[75orbust]

I know its pretty variable, but what did everyone get for a pay increase (5%, 10%, more?) and for a bonus when you passed your CPA? Were your exam costs reimbursed as well?

Also what size firm were you at, and how long did it take for you to pass your exam?

I guess I would like to know what to expect or what to ask for when I get my license.

Thanks

FAR-1/04- 86 KAPLAN Review
REG-5/12- 89 MN Licensed CPA
BEC-7/17- 81 ETHICS - 100
AUD-8/31- 85

[OtherGuy]

I'm taking my last exam in a few days. No reimbursement for fees or course materials. No bonus. No raise.

Well, I guess saying “no raise” isn't very accurate. It may not be my current employer that gives it to me, but I'm definitely getting a raise.

Passed all sections.

[OtherGuy]

I'm taking my last exam in a few days. No reimbursement for fees or course materials. No bonus. No raise.

Well, I guess saying “no raise” isn't very accurate. It may not be my current employer that gives it to me, but I'm definitely getting a raise.

Passed all sections.

[teeteenounouche]

@OtherGuy, we are in the same boat!! Makes me wonder…

I just read up…what's up with these companies??

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[teeteenounouche]

@OtherGuy, we are in the same boat!! Makes me wonder…

I just read up…what's up with these companies??

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[Gatorbates]

I got donuts for passing.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Gatorbates]

I got donuts for passing.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[teeteenounouche]

LMAO Gatorbates!!

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[teeteenounouche]

LMAO Gatorbates!!

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[Anonymous]

What if you you pass the exam but don't have 150 college credits, do you still get the 5k bonus in big 4 if take the course in 1st year?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

What if you you pass the exam but don't have 150 college credits, do you still get the 5k bonus in big 4 if take the course in 1st year?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

@ nbad

Having gone through something similar recently, the only thing I can suggest is to first take a deep breath and let the emotions run their course (they'll just get in the way right now).

Make sure to clearly identify what you think is fair. Don't get caught up in %'s and bonuses, etc. Also, don't just expect a CPA to automatically qualify you for a big raise. It depends on your company and your responsibilities. You've already listed off a bunch of other important factors that has shown your value to the company, so start there.

Talk to your boss about what your expectations are. Make sure you acknowledge that you appreciate the raise you did receive, but express that you feel that your contributions to the company deserve more than what you currently make. Be prepared to offer support for this decision. You might even discuss other responsibilities you could fulfill that would help them justify further increases in pay. Be open, be honest, and be willing to allow additional time for them to reconsider. In the meantime, start preparing your resume/etc… your company may not be able and/or willing in which case you need to decide if it's worth finding a new job or not.

[Anonymous]

@ nbad

Having gone through something similar recently, the only thing I can suggest is to first take a deep breath and let the emotions run their course (they'll just get in the way right now).

Make sure to clearly identify what you think is fair. Don't get caught up in %'s and bonuses, etc. Also, don't just expect a CPA to automatically qualify you for a big raise. It depends on your company and your responsibilities. You've already listed off a bunch of other important factors that has shown your value to the company, so start there.

Talk to your boss about what your expectations are. Make sure you acknowledge that you appreciate the raise you did receive, but express that you feel that your contributions to the company deserve more than what you currently make. Be prepared to offer support for this decision. You might even discuss other responsibilities you could fulfill that would help them justify further increases in pay. Be open, be honest, and be willing to allow additional time for them to reconsider. In the meantime, start preparing your resume/etc… your company may not be able and/or willing in which case you need to decide if it's worth finding a new job or not.

[nbad311]

thanks for the input @Drake11. I agree with your points. I did spend a great deal of brainpower inner-debating what I thought was “fair” last night (and then went to the gym and sweated out all my frustration), and this is what I told my husband at the end of the night: I've NEVER gotten a raise in my professional career above 3.35%, with the exception of when I promoted in public accounting from staff to senior staff (where we got a bump in salary, if you consider that a raise or not). I wanted ONCE to get something like 5% – where it might actually make a noticeable difference in my paycheck every 2 weeks – but moreso something that really would prove to me/my husband/my family/my boss that I had my best year ever. Basically, if THIS PAST YEAR didn't get me the “good” raise I reasonably thought was possible, then I'm NEVER going to get a good raise, because this year was basically unbeatable. I'm proud of myself of course, I just wanted like…. certified recognition from the employer.

And to be honest, I'm not cut out with the personality to even try to have a “better” year. I'm the farthest thing from an accountant at heart. I don't know why I try so hard to do great work at work, but it's wearing on me big time. Not to mention sitting in a cube 40+ hours a week is killing my soul.

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[nbad311]

thanks for the input @Drake11. I agree with your points. I did spend a great deal of brainpower inner-debating what I thought was “fair” last night (and then went to the gym and sweated out all my frustration), and this is what I told my husband at the end of the night: I've NEVER gotten a raise in my professional career above 3.35%, with the exception of when I promoted in public accounting from staff to senior staff (where we got a bump in salary, if you consider that a raise or not). I wanted ONCE to get something like 5% – where it might actually make a noticeable difference in my paycheck every 2 weeks – but moreso something that really would prove to me/my husband/my family/my boss that I had my best year ever. Basically, if THIS PAST YEAR didn't get me the “good” raise I reasonably thought was possible, then I'm NEVER going to get a good raise, because this year was basically unbeatable. I'm proud of myself of course, I just wanted like…. certified recognition from the employer.

And to be honest, I'm not cut out with the personality to even try to have a “better” year. I'm the farthest thing from an accountant at heart. I don't know why I try so hard to do great work at work, but it's wearing on me big time. Not to mention sitting in a cube 40+ hours a week is killing my soul.

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[tomq04]

I work for a accounting software company and they need a CPA on staff. They have paid $1k toward my CPA excel course, and the first round of exams $~1k, as well as ~$4k in tuition reimbursement while I was finishing my last 6 classes.

I received a bump from $40 –> 44k at 1 year, but sailed past my 2 year with no raise, hoping to be done with CPA by June, and have a theoretical bump to $50k by year 3 anniversary in Oct. I suspect that I will be capped here ~50-60k, at which point i'm not sure what my options will be. Until then, it is a pretty cushy place to be.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Author]

Replies