[Fratty Redneck]

I work at a large regional law firm currently and my former employer (mid-size regional CPA firm) has contacted me about coming back to work for them. I’ve only been at the law firm for 10 months and am predominately working with tax collection clients. I make a healthy salary of mid-70k and only work 37 hours per week. The law firm also pays 100% of my health insurance and other benefits.

What is a good starting point for negotiations with the CPA firm? I will obviously be enduring tax season again and working around 350 additional hours annually. I will also be on the hook for health insurance, etc. I’m really unsure of whether to touch this, but I’m thinking it will need to be in the 90k range for me to consider going back.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Did you leave the CPA firm because of money, work life balance or something else?

[Fratty Redneck]

I guess you could say I left the CPA firm because of both. Coming to the law firm, I received a 20% raise when you consider benefits paid for, etc, and I work 350 less hours per year.

The intriguing part about going back to the CPA firm is that I would be in a more manager-type role and would only go back if I were paid substantially more than what I'm making here at the law firm now. Life is easy here, so it's going to take a lot for me to go back.

[Becca]

Personally, I’m all about a pleasant work environment and work/life balance. After all, you spend most of your time at your job. You’ve only been with your current employer 10 months, so you will receive raises/promotions in time. But if you’re willing to give up 37 hour work weeks, an easy-going work environment, tax season, and an employer that covers 100% health insurance; I think 90k range sounds good. But, would you be excited if your previous employer offers that?

[aaronmo]

Personally…prestige and $$$ < than work life/balance.

I'd stay put…the truth is that you can always get a job like that with a CPA and a few years experience…plus, you can moon light a bit during tax season and end up at the same place if that's your thing.

[noclady]

Personally, I'd stay. Sometimes it's hard to put a dollar figure to lower stress, fewer work hours, fully paid benefits – to me it can be worth way more than $20k. Also, having only been there 10 months, I would feel I owe it to my employer to stick around, especially if they're really good to me. Work/life balance is hard to come by for some people. Definitely enjoy it while you can. I was recently in a similar situation, actually. I made a decent salary, worked no more than 40 hrs a week, I had a super short commute for a while, and I could set my hours on some days.

When I felt like I provided as much value as I could give to my employer, and when I started getting too comfortable (aka not challenged) in my job is when I started to re-evaluate my position and career goals. When I told my employer why I was leaving, they were actually happy for me because they couldn't offer me the title and growth that I was leaving them for. I'm now in a much more challenging position with, yes, more $$, better title and more hours, but I was ready for the change. But there are days when I REALLY miss my old job…especially during month-end. LOL.

[Fratty Redneck]

Thanks for the input and I do think I'm going to stay. The only real thing I liked about the thought of leaving was the additional responsibility looking better on my resume and the people at the CPA firm are some of the best people you can work for.

Right now, times are a bit slow for me at the law firm but I think if I am patient, it will work out for me. The law firm started a subsidiary of which me and my secretary are the only employees. Right now, we do predominately tax collection work, but my hope is to incorporate tax prep into our offerings rather than refer it out to CPA firms. I think in the long-run, I will be running this subsidiary and have an entire staff underneath me as long as I stay patient. The work/life balance is incredible and I really have no reason to complain.

[jenpen]

@noclady That sounds like my EXACT situation! I am actually going to accept an offer today – more money, better title, and doing only the work I want (taxes – no audit/bookkeeping/payrolls like I have now), but definitely more hours and a longer commute. I think it will all work out and in the end I'll be happier, but I'm super nervous to leave my job that I'm so comfortable in.

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[Anonymous]

I guess another question would be-what are you long-term career plans? If you plan on going back to public or opening your own business, temporary pain of going back to the CPA firm for long-term gain might be worth it….

[aaronmo]

Anyatver<—consistently insightful and on point.

[Missy]

Stay and be patient, you've got a good path underway to something MUCH bigger.

Three years ago I took basically a glorified bookkeeper job for a very small company. Low stress, never more than 40 hours, the pay was mediocre at best but I liked what I was doing. Year and a half ago company was bought by a VC firm, and they were acquiring several companies to merge. They decided to close my company a few months ago and I was devastated to have to start from scratch-I'm nearly 50, have been in accounting since the 90's and thought I'd ride this until retirement. I was asked to stay a few months and today was to be my last day.

Two weeks ago the VC firm that bought my company sent me an offer letter, they want me in charge of all of finance and HR for North America for the group of companies I was with. Get to travel (at my own discretion), got a 63% raise, a car, working from home primarily at least 3 weeks a month and one week I can be anywhere from Boston or LA or Ontario or London where the main office is 🙂

Didn't expect this to come together the way it did, but that sleepy low pay job was a HUGE stepping stone to my career.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Adam]

CPA's should never take low paying offers..this only allows firms/companies to low ball offers..if you have several years experience learn to negotiate..(Its not hard) give them the high end of the range for your city, wait for them to give you a crappy offer..then counter with another 10-15% higher saying you would be willing to accept at that level. 9/10 times they'll say yes and its done.)

If you don't do this, they will low ball you by 20-25% every time. Know your worth and know your demand..if you know your stuff you will make them a lot of money. You're doing the work..you should benefit too.

Personally ID stay put if you're happy..mid 70s is plenty of money to pay the bills (outside a very large city) and your experience level will grow just as if you were a manager..

My uncle ran a firm for 40 years and always tells me “how many lunches can you eat?” meaning money at a certain point loses meaning if you don't have time to enjoy it..hes a multi millionaire who used to work 100+ hour weeks. in busy season.

[TommyTheCat]

i agree with the sentiment above that work life balance is key, but that considerations of where you want your career to go and which opportunity gets you there is also important.

That being said, there is no downside for you to respond to your former employer's inquiries and ask them for a stupid amount of money to return. If they say no there is absolutely zero risk to you since it sounds like you are happy where you are at. If they say yes then you have a real decision on your hands then.

[Sage]

I'll just echo what everyone else has said. Work/life balance is HUGE but it depends on you ultimate career goals.

I did just shy of a year as an auditor, then have been working in non-profits for the last few years. I have more work/life balance now, but long term career wise am thinking of returning to public for a while. I don't see myself being there forever, but higher level private positions usually really desire public experience and I think it'd be good exposure. That being said, ugh busy season….

Good luck with what you decide!

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[Author]

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