[mmcor]

I graduate in December and I accepted an offer from a mid-tier firm several months ago. However, I’m still interested in the Big 4. Should I attend Meet the Firms again in the fall? A few of the people I met at recruiting (including the person who interviewed me) are no longer at the firm, BTW.

What happens if they’re holding on-campus interviews on the same day? Is it too risky?

[Jaimcpa]

If the Mid-Tier firm you've accepted an offer from is McGladrey or Grant Thornton, you can easily get into Big-4 by your senior year there as an associate. Keep open lines of communication with some of the recruiters, if you have friends who are in B4 its a plus.

Do not attend meet the firms if you have accepted an offer already. B4 is not end all be all.

FAR- 73, 10/07/2013
REG- 8/31/2013
AUD- TBD
BEC- TBD

MAcc
Main: Becker Self-Study 2013. Supplements: Ninja / Wiley TB / CPAExcel (Bought before I received an offer).

[Mayo]

Agree 100% Jaimcpa. Like they say about college, “It's not where you start, but where you finish that matters”.

Oh he'll, if you like the client base of your current firm, just stay. There are some real advantages of Big 4, but your career is not dead just because you don't get in right away, or at all for that matter.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

I don't necessarily agree or disagree with the previous poster's comment that Big 4 is not “end all be all” but I think it would be worth shooting for.

I just started in January at a local firm, approximately 180 person firm, and I have heard that from alot of the people there too. However, I find it strange that they would say that seeing as 95% of the partners/managers are former big 4, most of the senior level are also former big 4. Also, any time anyone mentions a friend from a big 4 firm wanting to leave, its seems like the managers and partners salivate over trying to get them to join our company. I want to work with great talent too but it will make you feel a little inferior at times.

Also, I'm sure you have read many industry job descriptions and qualifications. Most require or desire the person to have bog four experience. While everyone here knows a non big four person can probably do the job and excel, you can't deny having that association will open opportunities and doors that working at a smaller firm wouldn't.

If I could start over I would have chosen big four. Hate the city, would be miserable commuting, being away from my wife and son, but I think it would pay off further down the road.

Just my inexperienced $0.02.

[wizards8507]

It would be extremely unprofessional to renege on an offer that you've already accepted. I'd be very surprised if anyone from another firm would even talk to you if they knew you've already accepted an offer.

NY CPA

[fuzyfro89]

This is always a tricky situation. First consideration, people in the firm you accepted with likely know people in the Big 4 firms and vice versa. A common question that will come up in your interview will be “did you get an offer, why did you decline, why do you want Big 4 instead?”. Formally, and legally, they cannot contact your old employer and ask anything beyond your dates of employment, but informally they could easily call up a past colleague or acquaintance and just talk about you.

IF it comes up that you've accepted, you risk burning two bridges, both your current firm and the Big 4 firm(s). If it doesn't come up, you can land that Big 4 offer and back out of the other one, and no one will be wiser.

After finding this out, they may or may not renege your offer, but you will definitely sour the waters as you can only imagine how awkward this conversation would be.

In any case, if you understand the risks and still believe the chance to work at Big 4 is worthwhile, then go for it! Some will say yes, others no, but only you know how badly you want Big 4 and what you're willing to risk for it.

If it were me, I would start making those relationships with Big 4 and try and make the switch after your first busy season. Assuming you can cut it now, you shouldn't have a lot of trouble then either.

[kmaahs]

Sounds like you have accepted an offer. So, professionally speaking, that better be where you are gonna work for awhile.

I'd work there for a year or two, and then try to make a move to Big 4 if it is still your goal.

You risk making a very unprofessional move by backing out of a role that has been reserved for you for several months.

C.P.A.

[I just love this]

If you accepted the offer, be very hesitant to rescind it. However, that is an option still, although it is seen as unprofessional and should be avoided at all costs. But if you get a better offer, only one person has your back- YOU. So at the end of the day, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Now as far as the Big 4. Do everything you can to get into a Big 4. In terms of career trajectory, Big 4 is as close to a must as you are going to get. People who did not get into a Big 4 or want to work local will deny that, and that's fine. Not everyone can or will get into Big 4, but you should do everything you can do to so.

It seems like your best bet would be start at the mid-tier firm, and after your first busy season start seriously networking, getting top ratings to make yourself look appealing, and get in touch with Big 4 recruiters to switch.

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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