[ymmit]

My question is, is having big 4 on your resume really so undeniably better than having a local smaller public accounting firm on your resume? Are we just brainwashed to believe that if you get into big 4, you will have options down the road that others simply won’t have? FYI I am not pro or con big four, I am just looking for some facts/examples. Currently I work for a smaller firm and am thinking of making the move to a bigger company since I luckily have some connections in bigger firms.

What I am really looking for is the opinion of people that are actually involved in the hiring process of private firms and can talk from experience. Is big 4 vs non big 4 the deciding factor routinely? OR is the big 4 factor mainly sort of a tie-breaker and is the interview/personality most important routinely?

Licensed CPA!

[tough_kitty]

Like Lilla, I don't understand why recruiters make such a big deal out of big 4 experience on your resume. As we all know, you barely learn anything about auditing in your first year at big 4. However, a lot of companies will value this experience and give you a 45% raise if you got your CPA and about 2 years with big 4.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[ymmit]

thank you everyone and thank you mayo for such a detailed response. Wouldn't it be great if we could all just leave at 5 pm sharp every day!

Licensed CPA!

[ymmit]

thank you everyone and thank you mayo for such a detailed response. Wouldn't it be great if we could all just leave at 5 pm sharp every day!

Licensed CPA!

[wannabeCPA123]

I just recently started at a big 4 firm, and from what I can tell, it does seem to help. I have only been at the firm for 3 months, and I have already witnessed managers, senior managers, and seniors leave the firm for better opportunites. Usually they leave for 100-200k positions.

It's true that people on big clients will probably do Cash, or Fixed assets for their first years (even as a senior), but it is easy to get into the smaller clients because that is normally what all the staff try to avoid. Most staff want to be assigned to the big-name engagements because of the prestige.

One thing that I think helps the most is the company brand nepotism that occurs in this industry. For example, there are high ranking people in industry that only want to hire canidates from their Big 4 alumni group.

Also, as a big four auditor, I tend to like clients that have big 4 exp because it seems to make them into a better client that provides cleaner PBCs, walkthroughs. They usually don't ask all the stupid “client” questions that I usually get from dumb industry-only or non-big 4 clients.

FAR 78
REG 87
BEC 78
AUD 78
Passed all exams on first try! Good luck to everyone!

[wannabeCPA123]

I just recently started at a big 4 firm, and from what I can tell, it does seem to help. I have only been at the firm for 3 months, and I have already witnessed managers, senior managers, and seniors leave the firm for better opportunites. Usually they leave for 100-200k positions.

It's true that people on big clients will probably do Cash, or Fixed assets for their first years (even as a senior), but it is easy to get into the smaller clients because that is normally what all the staff try to avoid. Most staff want to be assigned to the big-name engagements because of the prestige.

One thing that I think helps the most is the company brand nepotism that occurs in this industry. For example, there are high ranking people in industry that only want to hire canidates from their Big 4 alumni group.

Also, as a big four auditor, I tend to like clients that have big 4 exp because it seems to make them into a better client that provides cleaner PBCs, walkthroughs. They usually don't ask all the stupid “client” questions that I usually get from dumb industry-only or non-big 4 clients.

FAR 78
REG 87
BEC 78
AUD 78
Passed all exams on first try! Good luck to everyone!

[thechapman]

Go to a job site such as Robert Half Finance and type in the keyword “big 4”. A ton of jobs will come up requiring/preferring Big 4 experience at varying levels.

https://www.roberthalf.com/finance/financial-analyst-jobs?1_jobSearch.request_type=JobListingsURL&1_jobSearch.locations=&1_jobSearch.zipcode=&1_jobSearch.keywords=big%252525204&1_jobSearch.jobtypes=&refer_detail=www.roberthalffinance.com&lobId=1&locations=&zipcode=&keywords=big%252525204&jobtypes=&custId=0#JSRPage

Passed - 2014

[thechapman]

Go to a job site such as Robert Half Finance and type in the keyword “big 4”. A ton of jobs will come up requiring/preferring Big 4 experience at varying levels.

https://www.roberthalf.com/finance/financial-analyst-jobs?1_jobSearch.request_type=JobListingsURL&1_jobSearch.locations=&1_jobSearch.zipcode=&1_jobSearch.keywords=big%252525204&1_jobSearch.jobtypes=&refer_detail=www.roberthalffinance.com&lobId=1&locations=&zipcode=&keywords=big%252525204&jobtypes=&custId=0#JSRPage

Passed - 2014

[Anonymous]

“They usually don't ask all the stupid “client” questions that I usually get from dumb industry-only or non-big 4 clients.”

Juvenile language aside, I've had some pretty clueless ex-big 4 clients.

“Go to a job site such as Robert Half Finance and type in the keyword “big 4″. A ton of jobs will come up requiring/preferring Big 4 experience at varying levels.”

Well obviously. Go to a job site and type in “Albuquerque” and you will get a ton of jobs in Albuquerque. At any rate, recruiting sites like RH are a poor indicator of available jobs.

[Anonymous]

“They usually don't ask all the stupid “client” questions that I usually get from dumb industry-only or non-big 4 clients.”

Juvenile language aside, I've had some pretty clueless ex-big 4 clients.

“Go to a job site such as Robert Half Finance and type in the keyword “big 4″. A ton of jobs will come up requiring/preferring Big 4 experience at varying levels.”

Well obviously. Go to a job site and type in “Albuquerque” and you will get a ton of jobs in Albuquerque. At any rate, recruiting sites like RH are a poor indicator of available jobs.

[thechapman]

@ehrman9 “Well obviously. Go to a job site and type in “Albuquerque” and you will get a ton of jobs in Albuquerque. At any rate, recruiting sites like RH are a poor indicator of available jobs. “

Search Albuquerque and you will get a ton of jobs in Albuquerque? I'm not sure what you're getting at there. Unless you're looking for a job in outer space, it's going to have to be in some sort of geographical location. That really is an irrelevant point. What I was saying is that it seems most jobs that require some sort of public experience either say “Big 4 preferred” or just that public experience in general is required. No one says “top 10 public firm required” which to me points out that there is a gap between just “public” and the Big 4.

Passed - 2014

[thechapman]

@ehrman9 “Well obviously. Go to a job site and type in “Albuquerque” and you will get a ton of jobs in Albuquerque. At any rate, recruiting sites like RH are a poor indicator of available jobs. “

Search Albuquerque and you will get a ton of jobs in Albuquerque? I'm not sure what you're getting at there. Unless you're looking for a job in outer space, it's going to have to be in some sort of geographical location. That really is an irrelevant point. What I was saying is that it seems most jobs that require some sort of public experience either say “Big 4 preferred” or just that public experience in general is required. No one says “top 10 public firm required” which to me points out that there is a gap between just “public” and the Big 4.

Passed - 2014

[Anonymous]

Calm down. I'm just trying to avoid irrational and biased discussion.

[Anonymous]

Calm down. I'm just trying to avoid irrational and biased discussion.

[Mayo]

thechapman – “Albuquerque? I'm not sure what you're getting at there. Unless you're looking for a job in outer space, it's going to have to be in some sort of geographical location.”

Lol @the outer space bit.

eherman9 – “Calm down. I'm just trying to avoid irrational and biased discussion.”

Don't think he wasn't being calm? *shrug*

Anyhow, I read your post a few times, but still confused. If you're suggesting posts on websites like RH, indeed.com, monster, career builder, other recruiting firm websites, etc. are not a good indicator of criteria for available jobs, could you please mention what is?

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

thechapman – “Albuquerque? I'm not sure what you're getting at there. Unless you're looking for a job in outer space, it's going to have to be in some sort of geographical location.”

Lol @the outer space bit.

eherman9 – “Calm down. I'm just trying to avoid irrational and biased discussion.”

Don't think he wasn't being calm? *shrug*

Anyhow, I read your post a few times, but still confused. If you're suggesting posts on websites like RH, indeed.com, monster, career builder, other recruiting firm websites, etc. are not a good indicator of criteria for available jobs, could you please mention what is?

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Author]

Replies