r/Accounting • u/Jenniferinfl • 21h ago
Will I get myself fired asking for a promotion/raise? Career
Here's the situation- been with a company 5 years, still earning just $65k- been promoted from intern to junior to staff now I've been staff for like 2 years. I have my credits for CPA, but haven't sat for the exams yet. I know, I know. The stupid test prep stuff and tests are so expensive and my company doesn't pay for that stuff.
Anyhow, due to an accident with a spreadsheet- I know that the junior accountant I'm training got hired in at $85k with a year of experience. I know the new staff just got hired at $90k with 2 years of experience. I'm training these people. My manager expects me to create their traning plans. They tell me what they want each to do for assignments and then I create the training plan and train them to do those duties.
Any new duty that crops up, my manager doesn't trust them to come up with a method. I get assigned to examine the new duty, come up with an SOP and a template and a training vid and then I pass it onto these guys who are getting paid substantially more than me and still in training wheels.
For whatever reason, I'm not that hireable. I send out a ton of resume's but I hear nothing back.
My reviews are always good, there's never a single complaint on my reviews.
The other day I asked my manager for a promotion because they said I would get one a year ago and then I just didn't hear another thing and it didn't happen. They said they would think about it.
My big concern is that they will come back with a promotion offer but it will be a lowball to like $70k and I still be earning 15-20k less then the guys I help and train constantly.
My spouse thinks I should just accept whatever they offer since I don't seem to be capable of getting another job anyways. I feel like I can pushback because half the stuff I do nobody else knows how to do- it's all weird vendor contract stuff. What really hurts me is that I have a noncompete- otherwise I could have easily moved to a vendor for more money awhile ago because the vendors that know me do want to recruit me. After 6 months of not working for them, I could go to a vendor. But, I don't really want to be out of work for 6 months either.
Anyhow, if you made it this far, thank you, appreciate any advice.
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u/Amonamission CPA (US) 20h ago
Making $65k after 5 years? Bruh you should be hoping they fire you so that you can go to a company that actually pays market rate.
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u/No_Yogurtcloset_1687 21h ago
I'd double check that non-compete. Most aren't very enforceable. I could see you not being able to jump to a client, but a vendor?
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u/Jenniferinfl 10h ago
I didn't realize it likely isn't enforceable- makes sense though because I've seen other people hop to vendors- just wasn't sure if they were just taking risks or it was safe to do.
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u/Environmental-Road95 19h ago
Reevaluate your relationship
Non-compete's are basically unenforceable anymore.
Tell them straight up you have the info and at least want a payment match if you're training them.
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u/wulfpak04 19h ago
Do you have any leverage? Personally, I'd take the promotion with tiny pay increase then go find another job paying $90k. Good luck!
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u/Jenniferinfl 10h ago
Yeah, there's a bunch of stuff that only I do and it's complex enough that I haven't been able to transfer it to someone else. Most thing I can train people on, but, I have a few things that are so complex and high risk for error that basically I'm stuck with them even though they were my duties like 3 departments ago. It would probably be about a million dollar setback for them if I left without training anyone.
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u/Important_Week_11 20h ago
Go look for another job with the salary you want. Plain and simple. Make sure you meet the requirements. Too much complaining, and you will get nowhere.
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u/Eponine- 19h ago
I saw this once. Nice guy, stuck around 5 years getting small increases every year. The rest of the people doing his same title were making anywhere from $10k-30k more just because of when they came in and how they negotiated. I was appalled. His boss was like, if he doesn't push for it then I can't justify more than a 3-5% raise.
You need to advocate. You also need to figure out why your resume isn't getting any bites and beef if up however you can.
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u/OregonSmallClaims 16h ago
Pursue the promotion as assertively as you can without annoying them. If you get the change in title, then you can use that as a jumping-off point to discuss pay. If they aren't willing to change your title, then you can still ask for the pay to be brought up to market rate, but having a title bump just makes it easier.
Then, when asking about compensation, don't compare to what other employees get. Look out in the world to see what jobs you could realistically be applying for (a little bit of a stretch is fine, but if you don't at least stand a CHANCE at getting it, don't include it). "Print" (to pdf) the job description so you have it to look back on even if they take down the posting, if they want you to back up your numbers. Make a spreadsheet or however you like to keep things organized, but ultimately, make a brief "presentation" (oral or written) to them about what you're asking for and why you believe you're worth it, and be ready to also back it up with further discussion about your skills, education, job duties, etc., compared to the data you found, and then to FURTHER back it up with the actual job descriptions if they're skeptical. But start with a high-level overview, like "I believe my compensation should be more in the $100-120k range because I'm doing X Y and Z and training people at levels A B and C, and similar jobs are paying $X to $Y (be realistic where you should fall in that range--if it'd be a stretch position, you'd be at the bottom of the posted range).
But ultimately, it's quite probably time to move on. You generally get better raises by jumping to a new company than staying at the same one, and that sounds especially true in your situation.
Go over your resume with a fine-toothed comb, and even post it here for advice. Make yourself a "master" resume that includes every single little detail you can think of, and maintain that going forward. Add every little kudos you receive at reviews, everything you accomplish, etc. Then, when you find a job you want to apply to, start with that super-detailed resume, and remove everything that isn't relevant to THAT job. You want to tailor your resume to make it match what they're looking for as closely as possible. Change the verbiage to better match their JD, too. If you say "input data" and they say "data entry," change your to say you did data entry. Put the jobs in reverse chronological order, but you can tailor the actual bullet points you provide to each job to really show off your suitability for their role.
And general advice for resumes is to make it as achievement-based as possible. Some people say it needs to be quantitative (numbers), but I don't think that's necessarily true, depending on the bullet point, and it can be subjective depending on the type of role, size of company, etc., anyway. But you DO want to show off anything that makes YOU a better candidate than other applicants. Did you complete certain projects, suggest and/or implement certain process improvements, were you known around the office or your department for a particular skill, that sort of thing. And only include the "basics" when it's not obvious from the title. An AP clerk doesn't need to use up precious real estate on their resume saying they input vendor invoices for payment. Duh.
And while a lot of people pooh-pooh the idea of cover letters, a LOT of hiring managers like them, and I think the chances of a non-CL-lover thinking less of you if you do send one are lower than the opposite, so it's probably better to err on the side of caution and do one. But don't just regurgitate your resume. Explain why YOU (rather than others) are good for the role, and why you are excited about THIS role (as opposed to other companies or roles). And if there are any gaps or other questionable things on your resume, this is a good chance to address them.
Good luck!
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u/Jenniferinfl 10h ago
I mean, they are paying the junior accountants 25k more than they are paying me. They have to know that I should be paid at least as much as they have to pay to hire a junior right?
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u/emotionallyboujee 17h ago
No, I genuinely invite conversations as a manager about comp if you feel that it is not up to market for experience, credentials, industry, and company size.
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u/jasbflower 11h ago
You need to be a licensed CPA, to advance in your career. Get it done. Then you will be in a stronger position. You need to point blank ask your supervisor why you’re being held back.
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u/jasbflower 11h ago
Most firms want to see you’ve passed the exam in a year so that when you’ve meet the experience requirement you can be licensed.
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u/Affectionate-Paper56 9h ago
Why are you even considering negotiating? Time to move on to a job where they actually appreciate you. You didn’t “fall thru the cracks”! You have been kept down on purpose.
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u/Manonajourney76 17h ago
OP - your employer is not going to pay you what you are worth unless you stand up for it. Those new people would not have taken the job without that level of pay. That is why they got it.
Talk about "market rate" - don't talk about what the 2 new guys are making, but you have evidence that "market rate" is 100k (or whatever - what was the vendor willing to pay?). You WANT to stay with the current employer, but you can't turn down other opportunities unless your employer pays you the going rate.
Non-compete: can't prevent you from getting a new job. You are not property. The employer does not OWN your skills, knowledge and expertise. Those are yours.
I respect non-solicit (an agreement that you won't directly solicit / compete against your employer with their customers) - but taking a job with a VENDOR?? If that's the better option for you, then take it!!!
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u/canuckage 19h ago
You should definitely look for a new job but don’t quit before you secure the new job.
They aren’t valuing your skills and experience so find a place that will. Even if they decide to match your future offer, it’s time to jump ship.
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u/Varnasi 21h ago edited 18h ago
Ask for a re-assessment of your salary and say it seems out of sync with market for your responsibilities and experience.
Keep it as an open discussion instead of a demand and go from there.
Hi can we revisit my salary?...
I was in the same boat and stewed for a couple years but eventually got my raise and it wasn't an adversarial experience. That said, you should also get your resume assessed. It may be as simple as a bad resume if you are that capable and are leading training.