[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I passed all my exams in Dec of 2013 and got licensed as a CPA in the middle of last year. At my firm we have cubicles for the staff accountants and also offices that supervisors and seniors get to share. Well me and a Senior accountant were both going for our CPA’s in 2012 and 2013. I passed my exams and the Senior did not pass theirs. In fact that the senior has now ultimately decided not to pursue her CPA anymore.

Since that time my billing rate has increased to the same as theirs….. and for this upcoming tax season, the managing partner has told me that my billing rate will now be higher than the Senior accountants and my title will now the same or actually a higher titled position than theirs.

He also brought up if I don’t like the fact the I’m still in a windowless cubicle while my co-worker (who has decided not to pursue the CPA designation after being unable to complete the exams with a passing score), Has an Office…and To be honest, it does. My billing rate is higher than theirs and management has told me that my skill level has surpassed theirs in many areas of tax and accounting.

My question to you all is this……..I know if we switch desks, it would be awkward in the office, but at the same time, I have earned my spot in the firm through hard work and through hours of studying to advance my skill to get my billing rate up……..So, should I feel bad or not try and push the issue? Or should I tell him that I do deserve the switch and push the issue (he already told me that he is strongly considering it before I even brought the topic up)?

Thank you for your input.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about that. If I am promoted to supervisor then they will now be my subordinate. How many firms out there have a supervisor out in a cubicle while a senior is in an office, who based on our billable hourly rate is less skilled and who did not sacrifice the time studying and away from there families to become a CPA.

Wouldn't that be like rewarding the person who chose not to put in the effort and penalizing the person who did???

Ex. If your on a sports team and your playing better than the starter and have passed them in skill and presence on the field….They Are going to remove the starter and put the better player in. That is because they are a team and you want your players starting…Just like a CPA firm would want their best tax accountants in the “starting roles”.

What does it say to the rest of the employees if they knew it doesn't matter how hard you work or what you accomplish…office politics will be what is the deciding factor? You need competition within a firm…competition is what pushes people to be great. I guess if your a slacker then you wouldn't care…but if your busting your butt everyday to be the best…….you want to see results …….or why even try hard at the firm in the first place?????

[mla1169]

You seem to have your mind made up so I'm not sure why you're posing the question in the first place. Definately dig your heels in and insist this person trade desks with you. When you realize that you're the only person who cares where you sit, but your peers perceive you to be cutthroat (not saying you are but that will be the perception, office politics and all) you may feel differently.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Mia,

First off I did not even bring it up….the managing partner at my firm did….and I have discussed it with other co-workers and they all say that it would be deserved.

And who wouldn't care or want an office over a noisy cubicle???? I can meet with clients in an office and the tax field that is a Big Deal. I cant meet with clients in a cubicle. Plus when clients come in they automatically think that I am at a lower position being in a cubicle and may not respect me as much if I get put on the tax returns for their business or personal taxes.

My biggest thing is establishing myself at my firm and not get pidgin-holed into a lower ring because it might be awkward at the office with one person who chose to quit and give up at being a CPA because they though it was too hard

Promotions and having an office should be based on performance and merit.!

Out of curiosity….have you ever actually worked at a CPA firm? Or if so, have you ever been in a competitive office atmoshpere?

[ruggercpa2b]

I agree with mla1169. I work at a Big 4 and we have some managers that are very hard working and even the partners know that sit in a cubicle. And we have some that barely do anything and everyone hates working with them and they have offices. Your billable rate is going to be more because you are now a CPA and they charge more for having a CPA assigned to the work. In the Deloitte office that I worked, on the tax floor the only people that had offices were Directors and Partners. Most managers were in cubicles and if you do your job right I doubt that a client is going to think less of you because you sit in a cubicle. Most offices have conference rooms where people meet with their clients if needed. I have been with very competitive. type A accountants, and to be honest I have never heard anyone say that they were thought to be lower ranking because they did not have an office.

Like mla1169 said you seem to have already made up your mind and you think that now that you are a CPA you deserve that office. Personally, I think that it will cause a rift between you and your coworkers. You will find yourself having to explain to your other coworkers why you got her office and you will have to be careful what you say without seeming catty. No one wants to work with someone that thinks they are better that everyone else. And, not to be mean you kinda sound like now that you are a CPA you are better that those that you work with that are not CPAs.

The CPA is not always for everyone and some people end up coming back to it. But, it by no means that she is not as hard working as you are just because she is not a CPA. Other than her not going for her CPA I really havent heard anything about her work ethic. I have been told my skill level was higher than my peers and then I was talking to one of my peers in the breakroom and they were told the same exact thing I had been told.

AUD - NINJA in Training
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AUD - 1/6/18
FAR - TBD
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

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.

[mla1169]

My experience isn't relevant since I'm not the one posing a question. You asked for opinions and got mine, take it or leave it. I will tell you I've been in the workforce for 20 + years, and have had a lovely corner office with multiple windows. And not a single person including myself cared where I sat. They cares what I knew and what I was able to contribute and would have found me in a stall in the ladies room.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

For myself, as well as a number of others here this seems like such a trivial matter. In no shape or form does having an office make you more or less qualified than another individual. That being said, if it is that important to you, why not just ask your manager to make sure that you get an office with your next promotion?

Be careful about talking with co-workers about the situation. People have a natural tendency of siding with the individuals that are right in front of them. It's very possible that the same people are telling this senior that she deserves it just as much. Also, try not to measure your success based upon the rewards and benefits that others receive, chances are you will always find something to disappoint yourself with.

[fuzyfro89]

Meet your clients in conference rooms. That's what they are made for.

If the office was empty, and others at your level had offices, I would ask to be treated the same. According to the facts you provided, you would have to basically kick someone out to get an office. Personally, I wouldn't do that, but that's up to you if you really love having your own office and want to touch yourself in private or watch The Simpsons all day long.

Yes, you “deserve” it, based on the fact that others at your level have offices. Your bill rate and CPA are not relevant, only your job title and seniority.

Ask for it, but do so knowing there is a risk that you *may* cause more relationship issues among people than having the office now is worth, but again, that depends entirely on how much you value having an office.

Two things you need to value:

1) benefits/happiness from having your own office

2) potential conflicts from being viewed as “kicking someone out” or “being too competitive”

If you think 1 > 2, then do it. If you think 1 < 2, then don't.

[Anonymous]

I recently changed jobs from a job that was in a cubicle to a job that is in an office. Having a window is nice, but I wouldn't want to upset coworkers for it. If you are promoted to supervisor, that's different, but until you're in a management role, I wouldn't rock the boat. Also think carefully through who is friends with who – for example, is the non-CPA senior butt buddies with half the office? Or a loner with no friends? I'd be more willing to boot out the loner than the one who is friends with everyone.

If you're promoted to Supervisor, that will change things somewhat since it will be a significantly higher position (not like “Accountant III” vs “Accountant IV” or something like that), and I assume the office change could be announced with the promotion.

For what it's worth, at my former cubicle job, my boss had me switch cubicles with one of the other girls and she got very upset over it. Cubicles were roughly equivalent, just on opposite sides of the room – I was working a lot with the person in the cubicle next to hers, so my boss switched us so that I was right next to the person I was working with the most. But, till the day I left that job several months later, she still would mention that she missed “her” desk. So, if people can be that way about one cubicle vs another, I guarantee this person will be frustrated with cubicle vs office! Just make sure that it comes as coming from your boss. (Given that you've talked to many others in the office, though, it will be known that you had input, so may be too late for that.)

[Anonymous]

I can see what some of you are saying. At the firm I work at we do primarily business and personal high net individual taxes….we meet with clients a lot…and we deal with new clients coming and meeting with them. So having an office would mean a better look for clients…AND…it also means more efficiency during tax season. Example:

If I can meet with tax clients at my desk, I can prepare most of their return right there, tell them what items I'm missing, look up information, and not have to move my set up to the conference room every time I want a meeting with clients.

But basically it looks so much more professional for potential and current clients. Some of you that don't have clients coming in your office may not understand, but the high net and business clients want to work with the best the firm has to offer…not the guy in the cubicle they perceive to be a lower level accountant (even if that isn't the case).

I worked hard, I am more productive, and I want to be at the top. You don't get ahead in business being a whipping boy…IF YOU EARN THE SPOT…TAKE IT……that is what I've decided. I've gotten 20%+ raises the last 2 years and I'm not planning on stopping now.

I have a family to support and I'm not taking potential future earnings away by being passive and letting others have what I've earned.

Maybe I'm crazy but you should be rewarded for hard work and achievement above and beyond what others are doing…..if not…..what is the motivation for anyone to work hard. I'm not there to collect a check and play office politics….I'm there to be the best, learn as much as possible, and then be a partner or owner of a firm someday.

Thank you for all your responses, it was appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Dude, of all the things to worry about… as if you're not being rewarded enough as it is with handsome pay raises and promotions. So long as the hours are billable at your all-star rate what do you care where you sit?

Regardless, since you seem to be determined to piddle on this particular tree, just make sure the headwind isn't too strong when you do.

[spinfuzer]

You want to be a partner or owner of a firm one day? You have to understand that to get there you have to play politics. From what I recall, you need 100% votes to be voted in as a partner. Rub one partner or future partner the wrong way (directly or indirectly) on your way up and you may end up never becoming a partner for that particular firm. Accounting and tax skills are only a subset of the skills you need to make it to the top. Do not underestimate the ability to create, develop, and maintain positive relationships with your clients as well as your co-workers.

FAR - 08/08/14 - 93
BEC - 08/28/14 - 95
REG - 10/11/14 - 96
AUD - 11/30/14 - 99

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your responses, you have all made valid points and I will keep them in mind.

Much appreciated.

[impska]

As it turns out, studies has shown that windowless cubicles are bad for your health. They have a negative impact on sleep patterns and mood. People in cubicle have a harder time concentrating and also get sick more often.

So while there may be people who say it doesn't matter to them where they sit – science says it does matter.

And no, personal satisfaction and a silent, larger paycheck are not good enough. It's not wrong to desire outward recognition for your accomplishments. Rightly or wrongly, people who walk into your office space will automatically assume you belong in a lesser workplace and that your coworker has done something to deserve a higher position than you. This will likely affect how you coworkers and superiors subconsciously view you in comparison to this other person.

But the managing partner never should have asked this question. It puts you in the awkward position of essentially kicking someone out of their office. If he wants to re-arrange the office space, then he should do that without your input. Tell him to make whatever decision he thinks best reflects the values of the firm.

REG - 94
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FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[Martin]

I would not care if I had an office facing a lake or a cubicle facing a restroom. Its about the money,money,money, I agree with most of the people here. Only fight for an office if one becomes available, dont be an a$$ with your coworker, you will regret it in the future.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Skynet]

I'm a Lover not a Fighter. The ladies in the office is all I care about. Just need to Pimp out the cubicle and it's all good.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[Author]

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