[Tootsie]

So I am applying for tax associate jobs in MA and have an interview at a small CPA firm (about 60 employees) next week. A little bit about my background:

-Meet requirements for CPA license (non-reporting) and recently applied for license

-Have 7 years of professional accounting experience (includes accounting in higher education for 3.5 years, financial services for 1.5 years, Big 4 audit for 1 year, and teaching accounting for 1 year).

-Master’s in accounting

Does anyone have an idea of what salary is reasonable based on my background? At my previous financial services job, I was making $64,000/year with 3 weeks of vacation.

FAR - 76
AUD - 88!!! DONE!!!!!!!!
BEC - 76
REG - 77

never, never, never give up

[GotCPA]

The question is do you have any experience in Tax? Also, if it's an associate postion position and not senior associate, I wouldn't expect too much from your previous compensation. Maybe few thousand up due to work experience.

[Tootsie]

I don't have any tax experience, but with my professional experience and CPA, I would hope to get a higher salary, more than a few thousand. I was hoping at least $80,000.

I think it depends on how much the firm is willing to pay too and if they really want me. They specialize in industries I have worked in, such as education, so I think that might help.

FAR - 76
AUD - 88!!! DONE!!!!!!!!
BEC - 76
REG - 77

never, never, never give up

[Anonymous]

Harsh reality is that non-tax experience isn't that useful for taxes, so I would guess $80k is a stretch.For a small firm, according to Robert Half salary guide, 1-3 years experience is $55.5-72.75k, and counting 1-3 years experience equivalent for your 7 years of non-tax would probably be about right and on the generous side. MA wages on average are a bit higher than the wages in the US as a whole, so you might be able to hit $80k, but it'd be a top offer, and only if they consider your experience to be as useful as 3 years in tax. In all honesty, if I was the hiring manager, I wouldn't – I know what I did in tax and I know what I do in private (higher ed right now), and they're not similar enough to make my time in private valuable to a tax firm.

[Tootsie]

Thanks for the advice. I'll research more about salaries at the associate level. Did a little searching and seems to be different among firms, seeing $50 to 75K mostly. It's best to aim high. If they say no, at least I tried, and there's negotiation too.

FAR - 76
AUD - 88!!! DONE!!!!!!!!
BEC - 76
REG - 77

never, never, never give up

[mla1169]

Tootsie I don't think 80 is realistic (but if you find an offer like that let me know, I'm not far lol!)

I just interviewed at a smaller firm for a similar position and they said they couldn't do $70k. This is about 20 mi north of Boston for reference and obviously only one firm of hundreds.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

I have no idea why did you leave your previous employers and settle in the less level firms. I am very serious.

You were making 64,000 a year; and in a small firm, you best hope is 60-70k a year. Public accounting isn't governmental job. Firms are not measuring you based upon all applied experiences. If you don't have tax experience, you are pretty much a junior, and they don't pay a junior more than 70k a year.

[Anonymous]

If this firm is looking for an Associate (as opposed to Sr. Associate), they're probably looking to “spend” no more than $50k to $60k, maybe (and a big maybe at that)- $65k.

If I were you, I'd be prepared to upsell them.

That all being said, there is no reason why you can't be getting $70k-$80k per year (using your time in the profession as a yardstick).

[Herbieherb]

If you are making 64k now, I think the max you will get would be 70k-75k. Employers love to low ball. You have a nice background to be a senior acct or manager in industry or govt. I don't know why you would go back to the long hours in public…80k is feasible after 1 or 2 years, I think you have to job hop

NEW YORK- DONE

[Lisa_Jane]

@Tootsie

I have been working at a not-for-profit for over 4 years and since I got my license I've been trying to get into corporate accounting. The feedback I'm hearing is that I won't be considered without 2 years public experience. I want to do federal tax so I am seriously thinking of public for 2015. I have a friend with Big 4 experience and she also worked at a smaller public firm. She's going to get me an introduction to the smaller public firm's tax partner. A corporate recruiter for a major aerospace company really liked me and my resume, but he said the managers all want to see public experience. It is frustrating me, too.

As for salary, I spoke to a public firm in the area and they could only offer me a little over 60K even though I'm a CPA and I have work experience. I didn't pursue the firm because they have no work life balance at all and a high turnover rate. If I have to do public I will try to be choosy. It seems like public is the way to go to get needed training and experience and if you work hard you will get promoted to Senior and then you can get the 70K plus salary.

FAR Passed 5/28/14
AUD Passed 1/22/13
BEC Passed 7/12/13
REG Passed 5/9/14
Virginia CPA license issued July 2014

[OnMyWay732]

I'm estimating they'll offer you around 67

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[RHNotts]

What is an average salary for corporate accounting going from intern to full time? Is there normally negotiation this early in a career? I'm in socal. I don't want to screw myself but at the same time I don't want to come off as entitled.

[Author]

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