Earn the certified professional accountant (CPA) salary you want. Learn the ins and outs of negotiating salary with confidence. When you know how to prove you deserve fair compensation, you can put yourself in a great position to get a salary that matches or exceeds your expectations.
As you search for your dream job as a CPA, use these tips for negotiating a salary with confidence.
Know How Much You’re Worth Relative to Other CPAs
Resist the urge to sell yourself short and accept the first CPA job offer that comes your way. Account for your value relative to the job you want to land. Utilise salary benchmarking tools to analyse the compensation provided to accounting professionals in roles that you’re pursuing. Once you know how much you’re worth, you can enter a salary negotiation confident that what you’re requesting for compensation lines up with what your industry peers typically earn.
Prepare for Your Negotiation
Have a friend or family help you get ready for a salary negotiation. Consider what you’ll say if an employer disputes your request for your desired salary. Conduct research to find an accounting and finance salary guide and other tools that illustrate that what you are requesting in compensation is fair. If warranted, be ready to present data to back up your claims that you should receive the salary that you are requesting.
Take Your Time to Make Your Decision
Give yourself ample time to weigh the pros and cons of a salary offer. Note if an employer puts pressure on you to decide right away. This may be a red flag that indicates what it will be like if you accept a role with this employer.
If you have questions about an offer, share them with the employer. Ideally, the employer will provide you with as much time as you need to decide on an offer and respond to your questions promptly. If it doesn’t, you may want to consider looking elsewhere for a job that provides you with the compensation you want.
Evaluate the Total Package That an Employer Offers
Keep in mind that negotiating a CPA salary with confidence requires you to look beyond the financial compensation you receive. For instance, an employer could offer remote work opportunities or other perks that other organisations may not offer. If these are important to you, it may be best to consider their salary offer carefully, even if it is less than what you originally wanted to earn.
Get Help with Negotiating an Accounting Salary with Confidence
The Elby Professional Recruitment team understands the challenges that come with negotiating a salary with confidence. Our team members learn about you and your CPA salary requirements. We can connect you with employers that offer compensation that corresponds with these requirements. On top of that, we can help you land a job that turns into a rewarding career. And if you have concerns at any time as you pursue a job, we can address them immediately.
Our team is available to assist you with negotiating a salary with confidence and other aspects of your job search. Browse our job board today to find your next opportunity.
