Questions You Should Ask an Accounting Firm before Accepting the Offer
Vincent Benjamin

If you’ve been in the job market for any length of time, you may be ready to accept the next offer that comes your way. But accepting any offer isn’t as advantageous to your career as making sure you’re accepting the right offer. How do you know it is right for you? If an accounting firm is interested in your credentials, experience, and personality enough to make you an offer, it is imperative that you turn the tables and ask them some pretty important questions before saying yes. Here are some questions you should be asking.

  • How soon do you need an answer? You can’t wait too long or they may offer the job to someone else. But you shouldn’t have to give them an answer on the spot. So find out how much time you can really take to review the offer and decide on your next move. Usually, you can take at least a day or two, but it’s polite to ask how long they will allow.
  • Is the salary negotiable? Salary negotiations are not easy. For that reason many job seekers avoid them all together. But you shouldn’t leave money on the table. Before you interview for a job, decide on your “walk-away” number. This is the lowest salary you can accept for a job. If they offer you less, it is time to look elsewhere. Or, you can ask if the salary is negotiable and potentially take the job for more money.
  • Who should I talk to about benefits? Salary isn’t the only important thing to consider when accepting a position. The company benefits, from medical coverage to vacation policies, will also inform your decision. But the hiring manager may not know much about the benefit packages or what they entail, so you will need to talk to the company representative who has the answers.
  • Is there flex time in the schedule? Today more than ever, flexible time and a strong work/life balance is important to modern employees. You should learn about the policy and decide what you can live with before you accept the job. If you’re okay going in to work every day from morning to evening, then this won’t be a deal breaker. But it is something you should know about before you accept the job as the arrangement will be harder to make later.
  • Can you provide this information in writing? Finally, make sure you get the job offer in writing so you can review it and make an informed decision. This will protect you in the off-chance that something changes in the future. There should be a signed employee offer that you also maintain a copy of for your records. The more documentation you have, the better off you are in the long run.

Are you ready to accept your next accounting opportunity? We have accounting recruiters located in Phoenix, Orange County, Los Angeles and Denver, so call now!

Sign up for the latest