[Anonymous]

I will be interviewing with a local firm soon. I don’t know what the position will be until the interview. but I see they are looking for a staff accountant who reports to the Senior Accountant. Besides the owner, there is one additional CPA – who appears to be the Senior Accountant. I’ve had several interactions with this person and quite frankly, I don’t think reporting to this person would work out well for either of us.

At the interview, do I bring up my concerns?

[Anonymous]

Not if you want the job. They will just move on to another candidate.

[Anonymous]

Not if you don't want to come off as someone who's a pain in the ass to work with. You will look like you're not a team player. If they offer you the staff accountant position, just say you'll think about it and then decline the job. You definitely don't want to work with someone you won't get along with.

[Keely]

Why would you even want the position if you'd be working closely with this person in such a small environment? Interview for the experience and move on.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

Or you can take adjust stuff on their desk every morning before they get to work. After a few months it should drive them bonkers and make them have ameltdown. Then you take the position.

[mla1169]

If you've already determined that reporting to that person would not work out well for either of you, then don't bother taking the job.

That said, first impressions are often wrong, it may work out far better than you anticipate. Whatever you do, don't bring it up in the interview. You're trying to impress them, not the other way around.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for your response. @BluefinCPA…you made me LOL. While I don't want to get myself into a bad situation, where I'm at I'm surrounded by people who fill their work day with their annual workload (i.e., they can fill an 8 hour day with 3 hours of work, if necessary. While that doesn't seem to be expected from management, it certainly is overlooked by them.). The main challenge is how to stay busy rather than to apply knowledge and gain expertise (other than how to master LOOKING BUSY when you're not). I didn't get my CPA to be the next moderately paid sloth surrounded by 6x6x4 cubicle walls and co-workers whose idea of a challenge is who can find the best on-line deal during work hours. Sooo….here I go…wish me luck!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like this “Senior Accountant” is intimidated by you because you have a CPA and is trying to scare you off. I wouldn't take the job but if you do decide to be prepared for the fact that he will be trying to make you look bad every chance he gets. I'm very familiar with this type of “snake in the grass” at the office and you need to make sure you toss this guy under the bus swift and hard. Point out EVERY thing he does wrong cause I promise he'll be whispering in the owner's ear doing the same to you. It's going to get ugly but if you play your cards right (assuming he's not the owner's nephew or something) and you kiss some serious ass with the big boss you should come out ok.

Or do the smart thing and don't take the job LOL.

[Author]

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