Getting a better office than a Senior non-CPA after getting licensed..Opinions?

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    Topic
  • #191255
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hi everyone,

    I passed all my exams in Dec of 2013 and got licensed as a CPA in the middle of last year. At my firm we have cubicles for the staff accountants and also offices that supervisors and seniors get to share. Well me and a Senior accountant were both going for our CPA’s in 2012 and 2013. I passed my exams and the Senior did not pass theirs. In fact that the senior has now ultimately decided not to pursue her CPA anymore.

    Since that time my billing rate has increased to the same as theirs….. and for this upcoming tax season, the managing partner has told me that my billing rate will now be higher than the Senior accountants and my title will now the same or actually a higher titled position than theirs.

    He also brought up if I don’t like the fact the I’m still in a windowless cubicle while my co-worker (who has decided not to pursue the CPA designation after being unable to complete the exams with a passing score), Has an Office…and To be honest, it does. My billing rate is higher than theirs and management has told me that my skill level has surpassed theirs in many areas of tax and accounting.

    My question to you all is this……..I know if we switch desks, it would be awkward in the office, but at the same time, I have earned my spot in the firm through hard work and through hours of studying to advance my skill to get my billing rate up……..So, should I feel bad or not try and push the issue? Or should I tell him that I do deserve the switch and push the issue (he already told me that he is strongly considering it before I even brought the topic up)?

    Thank you for your input.

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 67 total)
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  • #637854
    mla1169
    Participant

    As someone who has had both an office with windows and then took a job where I'm in a cubicle I can tell you nothing in the world matters less to me than where I sit at work. But that's just me, I guess.

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    #637855
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I would take it. You earned it. Why sell yourself short?

    #637856
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I have been in a cubicle and I have also been in an office w/window in my own office as well as a shared office w/window. If your workspace (cube v. office) is important to you, then that is fine, but I would offer the idea to focus primarily on your goals and not compare yourself too much to the other staff. I suppose some comparison could be good to stimulate healthy encouragement and growth in the firm among peers. But I would keep your focus on what you're already doing and that is growing your education and technical skills (from what I read above). My opinion would be to bring it up with the partner that “you want your own office” if you do in fact want your own office. It's the partner's decision to move who he/she needs to move in order for that to happen (if there isn't an open office for you to move into). In essence, you can only control what you can control and I would not worry about feeling bad if your level of responsibility passes other peers that have been there longer than you. Besides, leadership should be awarded based upon merit, not age or years in service. Keep up the hard work. Back to studying REG for me…..

    #637857
    Skynet
    Participant

    To the OP. It is not your fault that he other Seniors decided to give up and quit the CPA exams. You earned it because you worked for it and did not give up. If you feel you want to move then go ahead, but you should also try to encourage and motivate them to again give it another go at the CPA and maybe even offer to help. That way that may dispel any rifts that could occur in the office.

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    #637858
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I agree with Skynet.

    #637859
    salring
    Participant

    As someone who has been in both an office and a cubicle I would say a peace of mind at work is much more valuable than any fancy office you can get. If there is an expansion where empty offices become available for you to be stationed I would go for it, but swapping with a senior coz they did not pass their exam will be the beginning of bad blood between you and the senior. Of course you have done nothing wrong but that's just the way it is in corporate America. If you feel strongly about that space, you can pursue it but I would suggest you focus on work and continue doing well without being drawn into petty office politics. Office politics have a way to destruct from the bigger picture, it's not worth it.

    #637860
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    salring has a good point too. Hmmm… maybe you should suggest sharing the office with the senior?? kidding…

    #637861
    Skynet
    Participant

    I should clarified my previous post a little bit more.

    If there is an open office available, then I say go for it. You've earned it. However, if you and a Senior were to switch desks, that though, I would hesitate because it may be awkward. However, if your manager told the both of you to switch and he was the one that made the decision, then there is nothing you can do about it. It will still be awkward though, and may still cause tensions and rifts.

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    #637862
    mla1169
    Participant

    Agreed. If the senior was given an office in the first place, obviously they somehow “earned” it at the time. It would make me uneasy to switch desks because I or someone else felt I had more credentials because what happens when the next person has a higher degree, better grades, better exam scores, won the EWS award? Does that entitle them to switch with you? Comparing ourselves to others can be a double edged sword.

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    #637863
    Herbieherb
    Participant

    Go for it. You earned it. Your well being and happiness is important for your firm too. I've come across many people who don't deserve an office, but they play the office politics, have the right look or whatever. If she doesn't like it, she can get her cpa or quit lol. It would definitely cause some drama tho, be prepared

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    #637864
    tomq04
    Participant

    No way should you be taking someone else's desk! That's totally asinine and will ruin morale of at least 1 person, if not many more. If there is a desk available go for it!

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    #637865
    Mamabear
    Member

    I agree with the others. If it were an open office then I would definitely tell you to go for it. I would not suggest that you put in a pitch for an office that is occupied by someone else. The fact that your boss would put this up to you says a lot to me. It is always nice to be the golden child, but it is not a trait that will earn you any favors with your coworkers. I would rather be in a cubicle without drama than in an office with drama.

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    #637866
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Let me clarify a bit. The person was my senior….I have now passed them in both Title – (I am now a tax senior about to be promoted to a higher titled position)…. and I have passed them in billable rate (my billable rate is now higher than theirs). Soooooo….basically I am now in a higher position, a CPA, and I have a higher billing rate…but I am still in a cubicle while they have an office.

    So any new thoughts based on that information ????

    #637867
    mla1169
    Participant

    To me that doesn't change a thing. Your former senior has an office for whatever reason and now your career has surpassed hers, which I'm sure translates where it actually counts, your paycheck . You've busted your buns to advance your career and have done very well. Still doesn't mean your former senior should be pushed out of her office. If it's a big deal your manager/partner will make it happen with or without your input. Frankly I'd always choose the path of humility, having a CPA is nice for our careers but doesn't in any way make us superior to those who haven't pursued it.

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    #637868
    Skynet
    Participant

    I have to agree with mla1169. It would be nice to have an office with windows but to me the more important thing is the pay, the position, and the CPA. It's not as though you are living in the office anyways.

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    World Domination Plan

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    World Domination Plan

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Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 67 total)
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