[Allergic2CPA]

I’m currently a Senior Accountant in Houston’s Oil and Gas industry doing full financials in US GAAP for international operations and have been at this role for 1.5 years. My background is public university Accounting.

The increase in base salary is only 4.48% and has a discretionary 10% bonus, which of course they may or may not pay.

The opportunity is with another oil & gas company as an analyst regarding the management of significant inventory from multiple ERP systems in an international environment and is beyond general Accounting work. This new role will average to working similar hours as my current role. The one exception is that my current close is brutal as you have to do everything in the last 3 or 4 business days of the month working 12+ hours a day late into the early morning at times.

Edit: I forgot to mention that the new role is located 30 miles or about a solid 45 min. to an hour away and my current role is just 5 miles or 15 min. away.

However, I’m conflicted since the opportunity is good but the salary offer is dismal but do want to get away from the brutal close. Supposedly is a take it or leave it type if offer.

At this point I’m thinking of making a counter offer and if they can’t come close to it, then just walk away.

What do you think?

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.

[TNCPA16]

I would focus more on the long term if I was in your shoes. Which position/company gives you growth and the exposure that you would need to move up the ladder? What are your long term career goals? Just reading your quick description, I would think a senior accountant role would hold greater weight and have greater upward mobility than an inventory analyst (although, I do not work in O&G and have no experience in that industry, so I could be completely wrong). That said, if you really hate dealing with close every month, then maybe it is time to try something else.

Countering is a tricky game to play. How much more of a salary increase are you wanting? I've seen it backfire on people, so you need to handle it delicately if you decide to do it. We just hired someone who tried to counter, and they didn't manage it well. Although we still really like this person and am glad we hired them, it did give them a bit of a black mark!

[MaLoTu]

In my opinion, being 15 minutes away from work outweighs the 4.48% pay increase. However, I agree with Jilly Beans, you should look at the future of each company and each position.

Almost always from my phone... please excuse my typos!

All 4 passed - 2016

CA CPA

[Allergic2CPA]

@JillyBeans

I would want a 10% raise (this is typical) my recruiter knows what she's doing so she can handle it delicately. I do have my CPA, MBA, and 10 yrs. overall exp.

Analyst roles are typically higher than Senior Accountant roles in Oil and Gas industry as they are not as structured and require higher critical thinking skills. As far as exposure, well the better question is what does that exposure actually translate to? I currently have management exposure but my boss pretty much told me I would end up with a lateral transfer should I be granted one in 6-8 months doing the same crap but perhaps different countries and ERP system.

Basically management exposure and upward mobility seems to be a crapshoot. I worked at a University for 7 years and interviewed for possible promotions with the people who are my references. Nothing came about. I landed a job in an industry that I had zero exp. in but paying me 50% more than my employer of 7 yrs.

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.

[markm627]

@Allergic2CPA

I have worked in the O&G industry for about 9 years, and just recently accepted an offer at another O&G company. Just from what you've described, I would stay where you are for now and look for a different opportunity, for several reasons.

1) A 15 minute commute vs. a 45-60 minute commute each way is a big difference. That's an extra hour per day, or roughly 250 hours per year!

2) Preparing financials, etc. is usually a better role than handling inventory/ERP…at least from my experience and for my interests.

3) The <5% raise they're offering you seems kind of dismal. If they really want you to leave your current role, they need to make it worth your while. If you were unemployed, it would be a different story. But, you're right that 10% is pretty typical.

I know you don't like the grueling days around close, and maybe want to do something different, but it doesn't sound like this offer is really what you're looking for. I think I'd stick it out for now and keep looking.

FAR - 77 Oct, 2014
AUD - 94 Nov, 2014
REG - 70**Feb, 2015 | 80 May, 2015
BEC - 81 Jul, 2015

**Didn't get to cover the last 20% of the material or do a final review.

TX candidate - using CPAexcel and Ninja audio

[fuzyfro89]

It doesn't seem to be like a significant advancement in pay/responsibility from what you already have.

Try and evaluate job offers in two capacities, separately: 1) position/company/pay, 2) your own lifestyle considerations (commute, hours, etc). Jumbling both together is best done once you think about each component separately at first.

I'd hold out. Jumping around seems kind of pointless in this case since it's not really a compelling case. The company may like you, but the role you went for doesn't really require someone much more senior/skilled than you are now… hence the similar pay package.

[Author]

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