[Anonymous]

What are some of the typical signing bonuses you have heard for CPAs and CPA candidates? What are some of the largest? Which firms typically offer the largest signing bonuses?

I just read an article that said that the average signing bonus for graduating MBAs is about $16,000, and that graduates from one school received an average signing bonus of about $33,000.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/the-short-list-grad-school/articles/2017-06-06/10-mba-programs-with-the-highest-signing-bonuses

It got me to wondering what kind of signing bonuses CPAs and CPA candidates are getting. I know there’s a serious glut of MBAs, so if they’re commanding bonuses like that at signing, then CPAs must be really cleaning up.

Before anyone jumps on my case, let me assure you I’m no dummy, I know US News and World Report is a generally unreliable source, so their information could be completely made up, but nevertheless it got me wondering about the above questions.

[maxb]

I think for accounting 3 to 5k is pretty realistic

[Anonymous]

I've never heard anyone ever receiving a signing bonus. At least not for a public accounting position.

Maybe a private company, but definitely not for the average college graduate with a CPA.

[bhunt815]

I'm assuming those bonuses would be for top students from top universities. I didn't receive a signing bonus and no one else I know did either.

AUD - 79
BEC - 81
FAR - 84
REG - 78

Becker Self Study supplemented with Ninja MCQ's for BEC and REG.

Licensed CPA in Louisiana.

FAR 04/11/2016 - 84
AUD 05/12/2016 - 79
BEC 07/06/2016 - 81
REG 08/29/2016

[Anonymous]

I will receive a signing bonus when I start right out of college. I hope to have my CPA by September but they had no way of knowing that. I get a nice bonus for passing though!

[TommyTheCat]

I got a $5k signing bonus at PWC and that was without CPA fresh out of college. That was several years ago but the job market is super hot right now in Bay Area CA so I would imagine the signing bonuses for quality candidates is somewhere in that range if not higher.

I've heard of several firms offering signing bonuses.

AUD - 85
BEC - 89
FAR - 91
REG - 97

[Ryan – Just Another Dollar]

I've definitely seen firms offering signing bonuses to recruited grads, but not more than $3-5k. No signing bonus for me and no CPA credit either since I got it before I started, silly me.

B - 88 (2/16)
A - 84 (4/16)
R - 73 (6/16), 82(7/16)
F - 67 (1/16), 84(4/16)

Ethics - 93

Roger course & Ninja MCQ - HiYa!

[Anonymous]

I am curious what these signing bonuses are for and who are they awarded to? What is the criteria?

Also, I am highly willing to bet these “signing bonuses” are just an accounting trick that is really a cut of your salary. For example, some new hires might get $0 signing bonus with a $50,000 base pay while others might get a $5,000 signing bonus with a $45,000 base…or some configuration of the sort.

[Missy]

Signing bonuses in public are usually (not necessarily always) for new hires with Masters degrees. First year salaries are fairly inflexible and having a masters doesn't necessarily guarantee a higher starting salary than someone with an undergrad degree so its an incentive to candidates to accept the starting salary as is while conceding they have more credentials than some of their peers.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

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

[maxb]

Signing bonuses aren't some accounting trick. They are there to keep you there typically for at least 2 years. Your contract will say you have to pay back prorated amount if you leave before two years.

[TommyTheCat]

exactly right max. Incorrect brick. They are not an accounting trick. Everyone I know, including myself, that received a signing bonus received the bonus in addition to their starting salary that was at or above the published first year associate starting salaries for public accounting in their respective region.

From my experience they offered the signing bonus to talent they wanted to make sure stuck around for a couple years and were of high value to them.

AUD - 85
BEC - 89
FAR - 91
REG - 97

[Anonymous]

That's odd considering they have no way to gauge how well a person will perform on the job as a first year. The accounting industry just keeps getting weirder and weirder. Definitely chose the wrong profession. Congrats on the achievement by the way.

[Missy]

The fact they can't gauge first years performance is EXACTLY why they do a signing bonus. That way future raises don't have that # figured into it (a 5% raise on a 50k salary will always cost the company more than a 5% raise on a 45k salary, now compound that over a career………)

Its hardly a practice unique to the accounting profession.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

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

[Anonymous]

Ahh, see there's always a catch.

[Want2BeCPAsoBad]

My offer coming out of college included a 5,000 sign in bonus, the sign in bonus was the main reason I chose a boutique firm vs a big 4. I was not a CPA nor had I taken any tests. I was a recent graduate with a 3.97 GPA very active at the MTF event at my campus. I believe certain firms do sign in bonus only if they believe you will be getting many offers from other firms.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 82
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - 82

Your intelligence has nothing to do with your score!  It's a matter of dedication, study habit and how well you test.

AUD- 64 (Retake 1/2)-Waiting on score

BEC- 82 (2x)

FAR-May 2018

Reg- 82 (1x)

[Want2BeCPAsoBad]

BTW, there were no strings to my bonus, all salary offers were about the same but this firm offered me an additional 5K + over time pay during busy season. Overall big 4 offers varied from 53-60k and including bonus+ OT I made 68k last year. This year my base went up 13 % if I only consider base, but only went up 3.5% If I consider my sign in bonus, but adding the new rate for my OT, I think raise was standard 5% (considering base+bonus+ot rate increase) But I'm still happy with my decision

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 82
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - 82

Your intelligence has nothing to do with your score!  It's a matter of dedication, study habit and how well you test.

AUD- 64 (Retake 1/2)-Waiting on score

BEC- 82 (2x)

FAR-May 2018

Reg- 82 (1x)

[Author]

Replies