up an offer from them to work as a state tax auditor. The idea of having to sign a “relocation” agreement after reaching a certain GS level didn't sound good to me. Also having to pass a polygraph for clearance if I need to work on a special assignment freaked me out.

Now that you got a firm commitment , I would just give your employer a 2 week notice. In these 2 weeks your basically going to be writing up the audit plan so it is “up to date” for your supervisor to pass on the assignment to someone else. We just had one person from my office leave to work in public and I got a couple of his assignment. Yeah, it sucks having to work an audit right in the middle, but at least he drew the road map for “up to date.”

[Anonymous]

I would definitely say wait until the service agreement has expired before you put in your two weeks. If not you risk the chance of putting in your two weeks and them saying you should leave sooner. The technicality in it is that you are quitting so even if they ask for a different date you can still get stuck with repaying that money.

[Author]

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