[Joe36y]

I recently got an offer to become a Tax Associate with the Big 4 working specifically on financial instruments. I really like audit, but don’t mind tax. However, at this time all the audit position are full and I wanted to gain experience with the Big 4 as they are the best places to start a career.

I have a few questions:

1) Will I have the same opportunities down the road as a Tax associate. I have always dreamed of becoming a CFO someday.

2) If I work a year in tax can I switch to Audit easily? I don’t want to be in Tax my whole life.

Can anyone please shed some light on this situation. I received my written offer on Friday and debating what to do.

BEC: 82
FAR: 79
AUD: 85
REG: July 10th

[Anonymous]

I work as an auditor at a Big 4 and I've been asked if I'd like to do a rotation in tax and I know a few people who transferred to tax after a year or so. I don't know any auditors who have came from tax though. I think it's definitely possible to transfer to audit from tax. Just let your counselor know early on that you're interested in doing that, so they can help you out. Not sure if it's the same for tax, but there's high turnover in the audit department, so I would think they're always looking for people.

[Joe36y]

Do you think I am going to make a lot of enemies doing this? I like tax and am going to give it a try, but I think in the end I will end up wanting to do audit because I think there are more career opportunities. I just don't want to be stuck to where i can't move into it

BEC: 82
FAR: 79
AUD: 85
REG: July 10th

[Anonymous]

Probably no enemies as long as you're not switching to another Big 4 competitor firm. Haha 🙂 My experience is that they're really willing to work with you. In the end, it's your career. Just communicate your goals with them early on and they'll help you get there. So be proactive about it. If you sit around and wait for them to ask if you want to do a rotation or whatever, it's probably not going to happen and you'll just be unhappy and quit.

[I just love this]

I've heard from several that it is much easier to go from Audit to Tax, than Tax to Audit. After Big 4,once you're “the tax guy,” you'll always be the tax guy.

REG- Waiting 7/1/13
BEC- Waiting 7/23/13
AUD- Studying 8/12/13
FAR- Signed up 10/1/13
Studying with CPAExcel and Wiley Test Bank.

[Anonymous]

I am literally in your situation. 8 Months into Big 4 tax, spoke to HR about transferring to audit and finding it nearly impossible. I would speak up fast and be willing to make any jump necessary to get that audit experience.

[Author]

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