[Anonymous]

I have 5 years experiance bouncing around accounting,audit,quasi-financial analyst type roles and obtained my cpa license in 2012. Am currently making 62k in St paul Minnesota as financial analyst 2(low hours,low visibility, with a crappy manager position). I have just been offered a 76k staff accountant position in Seattle with a top 3 tech company. The position sounds very intresting and it’s a tough company to get into but my research indicates the company doesn’t have the best work-life balance and people leave after couple of years of getting their name on the resume. The offered position does not offer relocation package, but the signing bonus covers most of the potential moving expenses.

Am 31 years old, married with two kids and am conflicted on this, on one hand i can’t stand my job anymore and i feel like i have regressed since i have been here (extremely mindless work with an annoying and controlling supervisor). But am not so sure about taking a staff accountant role after 5 years of experiance and a cpa license (albeit only one year of quality role on my resume)

Please share your opinion if the offer i stated above is desirable enough to move half-way accross the country for with my current situation.

[Anonymous]

If you hate your job, think you will like the new one better, and your family doesn't mind moving half way across the country, then go for it, but I'd make sure I had plenty in savings, just in case it sucks!

[Anonymous]

If you hate your job, think you will like the new one better, and your family doesn't mind moving half way across the country, then go for it, but I'd make sure I had plenty in savings, just in case it sucks!

[teeteenounouche]

You should check out the cost of living in Seattle and the school zones where you would want to live to make sure the salary offered is enough for your family compared to Minesota.

Also, if people use the company as a stepping stone, look at indeed.com to see the other companies hiring in area to get a feel for the market.

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[teeteenounouche]

You should check out the cost of living in Seattle and the school zones where you would want to live to make sure the salary offered is enough for your family compared to Minesota.

Also, if people use the company as a stepping stone, look at indeed.com to see the other companies hiring in area to get a feel for the market.

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[fuzyfro89]

If Microsoft (I'm assuming) is indeed a good place to use as a stepping stone, then it sounds like a great deal! At least you know the experience is actually worth more than the $76K…

Personally, I think your situation right now sucks. Of course, I don't mean to be critical, because everyone has different goals. But for me, if I had spent 5 years working AND had a CPA, I would not get out of bed for $62K.

Is moving a challenge for you? Would you be opposed to potentially moving to Seattle for ~5 years (not a plan, just a possibility) and then considering a move back if your friends/family are in St Paul area?

At this point in your career, it really is key to develop yourself and to be seen as a risk-taker and serious about progression (assuming that's how you want to come off to a potential employer).

Rather than asking yourself what would happen if you left, why not turn the question a little bit…

… How would you feel if you spent another 3 years there, somehow got raises to be at annual base of $70K, still had a crappy manager and weren't learning much (like you said), and then got laid off? Could you find something else to pay you at least $70K with similar work/life balance? What kinds of companies and in what role would you be valuable?

If I were looking to hire someone into a senior accounting role (my guess for someone with 8 yrs of exp.), would I want to hire someone with little responsibility and who hadn't achieved a ton in 8 years of working despite having a CPA? I would be confused to say the least… (not a knock on you as a person, but just trying to imagine how it may come off if I didn't know you at all and you were just a resume on my desk)

[fuzyfro89]

If Microsoft (I'm assuming) is indeed a good place to use as a stepping stone, then it sounds like a great deal! At least you know the experience is actually worth more than the $76K…

Personally, I think your situation right now sucks. Of course, I don't mean to be critical, because everyone has different goals. But for me, if I had spent 5 years working AND had a CPA, I would not get out of bed for $62K.

Is moving a challenge for you? Would you be opposed to potentially moving to Seattle for ~5 years (not a plan, just a possibility) and then considering a move back if your friends/family are in St Paul area?

At this point in your career, it really is key to develop yourself and to be seen as a risk-taker and serious about progression (assuming that's how you want to come off to a potential employer).

Rather than asking yourself what would happen if you left, why not turn the question a little bit…

… How would you feel if you spent another 3 years there, somehow got raises to be at annual base of $70K, still had a crappy manager and weren't learning much (like you said), and then got laid off? Could you find something else to pay you at least $70K with similar work/life balance? What kinds of companies and in what role would you be valuable?

If I were looking to hire someone into a senior accounting role (my guess for someone with 8 yrs of exp.), would I want to hire someone with little responsibility and who hadn't achieved a ton in 8 years of working despite having a CPA? I would be confused to say the least… (not a knock on you as a person, but just trying to imagine how it may come off if I didn't know you at all and you were just a resume on my desk)

[Study Monk]

And I'm 32 and haven't accomplished anything lol.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

And I'm 32 and haven't accomplished anything lol.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[fuzyfro89]

For what it's worth, I felt like I was in a similar situation while I was working in Big 4 last summer. I didn't see myself in a long-term career in audit or even accounting for that matter. I did not have a good experience with one particular manager who I worked with around 1/3 of my time.

To be fair, it was the hardest decision I ever made to leave comfort and familiarity. Many people told me I was crazy to leave my “sweet gig” and that I should stay until manager and then re-evaluate…

I did hear everyone's advice, and gave it serious thought, but I could not see myself doing the same work for 3 more years which would be torture for me.

If you've only been working 5 years and already hate your job, then the bad news is that it may not get better. It may actually get worse if your tenure gets longer and the quality of your experience does not improve.

You do have a family, so it's not easy to just pick up and move and I understand that. It's easy to be selfish, career wise, when you don't have anyone depending on you. I would definitely have a conversation with your wife. You didn't mention if she had a strong preference to stay, or would be okay with you working more hours (or for that matter, if you would be okay working more hours if you felt the experience was valuable)?

“Low hours, low visibility, and crappy manager…” Seems like enough of a reason to move on, no?

I can't stress this enough, but YOU HAVE A CPA!!! You didn't work so hard to get the designation to hate your job… did you?

[fuzyfro89]

For what it's worth, I felt like I was in a similar situation while I was working in Big 4 last summer. I didn't see myself in a long-term career in audit or even accounting for that matter. I did not have a good experience with one particular manager who I worked with around 1/3 of my time.

To be fair, it was the hardest decision I ever made to leave comfort and familiarity. Many people told me I was crazy to leave my “sweet gig” and that I should stay until manager and then re-evaluate…

I did hear everyone's advice, and gave it serious thought, but I could not see myself doing the same work for 3 more years which would be torture for me.

If you've only been working 5 years and already hate your job, then the bad news is that it may not get better. It may actually get worse if your tenure gets longer and the quality of your experience does not improve.

You do have a family, so it's not easy to just pick up and move and I understand that. It's easy to be selfish, career wise, when you don't have anyone depending on you. I would definitely have a conversation with your wife. You didn't mention if she had a strong preference to stay, or would be okay with you working more hours (or for that matter, if you would be okay working more hours if you felt the experience was valuable)?

“Low hours, low visibility, and crappy manager…” Seems like enough of a reason to move on, no?

I can't stress this enough, but YOU HAVE A CPA!!! You didn't work so hard to get the designation to hate your job… did you?

[ken2013]

lol @studymonk

[ken2013]

lol @studymonk

[fuzyfro89]

Have you considered Target, General Mills, or Best Buy? I know they are large companies in the Minneapolis/St Paul area if you want to go for a bigger company but are not so keen on a move.

[fuzyfro89]

Have you considered Target, General Mills, or Best Buy? I know they are large companies in the Minneapolis/St Paul area if you want to go for a bigger company but are not so keen on a move.

[Anonymous]

@ fuzyfro89 Amazon.

You have some good points, I should have clarified in my original post but am not opposed to relocating neither is my wife. We are not originally from MN, moved here about 10 years ago and we both finally got tired of the brutal winters. We have family and friends here, but the roots aren't that deep.Seattle is one of about three cities we agreed on and I got this offer few weeks after starting the job search.

From my research, cost of living is higher in Seattle (especially housing) but somewhat offset by the lack of state tax. The Only downside is the hustle of moving and leaving my current 5 minute commute, but what is comfort without growth or significant earnings?

My dilemma is wether to take this offer, which sounds like a very good role that works with many finance and accounting orgs within the company or keep looking and hope to land a more senior role elsewhere. I have no intention of staying with my current company long term for many of the reasons you mentioned. Also, I graduated in 2009 in the midst of the worst recession and was lucky to land a 39k job in the accounting field I majored in which also allowed my to study for the exam in my downtime and fulfill the requirement, I got licensed in 2012 and have raised my income by over 50% in two years and intend to do the same in the next couple of years with hard work.

You might need some perspective on the ” I wouldn't get out of bed for 62k” btw..There are plenty of folks in today's economy who would be happy with it, including cpas. Not sure where you are but its OK living here in the Midwest.

[Author]

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