[mlwl8521]

***********SETUP****************:

I have 2 years of audit experience, a CPA license, a MAcc (solid GPA). Right now I make mid-50s as a staffer at a 20-person local firm with a 40-hr workweek.

McGladrey contacted me on Thursday, hosted a phone interview on Friday morning, and squeezed me into the schedule for a 4-part interview this coming Tuesday. The unusually fast pace makes me think they’re pretty serious about having me join as senior auditor.

Problem is that I don’t know what an appropriate salary range is. According to a recruiting company’s salary DB, a large (annual revenue in excess of 250Mm which MCG qualifies for) firm’s:

*assurance associates with 1-3 years of experience make $63k to $79k

*assurance senior associates make $75k to $99k

According to Glassdoor the range at MCG is:

*senior audit associates make $50k to $138k with an average of $70k (this statistic includes people who have been a senior for 1 day and also people who have been a senior for 5 years)

**************THE PITCH****************

1. First off, do you think these numbers are realistic? If anything, they’d be too high.

2. If you were in my shoes, how much would you ask for and why?

Update: Found Accounting Compensation Report – GoingConcern.com

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CPA licensed - 2013
2 years public accounting
MAcc GPA 3.8

[Thirteenth]

I heard that the entry level staff accountant who works in McGladrey makes around 55k-60k. So 65k-75k sounds pretty reasonable?

AUD 7/3/12 82
REG 5/30/13 79
BEC 8/29/13 78
FAR 2/28/14 79

Becker 2013 + Ninja
Done.

[RIST]

The real goldmine comes at the 5 or so years mark for experience.

Man, you'll be loaded.

But you need to prove yourself at a larger firm like McGladry first. Sometime people discount small firm experience to a degree. I was in a carbon copy firm to yours a few years back, and the perception of your experience can really vary widely.

So don't push your luck and aim for the high ends of the range. Bide your time, your career will be an awesome one.

“assurance associates with 1-3 years of experience make $63k to $79k”

[nicole2035]

Well for one, to make you leave your current position they need to be paying you over 50k. Don't be scared to negotiate because worst case scenario is they'll tell you they can't afford it, at that point the job offer isn't off the table.

Remember, when looking for a job and accepting one, it's a mutual agreement. You have something of value or else they wouldn't be talking to you and honestly asking for ~60-65k isn't a stretch. Always make sure they offer first, their first number will NEVER be their best number. They make sure they put some padding on it, just in case. I doubt they'll offer you less than your current job, if they offer 55k, i'd ask for 63,000..then from there see what happens. Just say based off your experience, credentials, etc and from what you've seen on the market that the number you want is standard.

salary isn't that touchy of a subject for HR, but when you downplay yourself, then later see what your coworkers are prob making simply because they ASKED for it during the interview phase..well, the kind of bitterness that develops from short changing yourself can be risky

[Peterman25]

https://www.roberthalf.com/finance/accountant-salary

Their salary guides aren't a bad point of reference either and seem to be in the ranges that you are already quoting. That's what my boss (corporate controller) likes to use as a reference.

BEC 7/14 - PASS
FAR 10/14 - PASS
AUD 1/15 - PASS
REG 4/15 - PASS

AZ license - Official 8/20/2015

[mlwl8521]

nicole, Glassdoor indicates that the audit associates at MCG are already making 50-60. So for a senior position, I'd think they' have to offer minimum 60k before it gets insulting. With that said, I guess it's reasonable to ask for 65-70

RIST, your comment about the hiring partner's view on local firms is something I hadnt though about. With that in mind, I'm not gonna ask for 70-75k

At these kinds of companies, are there perks like free BlackBerries, car service, reimbursements for travel, tolls, CE, CPA license fees etc?

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CPA licensed - 2013
2 years public accounting
MAcc GPA 3.8

[pjypjy8520]

@ OP: I am in similar situation with BDO. I have 2 years of experience. I just got done with my performance review and I received “High Performer” which is 4 out of 5 on our firm's scale. I'm in Texas and they want to bring me in as experienced staff at $57K. The thing is, I am looking at promotion this fall. I am 95% sure because we just had a huge turnover at senior level. In addition, I have my CPA (licensure coming in July) and I just received a really good performance evaluation which explicitly stated that they feel I am prepared for more responsibility (I am thinking promotion to senior equates to more responsibility) However, if I move to BDO, I need to learn their methodology, systems, etc in order to be an effective senior. So unless you have experience as a senior, I am not sure they will just hand you the senior title/pay right away. BDO kept saying I can have the title but they want to ease me to the role which probably means they want to start me at a lower salary and see if things work out. I feel like that's fair. I rejected them prior to my performance evaluation telling the partner that I felt like I was going to get good evaluation and that I will get promoted sooner at my current firm. BDO partner called back and told me to talk to him again after the evaluation and they'll consider another offer. So I definitely feel like you can negotiate with McGladrey. Again, BDO contacted me in February wanting me to come on in two weeks. As a professional courtesy, I declined because that is middle of busy season and I would never do that to any public accounting fellows 😉 I think the fast pace of McGladrey probably means you have the leveraging power. Tell them you're up for promotion at your current firm (this could get you that senior title and pay) or maybe something to let them know they really want you.

[mlwl8521]

@pjypjy8520

First off, it would be a total lie to say that I'm up for promotion at a local firm that never grows. Second, it's not even like I can get away with that story because all the employers know that my reason for leaving the firm is just that: I have no chance of promotion at my current place.

you bring up a good point about making the transition into a senior role where you have to learn new systems and company procedures. It's been a mixed bag. BDO, KPMG, and another top 20 firm told me I'd have to come in as a staffer. McGladrey and Clifton are trying to get me to come in as a new senior associate.

I think your play is perfectly fine, to revisit with BDO after a promotion within your firm. Like you said, your firm has senior turnover. At my firm, it's a flat structure with no movement.

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CPA licensed - 2013
2 years public accounting
MAcc GPA 3.8

[pjypjy8520]

@mlw: Sorry to hear that about your firm! But I still think you have the leverage since you have multiple offers. Maybe that's what you should tell them. In fact, that is what you should tell all those firms and leverage each other with exception of KPMG (they might be arrogant enough to just pass). This is just like the Free Agency in sports. You are the wanted commodity so if they really want you, they should make it known to you. This way you'll filter out the firms that are just trying to fill a hole and find bodies to get through another year.

[mlwl8521]

It appears that I've “suffered” a bait-and-switch.

CLA and McGladrey both offered 63k for an experienced associate position (with the expectation of promotion to senior in 6 months). No chance or need for negotiation. I quickly accepted with McGladrey given their access to publicly traded clients. If I'm stepping up to bigger clients, it's only natural that I'm not entirely ready to lead employees yet. Can't have my cake and eat it.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR ADVICE. SEE YOU IN 3 YEARS 🙂

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CPA licensed - 2013
2 years public accounting
MAcc GPA 3.8

[Author]

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