[pjypjy8520]

I’ve posted a few threads about the situation and I hope I do not bore any of you guys with my issue/concerns. I am fortunate to be considering an offer while having a job but it is still a big decision and there’s a wealth of knowledge and experience on this forum so I hope to leverage it as much as I can to make what I feel is the right decision.

I’ve been offered by a national firm. $57K and 2.5K starting bonus in central Texas (coming in as experienced staff w/ ~ 2 years of experience). Although that is a $4K bump in gross salary I really think the difference is negligible as my current firm pays for health insurance as well as 401k matching and the national firm doesn’t start to match until after the 1 year anniversary of sign on date. With that said, I am up for promotion this fall so I declined the offer, telling them that I look forward to having more responsibility as a senior on my current firm and their offer was more than fair but the opportunity just did not seem timely. I also told the partner that I will have a better feel whether or not I’ll be promoted to senior after my performance review tomorrow but due to unusually high turnover right after the busy season, I am pretty sure that I’ll be promoted. The partner told me to go to the performance review and get back with him to see if he can make a better offer. He even connected me with one of his manager who switched from my current firm. Now I am just completely torn. My current firm is about as lifestyle friendly as you can get in public accounting. Yes, the clients are difficult, small and because the staffing always seems to be tight, the engagements always overlap but none of us book 80 hours weeks even during the busy season. You’d have to stretch it to make it to 60. It’s very relaxed. I enjoy the environment but I also don’t really feel like I am learning very much. Everything the national firm says about themselves appears to be true; more resources, more connections, bigger clients, more complicated transactions which will help you build your career. I turned them down once but they are definitely making a strong case and I am not sure what to do at this point.

Just to give an idea how this went, they really wanted me to start July 15 and I told them if I do this after my performance review, it wouldn’t be possible since my firm takes off the week of 7/4. So at the earliest, I’d have to start on the third week of July. They said that’s ok. I told them I wanted the responsibility of being a senior. They said they’d give me the title (but on big engagements, smaller clients, I can be senior). Already, 5 different managers, seniors and partner reached out to me. Now I’ve made demands that they have accepted and feel like I have to make the transition. Has anyone been in this shoes? How did you guys analyze the situation and what were the factors of your decision?

Thanks ninjas.

[mel_hamnation]

Wow! Sounds like a really great opportunity! A lot will depend on what type of life you are trying to acheive. Do you want the prestige and distinction that comes with saying you work at a Big 4, while opening doors for opportunity with every audit client? Or are you enjoying the 60 hour work week, where you get to have a life outside of work? I was the former until I had my son and then everything changed. I am still very driven and motivated, but I am extremely happy with my 7-5 internal audit position right now. As corny and cliche as it sounds, I would write a list of pros and cons, and make sure you consider all aspects of a change. Also, I would ask anyone you know that may work there what the work environment is like. It will not help if you transition into a role where backstabbing is common, everyone gossips about everyone, and a general hostile work environment is in place. Best of luck to you!!!

REG - 78 (1/13)
BEC - 82 (4/14)
FAR - 87 (5/14)
AUD - 92 (5/14)

[Anonymous]

I think that your long-term goals would have a lot of impact on what the best choice is. My first thought was “Increase hours for same (essentially) pay? That's not so cool.” But, if it's a short-term sacrifice for a long-term benefit, then it might be worth it. What's your 5-year plan? 10-year? If you're looking for a company to stay with for the rest of your life, then it sounds like your current job makes for a happier life around work; however, if you're looking for something to work for 2 years to use as a platform to jump from to something better, then which one will get you closer to that something better?

[Allergic2CPA]

@OP: Here’s my disclaimer. I have zero public accounting experience and haven’t been in your shoes so take my feedback as you wish. You mentioned the factors that influence your decision, which were touched on by the other two posters.

1. Salary – You mention that is currently negligible but do you know how much you would get paid by your current firm if they do promote you? It seems you’re comparing your current non-senior salary vs. a promotion at a national firm. Assuming you haven’t passed the CPA, what about CPA bonus?

2. Job title/Promotion/Responsibilities – It seems you will have the same/similar title/responsibilities at both firms, correct? So this seems like a wash.

3. Work Environment – Currently in a relaxed environment vs. uncertainty in the national firm. You may want to ask the manager that switched from your firm to the national one and see what he/she says. Generally speaking, if you’re good with stress management, then it shouldn’t really matter. Also, not sure if you’d like to disclose here but maybe fellow A71 posters can provide you feedback about the national firm’s environment.

4. Career Growth – I think this will be the difference maker. The exposure of the national firm appears to be better vs. your current firm so the added value is there. Not to mention that the national firm presumably has “name recognition” when listed in your resume so it may open greater opportunities in the future. This assumes that the national firm is reputable.

It seems this firm really wants you due to how many have reached out to you, meeting your demands, and will counter offer your potential promotion. Take full advantage of this if you do move.

So what do you need to figure out? It seems these are the two critical questions.

a. Am I willing to work more hours and potentially be paid effectively less (i.e. the national firm pays you more but you work way more) for career growth?

Keeping in mind where you want your career to go. For example, suppose you want to be a Plant Controller but you’re current firm doesn’t have any manufacturing clients but the national firm does. So now you can request from the start for the national firm to put you on manufacturing clients as much as possible. Perhaps you’re interested in petrochemical companies, oil & gas, non-profits, ect. The other benefit is the potential to travel with the national firm. Perhaps you wish to visit certain parts of the country.

b. If the answer to the first question is yes, then there’s a follow up question. How much more would either firm have to pay you to convince you to stay/leave?

FAR 46*, 77
AUD 70, 79
BEC 67, 82
REG 75

Texas License July 2013

Used Yaeger lectures based on Wiley textbooks

*Studied less than two weeks, forgot I had purchased NTS.

[pjypjy8520]

Thanks for the posts and advice guys.

@Allergic2CPA: The firm that offered me isn't Big 4 but it is the next 4 biggest (somewhere on this website, I heard of them being referred as Next 4: GT, BDO, McGladrey, etc). They are mostly oil and gas and the reason for their boom is attributable to oil and gas. As you might have imagined, most of the travel is to a less desirable cities because those firms already have big offices in big cities likes of Dallas, Houston, etc. Travel doesn't bother me. I mean, it is part of the job, they tell you it's part of the job upfront so I know what I am getting myself into. As far as the work environment, I've talked to the manager that comes from my current firm. I emailed her and she was very helpful walking me through her situation and her train of thought when she made the jump. She offered to meet me in person to talk more in detail but I am sure she won't say anything negative even if I asked her about the work environment and culture. My assumption is that big firms like that are bound to have few bad apples and dealing with clients and co-workers is just part of being a big firm I suppose. As far as the salary is concerned, as an experienced staff, I am making about $53K but my current firm promotion to senior will probably get me to around $57K and at year end, they give every one a raise and from what I've gathered (from former senior who recently quit) that will get me to $60K. I've already passed my CPA and have gotten the bonus from my current firm. I think the starting bonus will be considered my CPA bonus and that is probably one of the reason the national firm want to hire me is that by July I will be licensed. The only thing about the salary is that once I make senior at my current firm, I will probably net more since my insurance is paid by the firm whereas the national firm share the expense with the employee. I suppose the only thing that is holding me back is the working culture. Right now, my current firm is about as relaxed as things can get for a public accounting firm. Seniors do not hold their staff hostage until they are done with their work. I've heard this is generally the case at the big firm. It is the bureaucracy that really keeps me back. I know for fact that if I am considering career alone, going to a bigger firm is a no brainer. But right now, I'm in a nice spot where managers and partners actually care that you do not work more than 40 hours. I guess tomorrow I'll have a better idea because I'm meeting up with my mentor to discuss my performance review. I'll update you guys once I find out more!

Again, thanks to all of you guys who took the time to read my jibber jabber.

[Author]

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