[Tcohle]

This is for a job in inner city Philadelphia. It’s a company that purchases/co-owns tons of veterinary hospitals and does the accounting side of them. They’re purchasing 3-4 more in the fall. Also they want to have a construction division, real estate, etc.

This job’s requirements are:

B.S. Degree in Accounting preferred

5 years experience in General Accounting preferred

QuickBooks and Excel experience necessary

Possess effective technical knowledge related to work assignments.

Excellent organizational, problem solving, critical/analytical thinking, written and oral communication, interpersonal and computer skills

Demonstrate understanding and proper application of accounting fundamentals

There’s a lot of month end closing, payables and receivables, etc.

They issued me an accounting test after the interview and I don’t think I got one question wrong. I’m told they base everything off the interview and the accounting test.

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I have 2 years industry experience, passed my FAR exam, and am pretty well rounded experience-wise

I’m working through a staffing agent. Direct hire. I originally told him I was looking for jobs in the 50K range.

But calculating cost of living out there and my fixed expenses, I think a fair salary would be 60K-65K.

Anyone have any opinions on this?

AUD - 84
BEC - 75
FAR - 76
REG - 87

Ninja Notes/MCQ/Book/Audio for all

FAR- 5/11/15 76!!
AUD-10/31/15 63, 84!
REG-7/12/16 72
BEC-8/31/15 75!! Perfect Score!

Wiley CPAExcel Platinum
Ninja 10 pt combo for FAR/AUD/BEC

[Missy]

You need to do some research online (check out Robert Half's salary guide then take the salary they list for staff accountant and use the factor they provide for the Philadelphia area). I quickly looked online and the average staff accountant salary in Philly looks to be low 50's. https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/philadelphia-staff-accountant-salary-SRCH_IL.0,12_IM676_KO13,29.htm

Unfortunately you don't get to ask for salary based on what you think would work best for you. Its supply and demand, if someone will do that job for 50k and you're asking 60 they just won't give you 60.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is a matter of supply and demand, but if you believe that you aced their quiz and they like you, I don't think they would outright reject your first offer; they're more likely to negotiate if you're the top candidate. When the economy was bad in 2009, I finally got an interview, got 100% on the quiz they gave me, and told them I wanted a salary 15k below what I had made previously (CPAs were applying for entry-level accounting assistant jobs at the time, so I would take what I could get). They accepted and I spent the next 2 years gradually working my way back up to that original salary, and was laid off soon after finally getting it.

[mw798]

“I think a fair salary would be 60K-65K.”

Based on the job description you provided, this position looks really entry level as a degree isn't even necessary. Now, this is only a guess, but I have a feeling they are looking to hire in the low to mid 50s as their max.

[Anonymous]

I worked in philly for a few years since I grew up in the area and currently work as a Sr. in the suburbs. If it's a staff position looking for someone with a few years of experience, the current market should be 50-55 with a tough stretch to 60. All depends on the value the company sees in the position and the range they were originally thinking. Unless you work in public, it's tough to make more than 55 with only 2 years of experience in the city.

[GotCPA]

Not to put you down or anything but the job description is basically a bookkeeper. Month end closing is normal for ANY type of business out there and is not something special. With that said, this is an entry level job, my guess is low to mid 50s Max. 60's is out of the question for such job description in industry. Now if you were going into public accounting, those numbers sound more reasonable with your experience.

[mw798]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing, the mid point of such a position could be around $40k, with $55k as the max.

[Author]

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