[the LAST Coffee]

So far I graduated June 2015, began my job as an associate for a small 20-person CPA firm September 2015, and passed the CPA exam back in February 2016. Almost 7 months here! First tax season down too.

Question – Isn’t it unethical to ask for a CPA bonus knowing you want to leave the firm for better opportunities elsewhere? Not that the firm is bad, it treated me super good but there’s just some things it can’t offer that a regional/Big4 firm could. They’ve already reimbursed me for the CPA exam costs, which is nice but still had to covered my course materials.

What’s your opinion? KPMG is dying to get some tax associates at their firm in this city and so are BDO.

Thanks!

FAR 84 (AUG '15)
BEC 83 (AUG '15)
AUD 79 (OCT '15)
REG 71, 78! (NOV '15, FEB '16)

[jm962011]

If you ask, get it, and then leave within a year of receiving the bonus, you should expect to pay it back, if asked. They could very well write that into the agreement.

A lot of sign-on bonuses have similar clauses. At BDO, you actually have to stay for 2 years without having to pay any portion of the sign-on bonus back… not sure if it applies to CPA passing bonuses but I believe it does. If you do jump ship, make sure you get more than $1,000 sign on bonus (that is what BDO offered me when I started but I asked for $3,000 since I was done with the CPA exam and licensed in another state) if going to KPMG or BDO.

This is how I think of it: if KPMG/BDO hired you as a staff that hasn't passed the exam, they would pay for a review course, exam fees, and time off to take the exam and also give you a passing bonus. If you come to the firm as a staff or even just below senior that has passed, they don't have those costs. So get it in the form of a sign-on bonus.

[the LAST Coffee]

jm962011: Very good response!

This firm does things differently though. The partner is a simple guy who doesn't require contact agreements and stuff like that. Once I borrowed $1000 to cover my deposit when I moved here and paid it back on my own terms without interest or “contract.” Very informal I think.

Which is why I was asking about ethics if he so decides to give me $1,000 (random figure) with no strings attached when tax season is over.

My thoughts are that I shouldn't accept anything since he is hopeful that I become a CPA and work longer for him, etc., and to accept the bonus and leave without giving anything in return seems like a jerk move.

FAR 84 (AUG '15)
BEC 83 (AUG '15)
AUD 79 (OCT '15)
REG 71, 78! (NOV '15, FEB '16)

[Anonymous]

I agree with your decision @LastCoffee. If you have your heart set on leaving and have actively been looking for other employment then I wouldn't ask the current employer for any bonus.

Edit: if the partner offers you a bonus then I would only accept after you ask him what the stipulations are. You can say I know at other firms you have to pay this bonus back if you leave/terminated after X time. How does that work here? or something along those lines.

[Anonymous]

for a profession that touts ethics in high regard, ASKING (as opposed to being offered one) for a bonus and then jumping ship, doesnt seem right. i see that you came to the right conclusion on your own tho.

[Anonymous]

If you plan to use the partner as a reference down the road, it's best not to burn bridges.

[fuzyfro89]

I don't understand your question.

“Isn't it unethical to ask for a CPA bonus knowing you want to leave the firm for better opportunities elsewhere?”
^^Does this mean you are asking for a bonus/reimbursement with a commitment to stay for xx years, and then leaving?

Regardless of if you get a bonus, salary, or other compensation, I think you should honor your commitments (whether written or verbal). For example, if you say you commit to paying back a moving fee (like your example), then you should repay. If you get a bonus with the MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT that you will stay for XX amount of time, then you should do that. Otherwise, don't take the bonus if you cannot commit.

Legally, it's a contract, whether written or not. Realistically, you can probably say it never happened if it was purely verbal, but ethically you should honor your commitments.

The only exception I can think of is when an employer makes unreasonable demands that are not mutually beneficial. For example, you promise to work hard and learn and grow, but if your employer does not offer you good opportunities to develop, then they have failed their promise, and it is NOT UNETHICAL to quit and go somewhere else.

Of course, you may have to pay back any money you agreed upon, but just an example where it requires both parties to make a good faith effort to maintain a good relationship. It's more than just the $ amount.

[CPA CMA]

So it is like you make a girl think you want to be with her but you actually just want to sleep with her, and you dump her after she sleeps with you. Just imagine how the girl would feel about it.

Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) 12/17/2014

BEC 76 (10/3/14)
FAR 75 (10/24/14)
REG 83 (4/6/15)
AUD 75 (4/20/15)
Anticipated Licensure: August 2016

CMA part 1 passed (6/15/15)
CMA part 2 Passed (9/4/15)
Anticipated Licensure: August 2017

[Anonymous]

so if there is no formal arrangement, you have no legal duty to return a bonus. However, my meter runs a little deeper than that. I like to a) be able to look at my self in the mirror every morning and b) evaluate how would I feel if someone did it to me. ANswering both those questions usually answers whatever dilemma I have in front of me.

[Author]

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