[Pop]

I have been working at a CPA firm for about 4 years. I started as an audit staff (2 years) and now audit senior (2 years). The firm is a one-office firm of about 100 employees in Florida. Unlike most CPA firms, I work only 40 hours per week, even during busy season. The reason is because my firm specializes in 401(k) audits. These are fairly easy to do and require little to no overtime. We also do quite a few regular audits and reviews as well and I get the chance to audit various companies and industries. I get a $75k annual salary for working 40 hours a week. I eventually want to move into a senior accountant role of a corporation.

I recently interviewed at a larger firm with over 9 locations throughout Florida. This company probably has closer to 1,000 employees state-wide. Like most CPA firms, they work lots of overtime during busy seasons (60-70 hours per week). The clients here are much larger and I would actually be specializing in one or a couple specific industries. I know there is a lot more room for career growth and professional advancement here, however I don’t know if it is worth working the longer hours. The compensation for this position would be around $85k.

[OnmywaytoCPA]

@Pop, from what you described above, you would only be getting an extra $10,000 to work 60 – 70 during busy season. Is the extra $10,000 worth it? Can you talk with your supervisor about a raise or a promotion? Any amount above $75,000 to work the same schedule, you're working is a huge win.

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[Lindsey_p87]

I would really evaluate whether this new position is going to offer more opportunities down the road and how realistic those opportunities are compared to where you are now. You may get a salary increase, but your hourly rate is going to go down when you're working that much overtime, and that's not considering the quality of life changes in working that much more. Personally, I wouldn't do it, but I also really value a good work/life balance. If you're not as concerned about that, it might be worth it for the potential opportunities.

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[jenpen]

Another thing to ask and/or think about is how does the rest of the year look for hours? I know some firms will offset the extra busy season hours by allowing employees to take off time throughout the rest of the year. If this is a possibility, then you could potentially even it out and land at (or at least near) the 2080 mark.

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[MOAC]

What about other benefits? Like Health insurance, 401K vacation days, summer hours? You have to take these things into account also. And also you have to ask yourself which job will help your career grow more? Your plan is to switch over to corporate world, which job will help you to get a better deal?

$10K by itself doesn’t mean much you will have to look at it from every angle.

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[Author]

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