[mikiluv]

For those who completed their 1st year at a Big 4…What are the most important work lessons you have learned? (i asked in an earlier post about necessary excel skills-awesome feedback, going to start checking out those websites!)

Also, since i am going in without audit experience….how heavily is “accounting” utilized?! Is it going to make or break me if my accounting knowledge is not strong and i do not know those J/E back and front?! Should i study up?

Don’t really know what to expect + I’m unsure if i will be able to even complete a year, nonetheless! All ive been told is that public accounting work is nothing like what you learn in school…..err? is 1st year stuff seriously no brainer and that anyone without an accounting background can do it?

as always, thanks everyone for your input-always grateful! =P

[Anonymous]

Yea as someone who is starting their first year at Big 4 (Risk Advisory) in 5 days, I second the questions mentioned above!!

[Anonymous]

Ticking and flicking. Figure out what that means and you'll be fine. Also, re-ticking and re-flicking after you receive reviewer comments.

The work starts getting more interesting after after a year or two.

[Anonymous]

I think the biggest thing seniors and managers get frustrated with new staff over, are the same questions being repeated over and over. Always bring paper and a pen, and write down what they tell you. Don't ask questions unless you've done everything you can to figure out the answer on your own.

I was surprised at how little “accounting” is used, especially at a staff level. The only times I really had to use true accounting was for PAJEs.

I think the biggest lesson I learned was that there's always at least one miserable person in the office, that has made work their entire life, and they're TERRIBLE to work with. You have to learn to deal with them and realize that it's not personal but they're just a miserable person.

[Amay]

You don't need to study up as accounting will not be used that much as first year; however, if you get an A-hole of a senior like I did on a job, you may be “quizzed” on accounting treatments and be asked to research it if you can't come up with the answer on the spot. It's rare you will be faced with this form of public humiliation, but in case you are, don't stress it, and you can always say you don't recall what the exact answer is, but will look it up and get back to them.

First year is doable as long as you stay positive, try not to complain, and always ask what else you can help with. Try to be proactive and anticipate your senior's needs without being too pushy/annoying.

BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀

*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂

[nigercpa]

@Cpaonedayhopefully, how did you get the risk advisory entry position, its not the traditional audit and tax entry level positions. Is it the same procedure for entry level for tax and audit? And does it really require a degree in accounting?

Far - Passed 83
Aud - Passed 84
Bec - Passed 77
Reg- Passed 77

[vanadium3]

make sure you ask for enough boxes of tick marks!

CPA

[Anonymous]

@nigercpa It was the exact same process that my fellow audit and tax buddies went through. All of the big 4 had risk advisory (pwc calls it risk assurance) positions posted on my busines school's job board. No case interview or anything, and you actually don't need to be an accounting major although a slim majority of my intern class was. Others were finance and information systems. Let me know if you have any more questions!

[Author]

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