What's the market like for me…2 years experience in Industry accounting?

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #193968
    Tcohle
    Participant

    I took this job (Construction accountant at a small business) right out of college because I needed a job pretty badly. I became responsible for all day-to-day A/P, A/R, Quickbooks, Bank Recs, J/Es, financial administration, payroll, etc. This all pretty much happened within 6 months of employment. I’m also a notary. I’m planning on having all 4 exams passed before the end of the year. I’ll need 1600 hours experience and 27 more education credits

    I’m coming up on two years employment and I’m only making $15/hr. I’ve been actively looking elsewhere but I’m a little rusty when it comes to job hunting. The last straw came when I heard my friend who is still in college was making more at her internship at a medium sized accounting firm than I do currently -_-.

    I realize I don’t have the greatest resume, but I want to get into the finance/accounting world and start moving up!

    Anyone have suggestions or have been in a similar situation?

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Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 24 total)
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  • #687471
    MaLoTu
    Participant

    What is your geographical area? It is getting really close to the big hiring season for most entry-level positions at a CPA firm. You should be able to land a job in a major city, I would guess. The market seems to be improving, overall.

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

    All 4 passed - 2016

    CA CPA

    #687472
    Tcohle
    Participant

    I live in central PA, the Harrisburg area. But I wouldn't be opposed to moving to Philadelphia area. I actually would prefer that.

    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

    #687473
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Use Indeed.com for job search. Try looking at entry-level government type jobs. Not the highest-paying but significantly higher than your current job. Good luck!

    #687474

    It sounds like you are way under pay for what you are doing. It looks like you have gained alot of accounting experience since being here. I would use Glassdoor or Indeed.com to look for jobs. Try searching for staff accountant roles. When i was a staff, i did a lot of the things you listed except payroll. You should update your Linkedin Profile to include your resume. Recruiters will be able to find you more easily that way. You shouldnt have too hard of a time finding a job. I dont know how the market is in PA but staff accountants should make at least 40-45k starting out and sometimes 50k at a bigger company. Since you have two years experience, i would ask for 55k-60k. Hope this helps! Good luck!

    BEC - 76 (1/24/15)
    REG - 82 (4/13/15)
    AUD - 89 (5/31/15)
    FAR - 78 (8/16/15)

    Starting right now I'll be strong
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    And I don't really care if nobody else believes
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    #687475
    Masso
    Participant

    Hello, not really related to the topic, but what would be the salary for an entry level treasury analyst with more than 2 years experience but not in finance or accounting? Thanks.

    #687476
    Anonymous
    Inactive
    #687477
    y_u_no_pass
    Participant

    If you have 2 years of unrelated experience that is basically the same as no experience

    Florida CPA!
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    #687478
    Tcohle
    Participant

    @AZWildcat It didn't load…was it the internal auditor position?

    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

    #687479
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Yup. you can copy and paste it into your browser. Just did a search for auditor position in your area on Indeed.com

    #687480
    Tcohle
    Participant

    Thanks! I'll have to check into that!

    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

    #687481
    Masso
    Participant

    Sure. What would be an approximate salary in the west region?

    #687482
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Approximate salary for what kind of position/industry and experience level? Also, anywhere in California/Washington is going to easily be 10-30% more for a comparable position.

    #687483
    Tcohle
    Participant

    I kind of wanted to go to eastern pa. Although, most places ask for 2-3 years of public accounting experience (or auditing). I don't have that! Would governmental be a better route?

    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

    #687484
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    It just depends on what you want to do. Governmental positions (state/county/cities) are probably easier to get into than Big 4 for example. I just wanted to provide you an example and a place to start. Most of those governmental positions will provide great benefits (which you said you don't get) and work/life balance, while providing a higher salary than you currently are making ($15) for entry level positions. I'm in the governmental sector (6 years) and speaking from personal experience. Yes, Big 4 is a higher salary, especially later in your career, but if you are coming from a $15/hour job, you would be surprised how attractive certain governmental accounting/auditing jobs can be.

    In AZ, government accounting jobs probably average around $20-24 an hour for entry-level. Good luck!

    #687485
    Tcohle
    Participant

    I actually took a look at some governmental jobs. They don't pay that well right away, but I hear it's a great job to go in. I've always wanted to be in that big company atmosphere like KPMG, Baker Tilly, EY…but now I don't even know if that's a remote possibility. I didn't do as well as I'd hoped in college, only getting a 2.9 gpa after starting at 3.4. I don't even include it on my resume anymore.

    But now I'm pretty pissed that my 2 years experience at this construction company for accounting doesn't mean squat. Even though I'm doing a lot of financial accounting here, I feel like I've wasted time that could've been spent getting into a big 4 firm.

    I'm almost 25 years old so I wonder if time's running out…seems like they only take college students at the entry level.

    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

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 24 total)
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