[Anonymous]

I have passed 3 parts of the exam, have never worked in Accounting, and was thinking about trying to get an Associate job at a Big 4. I turned 40 last year. It sounds like they only hire associates in there 20’s? Is it worth trying to start at a big4 firm?

[Anonymous]

@jlough LOL…so true that is what I was thinking.

I am sure hiring groupies who swoon over them like they are Justin Timberlake and will work long hours for low pay is a great model for them! Use em up and spit them out!

There is a lot of manual grunt work to do and eager recent graduates are great for that!

I am not sure I understand the all of the hype for Big 4. I think there is some good opportunities there but there are ones elsewhere too. I am not sure why so many people think their careers live and die because of Big 4 including the original poster.

[Anonymous]

I really appreciate all of the input.

Anyone care to clarify what a “60-70 hour workweek” acutally consists of? 1st, does it apply to auditing and tax jobs, or one more than the other? Are these seasonal requirements, or year round? Is it 7am – 8pm 5 days a week? 8am – 7pm 6 days a week? 12 hours per day X 6 days per week = 72 hours – That truly is an outrageous work schedule. Is any of this time spent working remotely or from home? How common is a 70 hour work week? I ‘ve heard some firms are notoriously worse than others with their work/life balance.

It sounds like there is a good amount of “team building” dinners, socializing etc. Are you including these events in the 70 hour work week? I would think that you would have to, but being out to dinner isn't truly work.

[Anonymous]

I really appreciate all of the input.

Anyone care to clarify what a “60-70 hour workweek” acutally consists of? 1st, does it apply to auditing and tax jobs, or one more than the other? Are these seasonal requirements, or year round? Is it 7am – 8pm 5 days a week? 8am – 7pm 6 days a week? 12 hours per day X 6 days per week = 72 hours – That truly is an outrageous work schedule. Is any of this time spent working remotely or from home? How common is a 70 hour work week? I ‘ve heard some firms are notoriously worse than others with their work/life balance.

It sounds like there is a good amount of “team building” dinners, socializing etc. Are you including these events in the 70 hour work week? I would think that you would have to, but being out to dinner isn't truly work.

[Anonymous]

@chuckpb The 60-70 hour work week is for audit. I was on an audit where we would come in at 9 am and go home at 9 pm if we're lucky. Most nights, we went home between 10pm-12am. On top of that I also did some work on the weekends, which would easily put the work week in between 60-70 hours. Also, you are allowed to come in earlier so that you can leave sooner, but then, it is looked down upon to leave before everyone else, so you end up working more hours. Just be prepared for things like that because it will happen if you plan on going into the Big4. Socializing and networking events were not included in those hours.

[Anonymous]

@chuckpb The 60-70 hour work week is for audit. I was on an audit where we would come in at 9 am and go home at 9 pm if we're lucky. Most nights, we went home between 10pm-12am. On top of that I also did some work on the weekends, which would easily put the work week in between 60-70 hours. Also, you are allowed to come in earlier so that you can leave sooner, but then, it is looked down upon to leave before everyone else, so you end up working more hours. Just be prepared for things like that because it will happen if you plan on going into the Big4. Socializing and networking events were not included in those hours.

[jlough]

We had 55 hour week minimums during busy season. I worked for private clients, so my schedule was usually about 60-65 hours per week from Jan through Mar, and then maybe 50-55 the rest of the year. But it entirely depends on what city you are in, what industry you are in, if you do tax vs audit vs advisory, what manager you have, what client you are on, etc.

If you are going to B4, expect and prepare for the worst. You may be on a public client where you work 24 hours straight to get a report out, you may be on a client that needs an inventory done on New Years Eve in Iowa, or you may have a manager who makes his staff stay around until 9 pm every night in the middle of July. You really just never know what you'll get handed.

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[jlough]

We had 55 hour week minimums during busy season. I worked for private clients, so my schedule was usually about 60-65 hours per week from Jan through Mar, and then maybe 50-55 the rest of the year. But it entirely depends on what city you are in, what industry you are in, if you do tax vs audit vs advisory, what manager you have, what client you are on, etc.

If you are going to B4, expect and prepare for the worst. You may be on a public client where you work 24 hours straight to get a report out, you may be on a client that needs an inventory done on New Years Eve in Iowa, or you may have a manager who makes his staff stay around until 9 pm every night in the middle of July. You really just never know what you'll get handed.

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[Anonymous]

If I could suggest anything I would say look into Big four advisory. The hours are 6 months 40 hours and 6 months 50 hours a week. Depending on the client you can work from home quite frequently. Audit/Tax your going to be looking at 70+ hours a week during busy season. I'm in Audit and I can say I am constantly busy it never stops especially once you hit the senior level.

Believe it or not advisory gets paid higher then audit/tax.

Good luck !

[Anonymous]

If I could suggest anything I would say look into Big four advisory. The hours are 6 months 40 hours and 6 months 50 hours a week. Depending on the client you can work from home quite frequently. Audit/Tax your going to be looking at 70+ hours a week during busy season. I'm in Audit and I can say I am constantly busy it never stops especially once you hit the senior level.

Believe it or not advisory gets paid higher then audit/tax.

Good luck !

[Anonymous]

I would suggest to also look at mid-size and private industries to keep your options open. I have a few friends that are in mid-size firms, and their schedules sounds like paradise to me. Private industries has way better hours (almost consistent 40 hour work week), you will just need to look for a private company that employs a CPA to give you hours. Sometimes I think about if it is worth it to put in so much hours at work and to give up time for your loved ones. You only live once (YOLO), might as well do what makes you the most happiest :).

[Anonymous]

I would suggest to also look at mid-size and private industries to keep your options open. I have a few friends that are in mid-size firms, and their schedules sounds like paradise to me. Private industries has way better hours (almost consistent 40 hour work week), you will just need to look for a private company that employs a CPA to give you hours. Sometimes I think about if it is worth it to put in so much hours at work and to give up time for your loved ones. You only live once (YOLO), might as well do what makes you the most happiest :).

[dpad124]

@deano

That is a broad statement that I don't necessarily agree with. There are service line in advisory that work as much or more then audit or tax.

BEC Oct2014 - 85
AUD Jan2015 - ??
REG Feb2015 - ??
FAR May2015 - ??

[dpad124]

@deano

That is a broad statement that I don't necessarily agree with. There are service line in advisory that work as much or more then audit or tax.

BEC Oct2014 - 85
AUD Jan2015 - ??
REG Feb2015 - ??
FAR May2015 - ??

[Anonymous]

I was always told that tax had the best schedule and they only worked crazy amounts during tax season, which isn't bad considering that's what 3 months out of a year.

But no I would suggest not even bothering OP why would you want to subject yourself to work at one of these hellholes at your age. I did everything I could to not work at Big 4 when I heard about what goes on there.

[Anonymous]

I was always told that tax had the best schedule and they only worked crazy amounts during tax season, which isn't bad considering that's what 3 months out of a year.

But no I would suggest not even bothering OP why would you want to subject yourself to work at one of these hellholes at your age. I did everything I could to not work at Big 4 when I heard about what goes on there.

[Author]

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