[mooseonloose]

I have been working at a private firm since 2013 as staff accountant. I started as a temp then I was asked if I wanted to work full time. Last year my CFO asked me if I can accept more responsibilities. I asked him if my compensation will increase and he replied, “of course.” Throughout the years, my responsibilities has increased tremendously but my compensation has been the same (43k a year). I asked him two weeks ago again regarding a raise or a promotion. He replied, “I will let you know tomorrow.” Another week passed and I reminded him again and he replied, “its not up to me, its up to the CEO, I have to ask him.”
I reminded him again yesterday, and he replied, “The president said, I have to come up with an evaluation and only then he will decide if he can give me a raise.”

I feel like he is milking me for the passed 3 years. I don’t know what to do anymore.

[Missy]

Even if your current employer would match another offer (and its highly unlikely they'd come up 20k even if you're worth every penny of it) move on. I wouldn't even consider staying somewhere that will only act on their promises with a metaphorical gun to their head.

When you're searching remember two things,NEVER, even if directly asked state what your current salary is. That will be used as a basis for determining an offer and will only harm you. Second, salary is only part of compensation and everything including vacation time and employer contributions toward medical insurance is negotiable. Make sure to learn what % of medical insurance the employer pays, what their 401k matching program is, negotiate more PTO than offered up front.

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

[Birdman]

Agree with MLA, accepting a matching offer from your current employer is just asking to get burned after they find a replacement for you.

FAR- 74, 78 (10/15)
BEC- 73
REG- 65, 88 (05/16)
AUD- 7/16

[HoosierCPA]

Similar boat. Had a substantial raise and promotion 3 years ago. Just passed my exam and got licensed on Monday. Was told by our VP after 2 passed exams that they have seriously been considering promoting me to assist manager and that getting my CPA would be the nail in the coffin. Since I have passed its been crickets around the office, I've basically just gotten a pat on the back. I'm patiently waiting till our year end reviews to see how its handled but I have heard no rumblings about a promotion and my boss would be the first one to tell me if they were considering it. I work in Japanese manufacturing so year end is 3/31..I should have a good idea in the next few weeks whether I'm actively job searching! Bitter sweet because I enjoy where I work and have never been a grass is greener on the other side type of person, change is scary! lol

**To add, My talks with the VP were related to the company reimbursing me for a prep course, they made me sign an agreement saying I would stay on for 3 years or else I would have to reimburse them. I told them in order for that to benefit me I would need at least a pay raise but ultimately my goal was a promotion to assist manager. When my VP said the promotion would be a nail in the coffin I asked him if he could put that in writing and he refused. He said he could not guarantee a promotion months in advance. Not sure how true this is — maybe someone in a management role could chime in?**

FAR - 78
REG - 72,74,71...please just go away REG nobody likes you!
BEC - 82
AUD - Aug 16

[CPA2BEE]

Start looking elsewhere moose, these guys are hosing you. Its hard to get a raise sometimes. I work for people that I truly believe to be good and generous people, but I've still had to scratch and claw for my raises and promotions along the way – even once I got licensed. If they've been beating around the bush this long, who knows if or when it will happen, and even then you might not be getting what you expect.

If you want a big increase in pay at a new job, explain to them that $43k is what you started at and had you received reasonable increases in pay along the way (over three years) then now your salary should be worth “X”. Its important that your new employer knows what you want to be making versus what you're currently being paid – so don't be afraid to voice it to them. Good luck to you and get outta there!

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[mooseonloose]

Thank you guys! I have a phone interview on Monday for a Junior accountant position with 55-60k compensation. I confirmed the interview. I will continue to apply.

The CFO here told me that he will fill and sign the work experience for my CPA exam once I pass all four exam, if I get a new job, will I have to work another year to get fulfill the job experience?

[NeedsA75]

No, just stay in touch with your CFO and don't burn any bridges and he can sign your experience even if you go to work for another employer!

[CPA2BEE]

Even if you do burn the bridge, he/she still has to sign it 😉

But listen to @NeedsA75, its best to keep it pleasant.

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[mooseonloose]

My CFO is a d*ck, I highly doubt he will sign it.

[CPA2BEE]

Yeah, he sounds like an A-list D-bag….

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[Anonymous]

You don't need your boss to sign off your experience anymore. If you have a douchebag boss read below.

[mooseonloose]

Update:

I went to the CFO office to ask him for an update. He said, in a frustrated tone, “I am working on it, I have sent the proposal to the president and waiting for him to approve it.” Last week I asked him to pay for my Becker as well, since he offered it before. Now he is saying, “that's not up to me either, I have to ask the president for approval.” I have had two interviews so far in past week, I really hope I get this new job.

PS: Vice president of the company offered me job as project manager. I agreed to it, he said, ” I will ask your CFO to relocate you to my job.” The CFO declined saying “there is no one else in the department, we need him.”

[mooseonloose]

Another update:

I got my CFO to sign my CPA experience form. Fortunately my state allows us to send experience form even before sitting for an exam. I am so glad I got my experience form signed.

[LonelyRonPaul]

Ah, the old bait and switch! Time to nope out of there.

FAR - 78, 5/7/16
AUD - 87, 7/16/16
BEC - 8/27/16
REG - 12/3/16

[Jdn9201]

Ditto everyone else that has replied, but go look for other jobs and don't look back. I had to learn this the hard way, but unfortunately any promise only means something in writing. What they don't get is that raise is not a reward to you – it's merely compensation for the additional work and responsibilities that you have already assumed and performed. Think about it this way – that'd be like one of their clients wanting to hire them for 10 hours of work instead of 5 hours of work, for the same price. You think they'd agree to that? Heck no. I would also strongly advise to not accept a counter offer from them once you get an offer from another job. If that's what it takes for them to pay you what you are worth, then they don't deserve you. Good luck!

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[Author]

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