job offer - what to do?

[goodlyfe]

Hi All

I received a job offer and I am unsure whether to accept it or not:

Details:

1. It is for $6000 more than my current salary (so about $250 more per paycheck semi-monthy).

2. Senior Tax Accountant (which is what I currently am, so its lateral move, but they have more opportunities to move up to manager than my current job).

3. My commute will be longer (about 10 minutes) currently it takes me about 40 minutes to get in to work. And it will require about $100 more a month in tolls.

4. The people are really nice. There are 4 Managers, 3 seniors, 2 staff, 2 part-time staff, and 2 contract.

5. My current firm has myself, another tax accountant, a tax manager, an accountant/bookkeeper, an office manager/hr and the partner. The partner is down right nasty at times and can be quite hard to approach with questions. I have been here for about 6 years.

6. Currently, I work on a variety returns, individuals, corps, partnerships, etc. And, I love the variety, but the place that I received the offer from has mostly complex trust returns (60% of the returns they do) and a lot of state returns (I absolutely hate preparing both trust and states).

So, I am torn what do I do? Take the better work environment with the not-so type of work that I like. Or stay in the not-so nice environment, but doing the type of returns that I love.

SIDE NOTE: we are planning to start trying to conceive (like around mid August), but firms have maternity leave, all benefits are the same with both firms as well. Also, I don't see myself staying in public accounting forever. Especially after kids, I would love to eventually work for a private company instead of with a firm (for more work-life balance.

[Slug]

Why apply for a job doing work you "absolutely hate"?

What % increase is $5,200 (I took out the toll costs)? A 1% bump in salary is not much. A 10% bump has meaning.

Does your current firm have a track record of making counter-offers when someone decides to leave?

Is there a cultural difference in the firms (e.g. would one be more likely to support you attending all pre-natal and healthy baby check-ups)?

[tripods68]

+ $6K more MONEY
+ Good people to work with
+ Promotion outlook is FAR better
+ More challenging work


- 10 minutes in commuting (this is nothing)
- Work you may not like

= Take it!!!

[wrk4lvg]

If you applied, it must mean you were looking for them to offer.

I see this as mission accomplished.

[goodlyfe]

Originally Posted by Slug

Why apply for a job doing work you "absolutely hate"?

What % increase is $5,200 (I took out the toll costs)? A 1% bump in salary is not much. A 10% bump has meaning.

Does your current firm have a track record of making counter-offers when someone decides to leave?

Is there a cultural difference in the firms (e.g. would one be more likely to support you attending all pre-natal and healthy baby check-ups)?

I didn't know until the interview that this firm was more specialized in trusts as opposed to other returns.
The bump in salary is about 8%
The current firm will def support the pre-natal and healthy baby check-ups. Not sure about the new firm.

[Slug]

8% is a good bump. I'd probably take it. Try to position yourself in the new firm as the "go-to" person for the types of returns you do like to do.

[elessar78]

since others have handled the financials...

My wife received an offer while she was pregnant and the deciding factor was the amount of time off she had accumulated with her current job. It might not be a consideration for you though.

Also, I would take the new job. A change in scenery would be good. Work is work, you'll adjust to it soon enough. And it's not like there isn't a horizon in sight, you're planning to take time off for maternity leave in the foreseeable future.

[MonkeyMama]

Being a tax accountant myself...

My advice would be to take it.

#1 - I don't think anything is hardly more important at a job than a good boss and/or a good tone at the top. Thus, if it were me, it would be high priority to ditch your current job.

#2 - How do you know you would hate the work? Sounds like a good learning opportunity.

I think it is a good opportunity and I would give it some time. If you do truly hate the work after giving it a try, just think of it as a temporary spot until you find a better fit.

All that said, it was an interview and everyone puts on their best face. I can only hope the new office is as nice as they seemed. Only one way to find out, I suppose.

[marvholly]

I think there are some other things to consider:

401K/pension - how long until vested and what is the match
medical insurance - what is the cost of a comparable policy at new place
other insurance you now have (dental, vision, disability, life) and cost for comparable at new
vacation/personal/sick days - how many now and how many w/new firm
work environment - are people at new place to your liking

[feh]

Assuming you don't need the increase in salary, I'd stay put. Enjoying what you do at work is paramount, IMO.

[AccountantSalary]

There's a book out there called "Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow," which I recommend you doing. Eventually, you may find a job that has all the perks of the offer your considering, plus the work you enjoy.

[auron]

[quote=goodlyfe;282418]Hi All


1. It is for $6000 more than my current salary (so about $250 more per paycheck semi-monthy).

3. My commute will be longer (about 10 minutes) currently it takes me about 40 minutes to get in to work. And it will require about $100 more a month in tolls.

QUOTE]

Just want to make sure I'm reading this correctly...but you are saying you are really only net'ing $4800 and losing ~20min per day. Is the increase in pay worth it if you have to more time commuting while you are trying to start having kids (not to mention once they arrive)?

[MonkeyMama]

Originally Posted by feh

Assuming you don't need the increase in salary, I'd stay put. Enjoying what you do at work is paramount, IMO.

I agree 90%, but it's impossible to enjoy what you do when your boss is an @$$. I'd qualify that with "enjoy your work, AND work with good people." That is everything!

I suppose we will never know if OP Took the job or how it all worked out.

[BudgetSurgeon]

Originally Posted by goodlyfe

Hi All

I received a job offer and I am unsure whether to accept it or not:

Details:

1. It is for $6000 more than my current salary (so about $250 more per paycheck semi-monthy).

2. Senior Tax Accountant (which is what I currently am, so its lateral move, but they have more opportunities to move up to manager than my current job).

3. My commute will be longer (about 10 minutes) currently it takes me about 40 minutes to get in to work. And it will require about $100 more a month in tolls.

4. The people are really nice. There are 4 Managers, 3 seniors, 2 staff, 2 part-time staff, and 2 contract.

5. My current firm has myself, another tax accountant, a tax manager, an accountant/bookkeeper, an office manager/hr and the partner. The partner is down right nasty at times and can be quite hard to approach with questions. I have been here for about 6 years.

6. Currently, I work on a variety returns, individuals, corps, partnerships, etc. And, I love the variety, but the place that I received the offer from has mostly complex trust returns (60% of the returns they do) and a lot of state returns (I absolutely hate preparing both trust and states).

So, I am torn what do I do? Take the better work environment with the not-so type of work that I like. Or stay in the not-so nice environment, but doing the type of returns that I love.

SIDE NOTE: we are planning to start trying to conceive (like around mid August), but firms have maternity leave, all benefits are the same with both firms as well. Also, I don't see myself staying in public accounting forever. Especially after kids, I would love to eventually work for a private company instead of with a firm (for more work-life balance.

Good luck with the conceiving !! Not sure if you are still seeking advice on this, but I would strongly recommend choosing the environment where the co-workers are easiest to get along with. This will ultimately have a major effect on your overall mood, and mental health state, and will certainly override any money or commutation issues. If you are working in an environment where you cannot stand people you work with, this will ultimately weigh on you emotionally. The job tasks will become irrelevant in that sort of work environment.

Sincerely,

BudgetSurgeon