[tailz2016]

Within the last few months I have been sending emails to many CPA firms asking if there are any opportunities as a entry level tax accountant. The majority of them said they don’t hire until the fall for employment start in January. There were only a few that replied and said to contact them during the fall again for possible interview.

Recently I got an interview with a CPA firm with a start date in January. I dont know why so early. Assuming they offer me a position, and I accept, does this mean that I cannot accept a different offer in the fall? Assuming other CPA firms decide to offer me a position?

This is my first time dealing with job offers in accounting.

Are you required to stay committed to that company? or do you have the option to pick the better offer?

Im in CA by the way.

Thank you for your advice!

THANKS TO GOD

FAR - 76
AUD- 88
REG - 76
BEC- 74, 80

DONE!!!!!

Roger cpa review ( Added Ninja for BEC)

[Monkey Wrench]

No one is going to force you to stick with the job offer with the start date, but it is not in your best interest, reputation wise, to accept a January start date and then bail on them. Accounting firms do that because that is when they are going hard after college students, and these students will start interneships and or full time positions starting January. It's in the firms best interest to recruit early and get commitments. In reality, it's in the students best interest also because they can then focus on finishing school knowing that they have a full time job immediately upon graduating.

[fuzyfro89]

Most public acct firms do NOT have you sign a contract. An employment contract states you will work in X role for Y dollars from XX/XX to XX/XX.

Many public firms give you “terms of employment” which very very very clearly state “employee is at will, meaning either employer or employee can terminate the relationship at any time, with or without cause”. Some states may be different, and some firms may actually still give out contracts if they need more certainty around people and resources.

If you were to get an offer in the next month, they would likely request that you decide (yay or nay) within a few weeks, maybe a month (it should be stated on the offer letter). You can accept and then back out of it later if something better comes along, but it's a bit sketchy and you may burn a bridge (i.e. that firm would not hire you for at least several years, if ever). If the new offer is that good, then that burnt bridge is just a cost you'll have to weigh and decide if it's worthwhile. For a small CPA firm, I doubt it really matters much, especially if you live in a mid/large city.

For what it's worth, even after I received (and accepted) and offer with a big 4 firm in 2012, I still continued my search in non-public accounting positions (financial analyst, supply chain, etc). I figured if anything good enough came along, I'd back out and take the hit, but I ended up starting there.

[tailz2016]

Thank you both for your feedback!

THANKS TO GOD

FAR - 76
AUD- 88
REG - 76
BEC- 74, 80

DONE!!!!!

Roger cpa review ( Added Ninja for BEC)

[Author]

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