[Anonymous]

Hey guys, long-time lurker, first-time poster…I am in a fairly difficult situation, albeit a positive one. I am currently working for a federal agency as a financial analyst doing audits of government-assisted projects, properties, etc. At the same time, I have a chance to join the Big4 as an entry level auditor. I have gone over the pros and cons list (Jim Halpert style if you’re with me on that one) multiple times and come up with this:

Gov’t Pros:

great work-life balance (steady 40 hrs)

working for a federal agency is meaningful (maybe cheesy, but still)

solid benefits

opportunity, maybe, to move up as I am young and people will be retiring in the next 5 yrs

Cons:

bureaucratic, slow, often unmotivated work force

limiting my career too early on?

not sure I see myself at this particular agency for an extended period of time

Big4 pros:

resume builder

good experience

opportunity to work with other young people

Big4 cons:

work-life balance

hating it and not wanting to stick around

kind of a crapshoot when it comes to what clients you get, colleagues you work with, etc.

If anyone could provide some insight, especially if you have worked in both, that would be amazing. I think I am struggling with it mostly due to what I see as just an extreme difference between the two options. I have of course asked numerous people and have gotten the range of responses from, “how could you possibly pass up big4?” to “once you leave the government, good luck getting back in” and “stay the hell away from big4 at all costs.” I am young and just finished up a master’s degree straight away after a bachelor’s and am halfway through the CPA and that really won’t affect either path. Soooo, yeah, sorry for the extended post and thanks in advance for any kind of assistance.

[mikeyT17]

I mean not for nothing my buddy is a manager for McGladrey in Chicago.. he's been there for 7 years he's a manager making what a grade 13 makes… in CT that is about 92K… the raises come much quicker in the gov't but then of course there is the ceiling that you don't have in public or private

REG - 75
BEC - 82
AUD - 90
FAR - 78

[Anonymous]

Right right, the ceiling holds you back but I think I'd be quite comfortable making a GS13 for my career with such a steady schedule. Obviously that is just one view point but seems like it beats public in that sense unless you just love it, which doesn't seem to be too prevalent…

[mikeyT17]

chi… just to make it clear i'm not at all trying to discourage you from making the move to public or private… just don't do anything hasty… i think if you pass all 4 parts of the exam it's worth taking the risk to get out of the cozy gov't life and see what kind of damage you can do out there… but for now i would just try to be patient

REG - 75
BEC - 82
AUD - 90
FAR - 78

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I gotcha. I had similar thoughts about that and would really, really like to get this exam out of the way ASAP and it would be much more attainable right now, rather than once entering public, which is the other opportunity at present.

[mla1169]

If you're happy where you are I wouldn't make a change just to see what else is out there. It may be the best thing you've ever done or it may make you miserable. Why risk it? Life will throw you enough curve balls, you don't need to create your own.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Hitemup27]

I'm highly interested in working at the IRS. I've noticed in the recent months the vacancies are no longer listed, so my assumption they have a hiring season? Or the jobs are posted on an as needed basis…

Do you guys have any details on the CI (Criminal Investigation) division? Can you be a straight hire or do you have to work within the agency for a while before you get a chance to participate?

A - 93 - 10/25/2011
R - 92 - 1/17/2012
B - 91 - 5/31/2012
F - 93 - 10/1/2012
E - 90 - 11/17/2012

Processing...

[Anonymous]

If you don't want your government job, I'll be more than happy to take it 🙂

[Anonymous]

Without looking all the replies, I can give you the honest personal opinion. I received offers from both big4 and gov't as an auditor, I went with auditor bcz I can't find a single reason to join big4 over gov't while i can find many reasons to work for gov't (4days/40hrs a week, much better benefits, higher pay hrly, more flexibility, more respect from ur client, etc…). Now, the person who referred me at big 4 wanna transfer to gov't side.

good luck on ur choice.

[jelly]

Yep, echoing and agreeing with many of the posters who say finish up your other exams first, then figure out if you want to move. You have money coming in, and a predictable work schedule going on. You really don't want to risk losing a passed part b/c a spike in work obligations (and being tired from it) eats up valuable studying time.

Couldn't pass again!

[Anonymous]

@bobkorz – haha if only it was that easy…I'm not exactly trying to give it away though, anyway.

@CPAMotivation2012Man – yea, that all sounds good. Glad it worked out for you, and I guess I don't exactly want to find myself in that other person's shoes.

@jelly – Right, it is a good current situation and a pretty safe one at that so in no way I am trying to make things more complicated…but I guess at this point it really seems like it is actually harder to get into the government than it is the big4. That is based mostly on my experience and research though I do understand it is not simple to get a public accounting job, just more accesible.

[Anonymous]

@bobkorz – haha if only it was that easy…I'm not exactly trying to give it away though, anyway.

@CPAMotivation2012Man – yea, that all sounds good. Glad it worked out for you, and I guess I don't exactly want to find myself in that other person's shoes.

@jelly – Right, it is a good current situation and a pretty safe one at that so in no way I am trying to make things more complicated…but I guess at this point it really seems like it is actually harder to get into the government than it is the big4. That is based mostly on my experience and research though I do understand it is not simple to get a public accounting job, just more accesible.

[msgolds]

If you're looking into Audit work, you might want to consider the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA). We always seem to be hiring nowadays. In the last couple of years, A LOT of former IRS Auditors have moved our way. Opportunities at the IRS have been drying up.

BEC - 90 PASSED
FAR - 84 PASSED
AUD - 93 PASSED
REG - 84 PASSED

I DID IT!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study

"If we were put here to carry a great weight, then the very things we hate are here to build those muscles."

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I've seen numerous postings on USAjobs for the DCAA. I actually had a phone interview about a year ago when I was going for my position I have now but eventually withdrew from that. It did seem like a good position as well though. USAjobs is down right now but I know for sure there is a current DCAA posting that I think ends 10/31.

[msgolds]

I know that most people posting on here aren't students anymore, but the best way to get a job in the federal government now is through the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP). If you put in enough hours as a college intern, you can get your status changed to full-time. You get to bypass a lot of the bureaucracy that you need to go through when applying full-time.

Something to keep in mind if you're a student considering federal employment 🙂

BEC - 90 PASSED
FAR - 84 PASSED
AUD - 93 PASSED
REG - 84 PASSED

I DID IT!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study

"If we were put here to carry a great weight, then the very things we hate are here to build those muscles."

[Anonymous]

SCEP is actually the program that I got in through last year. That is gone now replaced with the Pathways Internship Program but yeah it is the same idea, just a transfer into the Pathways terms.

[Author]

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