Graduate trainee offer ACA/ACCA

woodtable780

hi guys

ive been offered a position at a small/medium sized firm and they have offered me a salary of 13500 (in east anglia). obviously london/ larger firms will pay more but is it me or does this seem pretty low, even for a small non-london based company?

that is low, seriously low.

also, quite ambiguous, but what can i expect if i take the offer? a few weeks based in the office then a few weeks at college? how many hours studying are we talking? (ACA) i have done my research but thought i'd try getting a few of your experiences.

thanks :wink:

Think its different for each firm. For example when i start at EY, ill spend the first two months in college (9-4.30 everyday), followed by exams!

Reply 2

Mos Def

econgrad07

that is low, seriously low.

Think its different for each firm. For example when i start at EY, ill spend the first two months in college (9-4.30 everyday), followed by exams!

Do you get paid though while you do this? As you are part of EY now.

Reply 3

woodtable780

OP

thanks. it is low isn't it! i think i should try negotiating perhaps?

Reply 4

econgrad07

that is low, seriously low.

Stop talking ****. You don't have a clue what a good salary is and what isn't in East Anglia.

OP: what firm is it? Larking & Gowen? 13.5k is a pretty good starting salary in east anglia, but I'd seriously be careful about what firm you pick.

Reply 5

The Regend

Try a little negotiation, there's not really much harm in stating how much you think you are worth. But make your case clearly and properly, otherwise they will probably just think you don't care about anything else but the money. Look at the benefits too; try and negotiate on these. Also are you becoming ACA/ACCA qualified with the role? Because once you get that you should be able to either make your case for being paid a lot more or simply move elsewhere.

Reply 6

Why are they worth more than 13.5k? When you first join you are absolutely bloody useless and it takes at least 6 months for you to get to a position where you can start making the firm any money.

Some of you need to wake up to the real world here.

This is a) not in london b) not a big 4 firm c) in a rural area.

13.5k is a good salary to start on, it means that when you're qualified you'll be on over 30k, which, in the regions, particularly rural regions, is good.

Reply 7

The Regend

But there's also no harm in negotiation. I disagree that people are absolutely useless when they first join. New people bring in new ideas to the company. Ok, they might not get used but certainly their input will be valuable. Of course, negotiation must be done within reason. But there's no harm in saying that you think £15k is more what you think you are worth.

Reply 8

What new ideas will they bring? Please, give me an example of a new idea that a graduate, who has no knowledge of the business world, no knowledge of accountancy, no knowledge of computing/it systems, could come up with?

You seem to think somehow that work is something more than it is. Work is a place for work - you are a cost of sales - you are simply producing the goods or providing the service that a firm wants you to. There is little room for creative input. As far as the firm is concerned, you are useless, infact, more than useless, for the first 6 months of your training, because you are not producing any output and infact will be hampering other peoples output.

Reply 9

x.narb.x

Stop talking ****. You don't have a clue what a good salary is and what isn't in East Anglia.

ok sweetheart. xxx

T_Bag

Do you get paid though while you do this? As you are part of EY now.

Yes. Twice as much as in E.Anglia (and ill be working in a regional office!!)

Reply 10

Mos Def

econgrad07

ok sweetheart. xxx

Yes. Twice as much as in E.Anglia (and ill be working in a regional office!!)

wow, 26k fresh out of lecture halls seems pretty comfy!

Reply 11

Regional office as in Watford? Watford will be London rates. And its a big 4. So basically what I said stands.

Reply 12

gideon2000uk

9

I agree with narb. Negotiation is not going to get you anywhere. You should as least be realistic about your options.

Personally. I'd be disappointed with that salary immediately after graduation, especially as the big 4 are still hiring for 2007 (e.g. the Cambridge Office of Deloitte in East Anglia fora few service lines).

Reply 13

x.narb.x

Regional office as in Watford? Watford will be London rates. And its a big 4. So basically what I said stands.

Regional as in Reading love. So what i said as 13.5 being seriously low still stands.

Reply 14

Reading is paid london rates too.

You need to get a clue about the job market. Outside of the big 4 accountancy starting salaries are not good. 13.5k is actually pretty reasonable considering.

Reply 15

x.narb.x

Reading is paid london rates too.

You need to get a clue about the job market. Outside of the big 4 accountancy starting salaries are not good. 13.5k is actually pretty reasonable considering.

Well i dont really considering i got what i wanted :rolleyes:

What you say isnt going to change my mind. 13.5k is seriously low in my opninion especially since i can only compare it with my salary.

Reply 16

Its like talking to a brick wall with you.

You're starting at a big 4 firm in reading which is paid London rates.

The OP is starting at a top 30-50 firm, in a rural area. Can you not see that it doesn't command anything like the same sort of salary?

Even the big 4 in places like leeds only pay 19k to their trainees.

Reply 17

amyitfc

I am starting with a medium sized east anglian (in essex) firm next week, and was expecting around 15, but am actually getting paid 17 1/2, though havnt got very much holiday. i think people put too much emphasis on the actual figure you get paid, i know its important but i'd rather have more holiday and better conditions (im not eligible for any of the companys employee schemes/bonuses/insurance/pensions/discounts etc etc).. so i'd say yes, i think 13 1/2 is a bit low, but it's still better than nothing if thats th eonly offer you have and personally, i'd take the lower wages over having to work at big 4 (calm down big 4 worshippers, it's my personal choice/opinion, i want to work at a smaller firm, i'm sure its very nice and all that). as i say, i was only expecting around 15 from what i knew, and was pleasantly surprised when i found out what wages i'd be getting... so perhaps, depending on where you are in east anglia (its a big place), 13 1/2 might be the going rate. if 15 is the going rate in essex, which is that bit nearer london, out in the sticks in norfolk/suffolk that might be it... sorry..

Reply 18

student20077

u have been conned big time. i earned much more than u in my placement at lehmans. anyway if u get a job in poor towns like east anglia u shud expect that amount as its for lower class people

Reply 19