Experience coming out of College:
Three month Tax Internship
Three month Internship at small, local CPA firm
14 months as part time book keeper for local firms
Bachelors and Masters degrees in Accounting
Position #1 (Des Moines, IA):
-Assurance associate at a large national (but not big 4) accounting firm
-46k per year (probably higher than it should have been, was granted at the conclusion of my internship before the economy started tanking)
-Good benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, Life, etc.)
-3% employer 401k match after the first year with the firm
-3,000 bonus for passing CPA exam within first 18 months with firm
-Direct Bill arrangement with Becker Review ($ came out of your bonus pool though)
-Reimbursement for Exam fees
-14 days PTO (not sick time)
-When sick stay home, doesn't affect PTO (as if you could ever afford to stay home sick during busy season anyways)
-Expected to work 60+ hours during busy season, sometimes more than 70. 35-50 hours during non-busy times.
I was laid off from this job 6 months after starting because my firm said they just didn't have enough work coming through the pipeline for the spring and summer after busy season.
Position #2:
-Staff Accountant at small CPA firm
-46k per year
-Less desirable benefits (still lots of options, just more expensive for the employees)
-3% employer 401k match after the first year with the firm
-2,000 bonus for passing CPA exam within first 24 months with firm
-Direct Bill arrangement with Becker Review
-Reimbursement for Exam fees
-12 days/yr PTO
-6 days/yr sick time
-2 floating holidays, 10 paid holidays
-Work 40 hours per week, with flexibility to work anywhere from 35-45 week to week.
I would advise CPAs to look beyond jobs with the big 4 accounting firms. At my college everyone desired these jobs, but in my experience working for a large CPA firm simply means more hours to work, less ability to use vacation when you want to, and a highly competitive environment with your fellow CPAs. The pay and benefits are usually slightly better, but not always and not by as much as you might think.
AUD - 85 (7/24/09) BEC - 90 (8/31/09) REG - 86 (11/16/09) FAR - 82 (05/11/10) *I'm a CPA!!!