[SeePeeAyy]

Hi everyone I would like some advice and/or details as to what it is like when you started working full time in public accounting. I did an internship at a big 4 firm here in Boston over the summer. It was great, I went to 4 different clients which were all in different industries. I am not sure exactly what industry I would like to work in yet.

My question is basically how they decide where to put you when you start full time? I am friendly with the Partner who hired me and he mentioned that he wanted me to work on his team (which I audited during my internship). I wouldn’t mind working on this client, but I would still like to work on other clients too. I am not sure if he will need me full time year round on this client or just busy season.

Anyway, is it just based on what clients need extra auditors at the time? I guess I am just asking on your experiences when you started your first couple of months. I am trying to plan on moving out but it is sort of difficult to gauge which city I should move to due to not knowing which clients locations I will have to commute too.

Thanks all!

[neika822]

I didn't intern with the Big 4, I interned with a regional firm in Boston (hello fellow Bostonian!) which was acquired by a large national firm (5th biggest). I went to work full-time with the national firm. We weren't required to pick an industry (which was more required at senior/manager level). Boston is big into the financial industry, so you may get put on some clients there. I had a mix. Starting as a first-year was very similar to starting as an intern. You get trained, you're a bit disoriented, and no one expects too much. I left after a year.

I think Big 4 wants you to know what industry you want, but I can't say for sure.

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[obvus22]

Hi fellow Bostonians. I never worked in Big Four, but I work closely with them everyday while they work on my company's audit. It seems in the first year most of the associates are learning new things, so I can't imagine the expectations are too high. The way to differeniate yourself from others is to remain the information gained from the client/industry so that you can use it to assist in your work the following year. Partners smile upon this 🙂

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[SeePeeAyy]

Thanks fellow Bostonians haha.

Any others with big4 experience?

[acamp]

Generally you can float around, they'll put you where they need you–which can give you a nice taste of everything; making friends with scheduling is a big plus if you want to try something specific. Generally you don't have to pick a focus until a couple years in. As for the partner's engagement, totally depends on what it is, if its big and public you could be on it the better half of the year, with year end and quarterly filings.

One of the reasons I didn't go with EY was the silo structure of their Financial Service Office, which handles all financial and nothing else; conversely their other side handles everything else and no financial–I have an undergrad in finance and wanted to work in that industry but I also wanted to try other things and it seems to be an either/or over there.

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