how realistic is it to go from national firm to Big 4

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #1580150
    startupcfo
    Participant

    My friend is an audit senior (about to be audit manager) at a top 15 nationwide firm. Think BDO, McGladrey, Grant Thornton etc. She has no experience working on publicly traded companies.

    If she wants to step up to the Big 4, how would this work?

    1. Would she even get a job offer?
    2. If she does, would they make her go from Manager back down to senior given the wide difference in client size and complexity? Her engagements are like 3 weeks right now (17 clients a year). I’ve heard of some people in Big 4 having only 1 to 3 clients a year to put things in perspective.

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Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #1580164
    abanhiqbal
    Participant

    Yes she could stay manager. It depends on her audit specialization. If they have clients in her field and they are hiring a manager they will hire her if she seems competent.

    #1580222
    Want2BeCPAsoBad
    Participant

    it is realistic because they are always hiring due to high turnover. But why would she do that to herself? It only makes sense to go Big 4 then move up or switch to obtain better life/balance but but it'd probably be better for her to look at other national or boutique firm where she can be more valuable and appreciated

    #1580248
    OG_Loc
    Participant

    Big 4 is absolutely atrocious. Don't buy into the hype, and I mean this with all my heart.

    60 hours minimum during busy season with no OT is not normal lol, don't drink the kool aid. I did public accounting, got all good reviews, but saw them scamming me so I quit.

    #1581746
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    To offset @og_loc comment about Big 4; it depends on who you are as a person. Truth is that it all comes down to the things that you want. If you want a crazy corporate life that can be very rewarding as you move up, then you should go Big 4. If you want a more normal job with normal hours, you should not go Big 4 but there are many firms and private companies that can provide you with everything you need in your life. I myself am in Big 4 because I want to be a CEO/CFO of large company or possibly partner someday and those are my goals. I work crazy hours because I know the reward at the end of the tunnel.

    #1582526
    Pete
    Participant

    60 HOURS PER WEEK DURING TAX SEASON IS NOT BAD. If that truly was bad, then my small person firm (under 10 people), must have really screwed me over. At my old firm, we would easily blow the 80 hour mark during most of tax season; on the final 2-4 weeks of tax season, the hours would climb as high as 110 hours/week.

    Imagine working more hours than the big 4 with half the benefits (almost non-existent) and salary. Boutique firms aren't all they're cracked up to be honestly. Then, to leave, you're at a severe disadvantage to those, who worked at a national firm.

    I've interned at a national firm (top 20) and it was much better work/life than the boutique firm, while paying much more money and having benefits. The work was also more interesting.

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    #1582606
    Want2BeCPAsoBad
    Participant

    Big 4 is more like 80-100 hrs. I usually end up between 70-80 during the last two weeks of each busy season, 60-70 early in busy season, and 40 during the regular months at a boutique firm with higher benefits and salary + over time at 1.5x + bonuses. So yeah, if you were working those hours at your previous firm. Then yup they were screwing you over. You could have just worked for a big 4.

    #1582723
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Make manager and jump to an industry position. Typically make better money and get your life back. The movement up the ladder can slow down compared to public, but making that move after you've made manager from a national firm to a Big 4 seems crazy to me. If the hours don't bother you and you don't care then go for Big 4, but I'd rather find a position at a publicly traded company if you want the experience.

    #1586410
    Stephanie
    Participant

    I worked for a boutique firm (10 people) from Jan this year, it was around 60 hours in tax season, meanwhile we also do annual audit, incorporation and transfer pricing. But the benefit and pay are much less than Big 4, so I was thinking about to go Big 4 after getting CPA license (1 year in CA). To me, going to Big 4 means better benefit, large clients and better learning opportunities.

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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