Is 30K salary for accounting manager position too low?

[CowBoE 429]

Yes, $30K for Accounting Manager job lower than low.

Many simple admins will make that or more, especially in the Boston area.

BUT...

1) This is non-profit organization which doesn't pay much to anyone except for few top dogs.

2) You have no US experience and specific knowledge about US accounting, tax, and other regulations.

3) Sounds like you have no CPA

4) Education outside of US in most instances are looked down

HOWEVER...

5) This is not like immigrating to another country which is hard to do, instead you can freely change jobs at your desire

6) Its a clear choice to pick between making $30K vs. nothing

7) Gaining US experience is huge as it sets you up for better future jobs in US

MOREOVER...

8) If you are serious about your accounting career, then you should consider

getting CPA and/or master degree

9) Get supplement income from side jobs for small companies and individuals.

I know few accountants that do this and make another 25% to 50% income.

LASTLY...

10) In America, (almost) everything is possible, if you have excellent skills

and are motivated. Just be little bit patient in letting others discover you

and accept what you can get as just initial stepping stone.

[Avery Cates 1,141]

Hi all VJ,

I am a new immigrant from Thailand who just moved to USA for around 6 months in Boston. I got an EAD last month and started to find a job. I just got an offer today after my 3rd interview for the position of accounting & finance manager at a non-profit organization.

When I read the e-mail they offer 30K annually with 20 holidays. It's a bit surprise for me as I saw the average salary for an accountant is around 50-60K from salary.com. I had working experience of 10 years before moving here.

I would like to ask for VJ opinion here....should I accept this offer? Crossing my mind as I heard that it is very difficult to find a job in the US especially if we don't have any US work experience.

Thank you for all advice

If it's $30,000 more than you're making right now and will get you US work experience, then yes, you should probably take it.

[Pat80 12]

I'm an auditor although on the IT side, so I am really close to many accountants. That salary is low. HOWEVER, there is a phrase, "it is easier to find a job when you have a job". Although, $30K is less than you want or possibly deserve it is $30K more than you are making now.

@Harper My BS is in Electrical Engineering and my Master's is in Business, I make much more as an accountant than I did as an Engineer. As a matter of fact if one was to go to work for one of the large accounting firms(PwC, Deloitte, etc) right out of college they would hit 6 figures within 5 years. I think you are thinking about a bookkeeper which is way different and usually only requires a trade school.

Just my 2 cents.

Yes, I agree with you. "It's easier to find a job when you have a job" at least i gonna have some US experience !!

$30k seems pretty low for an accountant - especially in a major city. Nonprofits will generally pay lower than companies - but should generally be expected to have better benefits. 20 days vacation is pretty good in the U.S. - assuming you also get sick leave. Not sure how good your other benefits are.

You could try to negotiate, or you could work there for 6+ months and then start looking elsewhere.

Already negotiated but it doesn't work...I think I gonna work there for a while.

Harpa, to be a registered accountant in the US now takes 5 years of schooling and two years of work experience! Same school time as an engineer!

OP - the salary is low - especially since you are the accountant AND the finance manager - but working for a non-profit as an accountant, as well as working in fund-accounting instead of cost-accounting, is not going to get you as much pay as working in a corporate or Big-4 environment.

If you do not have your US CPA license, get that as soon as you can. Take the job and try to keep your ear to the ground about moving on in two years or so.

If you had 10 years of accounting at a Big-4 firm, you'd be a senior manager by now, and about 2-3 years away from partnership.

Sukie, former partner at a Big-4 accounting firm

I had been with Big4 in my home country for several years before moving here but it's in advisory filed, not auditing. I think it might be hard for non-native english speaker to find a job in US. At least they give me an opportunity to prove myself.

[Pat80 12]

Yes, $30K for Accounting Manager job lower than low.

Many simple admins will make that or more, especially in the Boston area.

BUT...

1) This is non-profit organization which doesn't pay much to anyone except for few top dogs.

2) You have no US experience and specific knowledge about US accounting, tax, and other regulations.

3) Sounds like you have no CPA

4) Education outside of US in most instances are looked down

HOWEVER...

5) This is not like immigrating to another country which is hard to do, instead you can freely change jobs at your desire

6) Its a clear choice to pick between making $30K vs. nothing

7) Gaining US experience is huge as it sets you up for better future jobs in US

MOREOVER...

8) If you are serious about your accounting career, then you should consider

getting CPA and/or master degree

9) Get supplement income from side jobs for small companies and individuals.

I know few accountants that do this and make another 25% to 50% income.

LASTLY...

10) In America, (almost) everything is possible, if you have excellent skills

and are motivated. Just be little bit patient in letting others discover you

and accept what you can get as just initial stepping stone.

Thanks a lot for your advice. I gonna take it as my first step here.

If it's $30,000 more than you're making right now and will get you US work experience, then yes, you should probably take it.

Thank you.....I agreed with your idea.

[subwayguy 100]

Are you serious ? Accounting majors at my school (BA degree ) makes 55k fresh out of school. CPA makes a hell of a lot more.

And no, I am not a Ivy League. I graduated from one of those humble public schools . Keep on looking. Id be stupid to take a 30k job as an account. N

[Pat80 12]

Are you serious ? Accounting majors at my school (BA degree ) makes 55k fresh out of school. CPA makes a hell of a lot more.

And no, I am not a Ivy League. I graduated from one of those humble public schools . Keep on looking. Id be stupid to take a 30k job as an account. N

Yes I know it's quite low....even lower than what I got in my home country. But still have no better choice at this moment. I'll keep on looking some more better opportunities for sure.

[JIJourney 96]

Yes I know it's quite low....even lower than what I got in my home country. But still have no better choice at this moment. I'll keep on looking some more better opportunities for sure.

If I saw 30k, i would take in heartbeat!

[VOL 425]

Accounting Manager in my area can be interchanged for a sales position, Not related to the accounting field.

[Umka36 781]

VOL is the position an Account Manager (sales), because Accounting Managers are different from where I'm at.

[Josie! 3]

I agree with the above.. I'm in Albany, N.Y, The Boston market pays much higher usually due to the cost of living.. that said, as others have stated, non profits generally pay below scale. If you need the income, I'd take the job while continuing to apply to other places. I would say for an account manager in Boston, fortune 500 company, I'd be looking at a ballpark of 40k with minimal experience. Check glassdoor.com for the salary ranges and companies hiring account managers in your area also.