[Anonymous]

I have been working in internal audit for a large private company for a few years now. I am nearly complete with my exams and am considering my long-term goals. I would like to someday be a controller or CFO for a hospital or local college. Is it imperative that I leave my job for BIG4? I doubt I could even get a position with a company. Any advice?

[MSG10]

As someone who has never worked for nor has an intentions of working for a public accounting firm, IMO you do NOT need to work for a Big4 to go up in the corporate ladder. There are companies who have CFO's who don't have a background in accounting or finance but rather business management. The last company I worked for hired a CFO who was not a CPA or a CFA, but had a MBA with a ton of industry experience.

So with that in mind, does it help working for a Big4? Yes it does, but is it the end all be all of all chances of you becoming a Controller or a CFO? No. You might want to move over to the part of the accounting department that works with the general ledger/Journal Entries rather than auditing it. .

[Veronica75]

I agree. Get out of internal audit and get into the nitty gritty of financial statement prep in an accounting department. I'm in internal audit after being in the accounting dept for 3-4 years. I feel the internal audit side has been good exposure, but unfortunately, there is more to learn about politics at my company rather than accounting.

FAR - 79 (2x)
AUD - 81 (expired), 77!
REG - 74! omg (3x) 87!!!!!!! I'm done! OMG!
BEC - 81 (4x)

[mla1169]

I am sure working for a big4 gives a competitive advantage but isn't a be-all end-all requirement. But you do have to have experience so look for positions that gain management experience and have room for advancement. I just landed an accounting manager position and plan to use it as a stepping stone toward a controller position.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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