I am currently double majoring in both accounting and management with a focus in HR. There are a few different paths that I have considered to take after graduation but I think I am most interested in working in an accounting firm. The job that I found that I could realistically see myself doing is working as a staff accountant in audit for either a Big 4 accounting firm or a smaller firm. This job includes working on a team to accomplish a variety of tasks for clients and businesses. It requires you to display professional knowledge, technical skills, and the ability to deliver a range of accounting services, especially in the audit and tax departments. On average staff accountants can make anywhere from $65,000 to $98,000 a year with the average salary being $79,000. This pay range is specifically for staff accountants working in Los Angeles, which is where I am from and plan on moving after graduation. Other factors also can affect the amount of pay received especially as a first year out of college like work experience or certifications like the CPA which can increase a person’s salary. Based on my own experience, I have interned for EY in their audit department and have maintained a strong GPA which makes me think I might make slightly above the minimum. I plan on studying for CPA after graduation but since I do not already have that certification I think my starting salary would be somewhere around $65,000. If I was being interviewed for this position I would give them my pay range which would be $65,000 – $70,000. I think that I would qualify to make slightly more than the lower end because although I will be a recent college grad, I do already have accounting and more specifically auditing experience. I think that interning last summer at EY really helped improve my own marketability because I was able to learn how to work and navigate not only the professional work place but also the accounting world. I think by having experience working with different clients and different companies and working on a team with other accountants helped not only improve my own skills but also allowed me to get a better understanding of how to interact professionally. Overall, I think that this job would be a very viable option that would also pay enough to support myself and my lifestyle.
