[Anonymous]

Short intro – Brand new poster here, only found this site yesterday as I now am preparing for the CPA. I had an undergrad business degree from the mid 2000’s, worked overseas, and recently came back to go into accounting. Enrolled in an MS program last year, went through recruiting season this fall, accepted an offer with a Big 4. The entire experience has been one of the easiest things I’ve ever done. If you asked me what the Big 4 were a year ago, I wouldn’t even know. Difference between public/private accounting..what? Oh, but I did remember what GAAP means after all these years.

Then I found this site. And have been reading posts from each forum non-stop. The different stories, experiences, challenges, everything have made me realize just how..uh..lucky I am? I’ll be honest, I applied to one and only one Big 4 because that’s where I wanted (don’t even ask why lol). I had no accounting experience, no CPA experience, and yet had no issue landing that one position. But I see people on here with years of experience, fresh from school, and even the CPA already finished and they can’t find A job let alone a Big 4 job. From my experience this fall and the experiences of my classmates (who all got Big 4 offers as well, some from multiple), I honestly thought people who wanted a Big 4 job generally got it and people who wanted regional/mid-sized/small got it because that’s what they chose and aimed for. But now it seems clear to me that some people throw their name in every hat and just pray because it’s actually extremely competitive.

I apologize if this comes off as some stealth brag post, it’s honestly not. It’s just reading this site and Going Concern (which I only found a few days ago as well) has given me a totally different perspective on this accounting world. I guess I feel like I’m in for a much wilder ride than I thought I would be, judging from some of the things I’ve read here. It also made me realize how ignorant I was to a lot of this stuff since I am technically a baby in this world. While I knew the Big 4 were the “BIG FOUR,” it never seemed like an impossible task for any eager individual. Not exactly like being a developer and getting a job at Google.. or maybe it is? I guess I’ll find out when I eventually begin.

Has anyone else who was fairly new to the accounting scene had a similar experience? A sudden epiphany?

Anyway, as I’ll be beginning in the fall I’ll be aiming to pass all of the CPA before then. I look forward to using this site and others in helping me with that. Also, if I was a bit vague with some of my info it was intentional. Things get back to you from online so I’d rather stay as ninja-like as possible.

[mla1169]

Never worked for big 4, and while its appealing to me I'm just not at a stage in life where I can justify a cut in pay and the hours. I figure seriously if I want to work more than 50 hours a week I can pick up a part time job that I can ditch later on 😉 My kids are still my first job, and I like being home to check homework, have dinner with them, be at all of their sports

That said, I've been turned down for jobs because I lack big 4 experience. It is what it is. The difference between having it on your resume and not is the difference between having a car or not. Without the Big 4 on your resume you can still get to where you want to go but its just not as convenient and will take a lot longer in most cases.

Bring it on, love a good challenge 😉

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[M.O.D.]

@ datcpa

Accounting partnerships have an interesting work/pay dynamic, (worth studying) as have many other professional firms like law and even medicine. In the US doctors have to “intern” for many years.

My accounting professor explained it this way: employees pay into the firm extra work hours which eventually becomes their partnership “equity.”

Employees who leave early lose that accumulated equity, but obviously still have their experience.

What is new to me is the concept of a branded CPA. I learned that a CPA is a CPA, GAAP is GAPP. A tax return is a tax return. Nowhere in my studies did I learn that a “branded” Big4 tax return is better than a generic tax return. Big4 GAAP opinions are better than generic opinions? Or that a branded resume is better than a generic resume.

It is obvious why it is the case (people are stupid and ignorant, to their detriment), but “it is what it is.”

I am just shocked that this is not mentioned in textbooks, or in classes.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[M.O.D.]

@ datcpa

Accounting partnerships have an interesting work/pay dynamic, (worth studying) as have many other professional firms like law and even medicine. In the US doctors have to “intern” for many years.

My accounting professor explained it this way: employees pay into the firm extra work hours which eventually becomes their partnership “equity.”

Employees who leave early lose that accumulated equity, but obviously still have their experience.

What is new to me is the concept of a branded CPA. I learned that a CPA is a CPA, GAAP is GAPP. A tax return is a tax return. Nowhere in my studies did I learn that a “branded” Big4 tax return is better than a generic tax return. Big4 GAAP opinions are better than generic opinions? Or that a branded resume is better than a generic resume.

It is obvious why it is the case (people are stupid and ignorant, to their detriment), but “it is what it is.”

I am just shocked that this is not mentioned in textbooks, or in classes.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[jeff]

What is your work experience, MOD?

[jeff]

What is your work experience, MOD?

[M.O.D.]

@ Jeff

Entrepreneur in the wholesale trade, scientific equipment, Federal/State contracting, Internet retail, B2B, websites.

Stock investing…

I dabble in many fields, some paid, some not.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[M.O.D.]

@ Jeff

Entrepreneur in the wholesale trade, scientific equipment, Federal/State contracting, Internet retail, B2B, websites.

Stock investing…

I dabble in many fields, some paid, some not.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[MintsRGood]

I have nothing of substance to add to this discussion except to commend @0nmywaytoaCPA for his perfect description of the life of a Senior in public and to thank him or her for a much needed laugh today!!!!

I work in tax and while I'm not smelling shit from unreported exceptions, I'm smelling review shit from sloppy work papers, SCF's that are sometimes plugged, and inadequate inquiry into client prepared G/L's. (Hey staff accountant, did you take a look what the repairs and maintenance balance is comprised of this month before blindly posting the balance into this shitbox statement you slapped together today in a rush that I now have to review so you can leave early to get your hair done? There's $55k for November and $30k for the ENTIRE prior year. Kinda looks like they purchased some equipment. Perhaps you should ask the client, or ask me to if you aren't comfortable calling this client BEFORE you throw it on my desk and I have to re-do the entire thing before billing cut-off. Thanks, asshole. Love, Mints.)

I often joke that as a Senior that I'm like a Janitor in that I am constantly cleaning up other people's shit!!!! 😉

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[MintsRGood]

I have nothing of substance to add to this discussion except to commend @0nmywaytoaCPA for his perfect description of the life of a Senior in public and to thank him or her for a much needed laugh today!!!!

I work in tax and while I'm not smelling shit from unreported exceptions, I'm smelling review shit from sloppy work papers, SCF's that are sometimes plugged, and inadequate inquiry into client prepared G/L's. (Hey staff accountant, did you take a look what the repairs and maintenance balance is comprised of this month before blindly posting the balance into this shitbox statement you slapped together today in a rush that I now have to review so you can leave early to get your hair done? There's $55k for November and $30k for the ENTIRE prior year. Kinda looks like they purchased some equipment. Perhaps you should ask the client, or ask me to if you aren't comfortable calling this client BEFORE you throw it on my desk and I have to re-do the entire thing before billing cut-off. Thanks, asshole. Love, Mints.)

I often joke that as a Senior that I'm like a Janitor in that I am constantly cleaning up other people's shit!!!! 😉

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[M.O.D.]

@ datcpa

One more thought:

What it the Big4 on your resume is like a degree from a famous university, say Ivy League. That will open doors, because resume reviewers assume that you had high scores/GPA to get in (usually true) and are therefore super-smart (not necessarily).

Likewise, if the Big4 were to hire only the top candidates, reviewers could/would make similar subsequent conclusions.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[M.O.D.]

@ datcpa

One more thought:

What it the Big4 on your resume is like a degree from a famous university, say Ivy League. That will open doors, because resume reviewers assume that you had high scores/GPA to get in (usually true) and are therefore super-smart (not necessarily).

Likewise, if the Big4 were to hire only the top candidates, reviewers could/would make similar subsequent conclusions.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[Anonymous]

Haha, I'm honestly not sure how to take your comments now. I'm certainly not dismissing them, but I thought you were at least talking from a point of experience.

Either way, your thought still backs up what others have said. Whether it's warranted or not, top name institutions get special treatment and that's a worthy reason to put up with the work load. I don't see how your second point is a problem exclusive to the Big4 though. It's not like they get first picks and then mid/small size firms get the leftovers. I feel that most of the people I've come into contact with were very knowledgable about where they wanted to work and why. I even wrote in my op I had my reasons for going the way I went.

The intent of my original post was in no way to start a debate about which is better – Big 4 or not Big 4. It was to describe how different the perception of those companies was from real life to the internet in my experience. On the internet it feels like their clout is severely exaggerated. I had a much different impression from all the firms, fellow candidates, and even school faculty I spoke with during the recruiting season in regards to where someone should begin their accounting career. It was DEFINITELY not “Big 4 or go home.”

[Anonymous]

Haha, I'm honestly not sure how to take your comments now. I'm certainly not dismissing them, but I thought you were at least talking from a point of experience.

Either way, your thought still backs up what others have said. Whether it's warranted or not, top name institutions get special treatment and that's a worthy reason to put up with the work load. I don't see how your second point is a problem exclusive to the Big4 though. It's not like they get first picks and then mid/small size firms get the leftovers. I feel that most of the people I've come into contact with were very knowledgable about where they wanted to work and why. I even wrote in my op I had my reasons for going the way I went.

The intent of my original post was in no way to start a debate about which is better – Big 4 or not Big 4. It was to describe how different the perception of those companies was from real life to the internet in my experience. On the internet it feels like their clout is severely exaggerated. I had a much different impression from all the firms, fellow candidates, and even school faculty I spoke with during the recruiting season in regards to where someone should begin their accounting career. It was DEFINITELY not “Big 4 or go home.”

[Newbe654]

I think a lot of people think that the big 4 is such a big deal because of the “grass is always greener” syndrome. A jobs a job I don't think anyone's better than anyone else whether you wok at McDonalds or are the president. Congratz on the job.

My .002

[Newbe654]

I think a lot of people think that the big 4 is such a big deal because of the “grass is always greener” syndrome. A jobs a job I don't think anyone's better than anyone else whether you wok at McDonalds or are the president. Congratz on the job.

My .002

[Author]

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