[Anonymous]

There was a job posting for an Internal Audit position a while back at one of the Big4. The job description indicated “moderate to extensive travel”.

For those that have worked IA in a Big4, how often would that equate to? Would it be an instance where I travel a week or two at a time and opt to do some work from the home office, or spend months at a time in a location? I don’t desire to travel more than 50%, but is that inevitable?

[ak311]

I think the only way you're going to find that out is to ask the interviewer or call and inquire about the job posting. I think the best idea though would be to contact someone who currently works at the firm you're interested in, at the position you want and ask them. Firms vary a lot in their travel policies, client locations, ect. I worked for a medium sized regional firm and when I applied the posting said 25% travel but in actuality I was on the road more like 3 out of 4 weeks a month.

FAR - F (2011), 5/16
AUD - F(2011)
BEC -
REG -

2nd attempt at this thing. Time to get serious.

[ORcpaHOPEFUL]

I didn't work for a Big 4 either- but I worked for a very large regional firm (20+ offices). I worked in audit and dabbled in IA- I also had a coworker I was pretty close to that was in IA who told me all of the dirt. His life was traveling literally almost every single week. However, when you traveled for an audit it would be for a solid week or more and in IA the jobs were much shorter. He would be in the office Mondays and Fridays and then usually traveling/in the field Tuesdays-Thursdays. The Big 4 may be different due to the larger clients they have but I can guarantee audit (internal or not)=TRAVELING.

FAR: PASSED!! 64, 68, 79 on 2/27/13!
AUD: PASSED!! 73, 93 on 4/5/13!!!
BEC: PASSED!! 75 (phew) on 5/24/13!
REG: PASSED!!! 77 on 8/7/13 I AM DONE!!!!!

Experience: got it!
Ethics Exam: PASSED on first try (what a waste of money)

[I just love this]

Don't take the above comment to heavily. Not entirely true, but the beginning statement that she does not work for the Big 4 should make that clear. Larger Big 4 offices do travel, but it isn't airport travel, it's commuting around the metro area instead. That's the nice thing about larger offices. IA does travel more extensively than public audit. Advisory in general travels more, but it is hit or miss depending on engagements and lines of service. That is why they are so vague in the job description, because the recruiter who posted it doesn't know for sure. You'll have to talk to the HR staff or recruiters to find out more specifics.

REG- Waiting 7/1/13
BEC- Waiting 7/23/13
AUD- Studying 8/12/13
FAR- Signed up 10/1/13
Studying with CPAExcel and Wiley Test Bank.

[Author]

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