[Mitzie7]

I am really torn about a job offer I got earlier this week and I would love to get some opinions. My current job is in accounting but will not get me the experience needed for the CPA. The new job would get me experience but they offered me the exact same salary that I am making now. However, once you factor in insurance, the significant increase in travel expenses, and the added childcare that I would have to pay since I would be gone longer while I was traveling back and forth to work, it is less money. I am the sole financial support for my family and I am already hitting my savings account every month to try and make ends meet.

The new job is way more interesting than my current job but I don’t think I can afford to make any less than what I do now. Should I take the new job and give up eating or do I stick it out where I am and keep looking for something better?

AUD 74, 83
FAR 75
REG 71, 71, 70, 86!!!!!! 🙂
BEC 85

[jelly]

Is that from comparing the overall package being offered? (Stuff like LT & ST disability can make a real dent in take-home pay, as well as quality of health/medical benefits). How did the offeror respond to an increase in salary?

Couldn't pass again!

[Anonymous]

If you are all ready just barely making ends meet I would not put your self into a worse position. Once you have all your exams passed I do not believe there is any time requirement for returning your experience form. Better options will open up for you once you have the exams passed.

They say that “Advice is worse than a service”, but my advice would be to keep your current job until you pass your exams then make an upward job transition.

[mla1169]

career wise, it would be a good move. That said as the sole support of a family with a child young enough to still need childcare, I'm not sure I would take a job that could potentially put me in a financial mess, if you're already using savings to get by the additional insurance and such could be devastating.

Not to mention (back to the young child), he/she will only be this young once, spend as much time together as you can 🙂 Another job will come along but you can never get this time back.

Remember, all of that additional time also cuts into your precious study time, not worth it to get the experience if that makes it more difficult to pass the tests.

Good luck, I'd be torn too but it sounds like you do already have your mind made up.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Did you take into consideration any tax credits you might be able to take advantage of such as Child Care Credit, mileage reimbursement, unreimbursed business expenses?

Are you able to get paid overtime for the travel time outside your 8hr work day?

I used to travel alot when I worked in public accounting, and we got a food stipend for travel days, hotel was paid by the firm, and if you used your personal vehicle you got paid for your mileage, and we got paid overtime for the travel time outside the 8 hr workday.

[Mitzie7]

Thanks for all of the advice. All of my kids are older and really shouldn't need child care but one of my kids has emotional problems and needs constant supervision. Since he is a teenager we don't qualify for tax credits for child care.

The extra travel is not from overnights. The main office is far away from my house and I would have to work there twice a week.

I really want to work at this firm but the money is the big negative. I just felt like I needed some confirmation that saying no to it will be the right thing to do.

AUD 74, 83
FAR 75
REG 71, 71, 70, 86!!!!!! 🙂
BEC 85

[Mitzie7]

Originally they offered me less money than I am currently making and when I pointed that out they said that they would meet my current salary but they won't go any higher. Other than health insurance there aren't any other benefits. I have dental at my work now so I would lose that.

AUD 74, 83
FAR 75
REG 71, 71, 70, 86!!!!!! 🙂
BEC 85

[Anonymous]

Tell your prospective employer everything you just told us — about losing dental insurance, you being the sole provider for your family, the added expenses from traveling, etc., and most importantly — that you want this new job really badly.

Maybe they can compromise. Whether it's a regional or national firm, I doubt paying an extra few thousand dollars per year will hurt them if they really want you.

[Author]

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