[NumberCruncher4lyfe]

For all you public accounting people out there, just curious as to how long it took you to get promoted to Senior Associate in your firm? Generally, in my firm is 2 – 3 years to get promoted. The reason im asking is because lately I’ve been down on myself because I will not get the promotion this year to Senior. However, several of my colleagues who started a month or so before I did are getting promoted. I just don’t understand why we are a month apart and everyone gets promoted except me. It’s not a performance thing, I’ve talked to my performance managers and partners that I normally work with and they all have expressed how well I perform from job to job. It even was expressed to me that my performance was better than one of my colleagues that’s actually being promoted this year. I’m thinking the firm may just be giving them the opportunity to senior due to the time they began working but I just don’t see how that’s fair because we were less than 30 days apart and now I have to wait an entire year because of that? Has anyone else experienced this? What was your approach? I’m thinking about leaving the firm and going to another firm that has expressed interest in me coming on as a Senior Associate.

[ruggercpa2b]

I would sit down and ask what you need to do to get promoted. What do you need to work on and improve on. Most of these decisions are not just based on performance but a number of things. It could be take leadership roles on audits and stepping up and taking on some of the duties a senior on an engagement would normally take on. If they can tell you what you can work on that would be helpful. if they give you the run around then maybe its time to jump ship.

If you are willing to stay that extra year and work on what they suggest you need to work and hope that you get promoted then I would stay. If you do not think that they will, then go to the other firm and be a senior. People do it all the time.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Andyred04]

Could also have something to do with your CPA status. Some firms take very seriously the progress their staff has made toward obtaining the certification. Based on your signature, I see you have not passed any sections YET. This may have some weight in their decision.

FAR: 80 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
REG: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
BEC: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
AUD: 8/27/16

PA Candidate

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking this is a CPA status issue. Do you know the status of your peers that are getting promoted? You can ask HR for a private meeting to discuss why you were passed and what you can improve to get it next year.

[ruggercpa2b]

You know, everyone could be right about the CPA. I remember interviewing at PWC and they were going to bring me on as a senior with the condition that I would pass the exam within a year. They wanted their seniors to be CPAs especially coming in from the outside.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Missy]

I wouldn't be concerned until people hired after you are getting promoted. If they decided arbitrarily 12 people would be promoted in order of seniority (unless they were disqualified) and you're person #13, doesn't matter if #12 started 5 minutes before you.

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

[jm962011]

Ditto on the CPA exam passing part that everyone else has said. You wanna get that out of the way ASAP before you start taking on more responsibilities. If you don't, it'll just add to the extra stress that comes as a senior (more client interaction, reviewing and mentoring staff, dealing with partners, etc.) and wanting to get to manager in another 2-3 years. The chances of being promoted from senior to manager without your license are like .00001%

[NumberCruncher4lyfe]

I do understand the CPA exam is important and I am halfway through it. However, the CPA exam is not required to reach Senior in my firm. It is outlined in the GOAL of our firm associates, it is only required to get to Manager. We have non-licensed seniors both in audit and tax working for us so that still kind of puts me back in an unexplained mood. As far as the other comments relating to not just a performance thing, I am super involved outside of work and they know how much I am involved outside of work. Actively on committees and boards of non-profits. So I still don't really understand the hold there.

[Author]

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