What to do…..

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  • #188123
    Lindrobe
    Member

    I have posted on here before regarding my career troubles, so some of you may be familiar. Basically, I have 10 years of experience, I am a CPA and have my MBA and I still work in a position that is considered entry level. I only make $44k, but I do have pretty good benefits. In the area that I live, top 10 public firms hire in at $47-$48k. I work in NFP tax and I am having a hard time figuring out how my experience transfers to other jobs.

    Anyhow, I have recently been offered the opportunity to transfer to a senior accountant job internally. It is in the AP department and I would be working on some of the new technology that my organization has implemented to pay vendors in a high activity organization. To me, the work seems so easy (less challenging than the work I do now). I could see myself getting bored in 6 months or less. However, the title is better and the pay is better. I have been very frustrated in the position I am in now because I have taken on a significant amount of work beyond what I was hired to do, but they continue to insist that my job is still just staff level. I don’t know what to do…..

    FAR 12/3/14, 87
    AUD 2/3/14, 90
    BEC 4/1/14, 88
    REG 5/27/14, 94

    Licensed CPA, Indiana

    "Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
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  • #589560
    h0wdyus
    Member

    @lindrobe

    You need to change your job. A/R job is not something you want to do.. so what if it has new technology.

    I think you should get out of NFP and look for a company that is profit making. You have to make the move, your employers won't make it for you.

    The good thing is you are not making too much money, so you can change and start at entry level salary in the job of your liking.

    I would suggest jobs like , Asst Controller , Corporate Treasury , Finance, Investment Banking , Hedge Funds, there are many things you can do.

    I would use your time in the company to plan a smart exit.

    FAR - 81 29th Aug 2013
    AUD - 84
    REG - 82
    BEC - 89 29th Aug 2014
    Using Yager

    FROM NJ

    #589561
    RachelP
    Member

    I have 3 years of experience and am only 5k behind you. I expect to be making a lot more than that 7 years from now! I would say start looking for your golden opportunity. You are obviously patient if you have stayed for that long. I would take the raise/promotion with your company and begin looking for your next move if you think your updated position will bore you quickly. Do what you were hired in that position to do, make the transition with the technology. Use your new salary and position as a negotiating tool as you look for your ‘perfect fit.'

    If you have strong loyalty/believe in the NFP you are working for & that is your reason for not leaving, remind yourself that someone else with those loyalties will likely take your place, and your dirty dishes will always be dirty dishes & some one will do them for you! I left my first job after 1.5 years due to being looked over for a promotion/no raise w high increase in duties and am SO glad I did! I get regular raises/bonuses at my current job & they appreciate what I do! Companies have to look out for their bottom line and if a position can't pay more than a position can pay, than you're just stuck! Look for your perfect fit & leap for the opportunity. ALSO: word to the wise, tell NO ONE except immediate family members/potential job contacts you know will keep their mouth shut as you search. No need for anyone at your workplace to know.

    Good luck!

    "Don't worry, beeeeee happy!"

    Unhappy with job, long distance boyfriend, not much studying:
    FAR- 66 [08/28/12] AUD- 61 [10/04/12] REG- 59 [11/28/12] BEC- 63 [01/11/13]
    Year off (from exams): Got new job, got married, moved, etc
    ✓ AUD- 79!!! 01/10/14 FIRST PASS!! WOOOO!!!
    ✓ REG- 73 02/27/14, 81 10/27/14
    ✓ FAR- 83 5/16/14
    ✓ BEC- 80 7/24/14
    ✓ Education ✓ Experience
    Ethics Exam

    #589562
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    You've been posting about this forever. Either take the new job or relocate to Chicago/Detroit and get a real accounting job.

    #589563
    Lindrobe
    Member

    Wow, bigfourexpert. Thanks for the advice and support.

    FAR 12/3/14, 87
    AUD 2/3/14, 90
    BEC 4/1/14, 88
    REG 5/27/14, 94

    Licensed CPA, Indiana

    "Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

    #589564
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Judging by your scores, you're a smart cookie. I'm not sure if you live in a city or rural area, but you definitely should be making much more than your current salary.

    Life is too short to be unhappy. I think sometimes we get into this routine of being comfortable and wanting to stay in a relationship, job, living situation, etc. It goes down to so many levels. Accountants for the most part are risk averse I'd say and don't like change. Explore all your options (I'm sure you'll have at least a couple of offers) and jump ship. You're gonna be alright!

    #589565
    h0wdyus
    Member

    @lindrobe

    Please tell us, what are your interests, I mean by nature of work. Like fiance; internal audit, tax … What would you like to and what have you thought about.

    FAR - 81 29th Aug 2013
    AUD - 84
    REG - 82
    BEC - 89 29th Aug 2014
    Using Yager

    FROM NJ

    #589566
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @Lindrobe The better job title and compensation would help you get the next “better” job, so I'd say go for the promotion. If the work is easier and more boring, that will just free you up to job-search or add additional certifications or whatever you want to do, while making more money and with a higher title on your resume. Even though the work is easier, a lot of hiring departments just look at titles. I mean, think about it – HR person sorting through resumes doesn't have a clue what accounting job duties are actually like, they just know if the title says “Senior Accountant” or “Accounting Clerk” or “Pooper scooper”. 😛 It will show a future employer that you want to move up and also show that your work was sufficient for your employer to feel like promoting you.

    And who knows – you might love working in that department and end up liking your job more as a result! If you don't, then you just keep looking for somewhere else to get a job, which is nothing different than now (except for that you've got a better title and prior pay on your resume 🙂 ).

    #589567
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I'm simply saying you keep begging for change, and when it presents itself, you waver. You know the opportunities in your area are scarce. You need to do something about it, such as relocate, or at least not take for granted when you do get chances to mix things up a bit.

    #589568
    Lindrobe
    Member

    bigfourexpert, if relocating were so easy, I would definitely do it. I am married and my husband has a great job. He is the breadwinner for our family and I could never expect him to give up his job for me to relocate and make $55k or $60k.

    Would you really be excited to take a job in the AP department if you were me?

    FAR 12/3/14, 87
    AUD 2/3/14, 90
    BEC 4/1/14, 88
    REG 5/27/14, 94

    Licensed CPA, Indiana

    "Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

    #589569
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    You've commented that working at your current job makes you physically ill. You've also surely come to grips with the fact that while you have extensive experience, it's never going to translate to anything outside of your niche industry. In your world, that AP job is probably pretty decent in the heirarchy of things. On the other hand, if you go into public accounting you are basically starting at zero. While you're certainly underpaid, if your husband is making enough to balance everything out than is the pennies you're making worth the headache? Why not try to move out of accounting into some other field?

    #589570
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Personally, I would take the internal job and continue looking for jobs externally. Just because you transfer jobs, doesnt mean you're required to stay there. But in the meantime, you might as well get a pay increase and a better title, which will only help your job search. If you want to make more, I would stay away from NFP since they notoriously pay less. I wouldn't be very happy either- we don't work out of the goodness of our hearts & you certainly didnt get your MBA and CPA to be entry level for 10 years. Take the new job and keep looking for a way out.

    #589571
    youngd8
    Participant

    It's not just the pay, but title plays an important role when evaluating candidate. If I were you, I would take the senior accountant position, update your resume with senior accountant, then look for jobs on par or higher of that title, since you have the experience, license, and eductaion to back it up.

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