Accountants Paid Less Than New Hires at the Same Firm
20 posts across 3 communities in the last 60 days; 90% from r/Accounting.
“Indians aren’t the problem, the greedy decision makers trying to cut salary expenses are I am optimistic that most of us are pointing fingers at the right people”
“Complaining about *only* a 6% increase is really terrible form in this sub. There are a lot of folks here who are getting 0-2%. Sure, let's accept you're underpaid. Two possibilities - 1) you stepped in at a worse economic time, or 2) the other person has some longer term upside…”
“I never understood the logic of lower comp just because it's a smaller firm. Your comp is just a factor of what they bill; if they need to pay you more, they just increase your bill rate. If they want you, they shouldn't have an issue paying you what you're worth. Unless it's a…”
Several accountants express dissatisfaction with their compensation, career progression, and the accuracy of their work. They fear being undervalued compared to new hires and worry about potential errors impacting trust and reputation.
SOURCES (57)
“I got my CPA a few months ago. I got a congratulations and a small bonus. That was it. I felt somewhat underpaid in my current role before getting the CPA, but I had limited options since I relocated to a remote area where there…”
“This sounds like they're moving you to a manager role without a manager title. Is there manager pay?”
“Y. 3.5 years in B4 4.5 years after B4 Today my tile is: Senior Manager Accounting and Finance process improvement Total Comp: $250k base (moving to $275 after raises go through) variable bonus: last year was $50k. Decent equity structure similar amount to bonus with refresh every year. Total comp; ~$350k. I live in a LCOL/MCOL and work remote (with some as needed travel) company is based in a HCOL (I had small adjustment down ~$50k or so total comp for not living in HCOL area).”
“The one year I got a bonus was cause they didnt give anyone a raise due to covid... and it was only $500. 🥲 I should've quit that job sooner.”
“Just had my first performance review. Did not get a lot of feedback, in part because the firm I worked for was merging and a lot was going on. Complimented my work ethic as well. I did get a 6% raise, is that classified as average or below average? submitted by /u/InternationalAd3885 [link] [comments]”
“In case anyone is curious, I left GT in Oct/Nov of 2021, and at the time they were giving me $78K for Senior Accountant 2. Interested to see where the salary is at now for a Senior Accountant 2.”
“CPA in public firm MCOL Probably average 55 (low 35 high 75) 99.99 in office Staff issues. Not wanting to do more than minimum 69 you 47 tax seasons under my belt”
“LCOL (Maybe MCOL) area Year 1 working in PA as an associate : $60k Year 2 working in PA as an associate: $64k Passed 3/4 CPA parts during Year 2 Currently in Year 3 in PA and am now a Senior Associate: $70k I'm also looking for jobs atm and have been given an offer at $80k but I plan to decline that job”
“There are good promising jobs outside of public accounting firm. VHCOL, Big 4, 4 years of experience, making $120k. We have manager milestone bonus of $40k so maybe think of exit plan after getting that $$”
“8 months into job as audit associate, got email from manager and partner titled: 'KPIs chat' today for tomorrow morning. Any thoughts? submitted by /u/CraftingBeer111213 [link] [comments]”
“Take a deep breath friend. You didn't do anything wrong. It is a very interesting season in the accounting world and rifs are happening left and right. People I thought could never be let go were let go. I had/have this fear and I told my friend I don't know what I would do... He said "it's simple. You file for unemployment, cry, take a couple of days to get your head right, then start applying with your head held high. You know your worth and you know how to do this job."”
“I found it also. All accounting functions PLUS the HR function, insurance/risk management, and more. All for an accounting manager's salary.”
“My employer is valid. The firm: 500k+ employees, dozens of offices, some notable clients (like NBA teams!), strong training, solid pay and benefits. The exp here is much better than other jobs I’ve worked. The degree is valid. I’ll be honest, the accounting degree was tough to obtain. Tougher, I imagine, than many other accounting programs out there. I would agree it doesn’t offer much in terms of a well-rounded education, but for those who are motivated, it offers a quality dive into accounting”
“Indians aren’t the problem, the greedy decision makers trying to cut salary expenses are I am optimistic that most of us are pointing fingers at the right people”
“26 $98.8 Senior Advisory Associate Atlanta 40-45 usually, 50-60 during a transaction 4 years of experience CPA $4.3k bonus Feeling very underpaid considering my responsibilities and that competing firms are paying $25k more”
“Wrong I got a 3% raise my first comp cycle after being there for 8 or so months granted I’m in VHCOL and my comp is already super good. Non PE T10 firm”
“I didn't transition to wealth management for more money, I did it because it's where my interests were and it has brought me more fulfillment. Also, I left off that the $165K comp was over two years ago and my comp has gone up significantly since then. But that's my own personal journey and not as relevant to the question and what's realistic for OP. Someone once told me, and I've seen it to be true for those around me: if you're going into wealth management to make money”
“My pay is shit really for how long I have been around however Huge Perks for me. - I am not micromanaged in anyway nor have stupid metrics to adhere to and I actually assign 95% of my work with the odd thing chucked my way or a scheduled job. I have access to the jobs email and assign myself work and because all of us working there don't really bludge it is kept ontop off. - Our clients are good overall and me, the long term employed at said customers and other co workers here have great rel”
“3.5 years Big 4 audit, 1.5 years industry senior, CPA, MCOL-HCOL location Have a manager offer for 125k and 10% bonus. Thoughts? submitted by /u/Standard_Suit_4757 [link] [comments]”
“What industry? I'm in the region and most SM roles I've seen seem to pay closer to 150-170k total comp.”
“Looking to get out of public. Currently at a small firm (less than 50 people). 78k comp. Looking to jump to 85k+. Located in midwest (not on the great lakes), and hopefully 2/4 for CPA after next score release submitted by /u/Lickable-Cat [link] [comments]”
“i’d be frustrated too, especially after finding out someone with less experience came in on more. sounds like a good time to move on”
“I've been casually looking for jobs in the US, and in job posts usually see salaries in the range of $120-150k for M&A senior analyst positions in Texas & San Francisco. However, for the same type of jobs that recruiters on LinkedIn post, or I see online that specially state they'll "sponsor" TN visas for Canadians, the pay range takes a steep drop to the $90-115k range. Are Canadian CPAs considering relocating really paid about $30k less than their US peers already the”
“Currently an Audit Senior 3 at a Big Four, with a CPA, and 4+ years of experience in the insurance industry. I've been told by my SM that next June I am a shoe-in for Manager promotion. Recently, I have received a job offer from a fortune 500 insurance company, which would increase my annual salary by $25k, carries a $20k bonus and would decrease my hours worked by eliminating my busy season. However, the position is at the senior level and does not have a set timeline on promotion to manage”
“6 figure bonuses probably only for executives. Or, did you mean 6 figure "salary"?”
“Oh that way. I’m still surprised and just not sure how to go about that. Like I come from a family that didn’t make accountant money. It’s so wild to me a fresh college grad can make 60k as a staff near me. Just for what they have to do for the money they receive. I’ve always done physical labor in my jobs before starting the career. Paid 7.25-12 an hour through my time with those. Then I get done with college and started making over $30/hr and fuck around all day basically? It just doesn’t feel”
“I’m taking an offer from a local firm that will pay for CPA expenses. I hope to push for a larger firm after I obtain that.”
“There was a nationwide call this morning for all new hires for tax across the country where they confirmed it for us. We also got an emailed update to our offer letter confirming the increase”
“Are they reducing any corresponding salary increase though in order to lower base build increases in favor of increased one time bonus? That's the question people need to ask”
“It’s not great but it’s higher than average industry which are usually 3-5%. I used to get 10% raises for average performance ratings when I first joined but last year and this year have been 6% even though I go into the raise discussion as a high performer. If you haven’t already I would join your organization’s fish bowl group to see the raise discussion.”
“Appreciate the advice, I definitely do not want to make any emotional decision, I'll probably start asking more questions internally about the promotion timeline.”
“Got my review back, 6% raise , so I'm at $86k now, was $81k. I passed my CPA last year and have about 2 YOE , but this year wasn't the "normal" plan. I ended up reviewing staff work, stepping in after a senior left with basically no transition, and helping onboard a new hire, on top of my regular workload. None of that came with a title change. My manager told me 6% was actually above average for the firm this cycle. Cool, I guess. Maybe Reddit has skewed my expectations, but I”
“MCOL, 2 YOE, industry, no CPA yet bc I just became eligible, 86k base + ~25% bonus. Total comp is around 110k.”
“Agree 110% i am a PERT mentor and it was so discouraging to see mentees take longer to qualify and feel "stuck" because of the darn reports!”
“Ontario! 25, $70K, FP&A Analyst (recently moved from Corporate Accounting), HCOL, 40-45hrs, YoE 2, CPA candidate, bonus $4.5K”
“Apologies. I didn’t follow that he was actually promoted. I still stand by points 1 and 2.”
“Complaining about *only* a 6% increase is really terrible form in this sub. There are a lot of folks here who are getting 0-2%. Sure, let's accept you're underpaid. Two possibilities - 1) you stepped in at a worse economic time, or 2) the other person has some longer term upside than the org sees in you. I can't speak to your actual performance but that's likely how you're being seen.”
“-30 -140k -audit manager public -hcol -50-60. 65-70 in busy -6yrs -CPA -don’t think I can jump for a better offer.. -bonus was pretty shit”
“Senior, 90k, no bonus, midwest city Firm told us they love us and that they’re not paying us bonuses and deferring our raises to November. Guess which firm.”
“$82k MCOL. Sr accountant. I think I’ve hit my ceiling. I’m 40 and never had a leadership role 😬”
“Compensation conversations starting this week- I find mine out Wednesday. Given the PE firm and merger and other similar firms (RSM and BDO) it doesn’t look good in terms of raises/bonuses. Curious if they will surprise us. Hoping for positive thoughts as I do have big expectations! Last year I got 8.3% bonus and 7.1% increase. I was exceeding expectations. S1 -> S2 submitted by /u/Far-Honeydew3356 [link] [comments]”
“I never understood the logic of lower comp just because it's a smaller firm. Your comp is just a factor of what they bill; if they need to pay you more, they just increase your bill rate. If they want you, they shouldn't have an issue paying you what you're worth. Unless it's a return mill that works on volume because their clients won't pay market rates, in which case you don't want that job in the first place.”
“If you are NOT earning £100k (900k DKK) after 5-6 years as auditor at big 4 in DK you are doing bad”
“do the people who disliked not know the concept of salary ranges? of course i want to see the discrepancies across countries, no problem in that.”
“$135k Bachelors degree 26 Just hit 6 YOE - (finished undergrad at 20) 5 years in Big 4, moved to private company (medium size). Licensed by end of this year Financial Reporting Manager Fully remote. Mid Atlantic region.”
“- $94k; bonus depends on how comp does - BS - 43 - 15 yoe - non public / banking (IA) - CPA eligible; no longer interested in cert - Senior Auditor - MCOL - NV / USA”
“- salary: 190k total comp - education level: Masters - age: 31 - years of experience: 8 - public / non public: Big 4 —> industry - CPA status: Yes - title: Manager - cost of living area: VHCOL - state / country: US”
“- Salary: $191K base + $20K bonus - Education: Bachelors in Accounting and an MBA - Age: 34 - Experience: 10.5 years - Industry: Public - High Net Worth tax - CPA: Yes - Title: Senior Tax Manager - Cost of living: High - Location: New York, USA”
“- $95k - Masters - 30 tomorrow!! - 9 years of experience - non public - No CPA yet but starting to study for it next month - Accountant III - mid cost of living - OK, USA”
“$80k Masters 38 14 years exp Non public Senior accountant No CPA MCOL USA Took a demotion to move to another state for my partner's career a few years ago. Then (2022) I was $135k as a business officer but most of the salary was overseeing a team of 18 staff in a slightly higher COL area also USA”
“Midwest MCOL A2 -> SA1 Consulting Exceeding expectations 71k -> 80 No performance one since they removed them for associates but got a lump sum (maybe related to my promotion?) Happy with the 14% pay raise but sucks knowing I make less than a new hire at a big 4. I’d say 7/10 I like my team and the work enough to stay but I do still keep my resume updated and apply for jobs that I find interesting on LinkedIn. I’ve had some job offers I’ve turned down for various reasons (relocation needed”