[Anonymous]

Hi everyone

This is my first time to ask for help in this forum and I really need your guys advice!!

I recently got offers from PwC and EY, both are Assurance practice and both are in Greater NY area. Before the office visit, I prefer EY because most of clients are based on where I live. But PwC impressed me with their people and culture. I really enjoyed the whole interview process. If I decide to go with PwC, the major problem is that I have to move to a new place and start all over again. EY is not so shabby and the office gets better exposure to the city clients. But one of the candidates made a joke about what I said during lunch and it offended me. My host was laughing with him also so I kinda feel disappointed. The whole social part was quite unhappy.

I’ve read many threads in this forum saying that people come first when making decisions. In that case I should go with PwC. Plus it’s more prestigious for sure. But my experience with EY doesn’t mean EY people are not nice in general. And I know what really matters is people in my future engagement team. Both firms offer me the same money. I’ve been going back and forth for two weeks and this Friday is the deadline to make a decision.

I’d really appreciate for any advice or insights!! Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

While I went through something similar in terms of trying to find reasons to pick one over the other, I don't think prestige is something you need to worry about. Big4 is Big4, unless it's down to a more specific factor like you already know what client you'd be on before you even accept there (for instance, if you interned). Same thing with the people – there are thousands of employees at each firm, who cares about one “bad” interaction? I think the points you brought up about having to move and the clients being closer to you should weigh the heaviest in your decision making. Like you said, it really only matters what engagement team you are part of later on, so just based on what you shared, EY sounds more sensible to me. I don't know anything about the NY area but more just responding in terms of an overall decision.

[Anonymous]

@chiguy4 I think personally I prefer a closer client base. I guess I still need more time to get over with that one-time “bad” experience. Your advice really helps. Thanks!!

[SnoBoarder328]

I think the only factor that should matter in this decision is whether you want to relocate or not. Otherwise everything else is the same at both firms. Both firms select the best people, both firms are Big4, and both firms will ultimately treat you the same. If you want to relocate select PwC. If you do not want to relocate select EY.

Don't worry about one bad interaction. I work for EY in New York and the people are great. Im sure they are the same over at PwC.

Best of luck!

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[FindYourBeach]

I agree with SnoBoarder… I work for PwC. Everyone here is really nice. We also work with several other large accounting firms and I can say that EY people are great too.

It really just comes down to where you want to live and work. I wouldn't be scared to move to a new place and have clients outside of the NY area. Those clients may open up many new doors and a wealth of opportunities.

[UNC MAcc]

Also agree with snowboarder. If you get butthurt over one joke about something you said you're in for a tough life.

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[acamp]

A good portion of my decision process was gut feeling, after weighing this and that and trying to come up with a good reason for one over the other, I let “well without thinking, where do I want to work” carry some weight as well.

I'm curious about the scenario you mentioned, if it was relatively normal jabbing, you might need to thicken that skin a bit 😀

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[Anonymous]

Thank you guys!! I really appreciate your advice, especially @SnoBoarder328. I love the location of EY as much as I love the people from PwC. That's why it bothers me. But I guess I have to make a quick decision.

[Anonymous]

Big 4 is Big 4, as chiguy said, the “prestige” thing shouldn't really be a factor. I'm confused by your comment that most of EY's clients are based where you live. I work in NY and all the firms have a huge number of clients in the city, as well as surrounding areas like NJ and CT. Why do you think you'd have to relocate if you chose PwC?

[SnoBoarder328]

No problem, I'm glad i could help.

One more thing to think about. You mentioned both offers are for the assurance practice. Assurance generally requires a bit of traveling and hardly any time at your home office unless you are unassigned which is basically never. Keep in mind even though EY's office is in Times Square (which is pretty cool), their assurance clients are spread throughout NY. Only about 23% of the NY office assurance clients are actually located in NYC. There used to be a much higher percentage but companies cannot afford to be in NYC anymore when they can relocate for half the cost. Hope that info helped. And just to reiterate, the traveling to clients would be the same for both PwC and EY. Hopefully you get placed on a client near where you live.

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[Anonymous]

@SnoBoarder328 – I actually selected NYC as my first location in my application with EY, but I received the office visit invitation and the final offer from local office. I didn't ask why, but I guess maybe because local office is actively hiring, or the city office has ran out of headcount. I wonder what are the chances in the future that I can transfer to the EY city office? From what I heard is that internal transfer is pretty flexible at PwC.

@co10101 – I live in NY and PwC office is in CT. So it almost took me 2 hours to drive if I don't relocate. I'm sure the local office of EY has clients in NY or NJ. It's just most of clients are locally based.

[Anonymous]

@dreamcatcher, I can't help but wonder what the other candidate said to you that offended you while the host laughed.. do you mind sharing?

[Anonymous]

Make your choise based on the people you will work with. I work for PwC but I would have picked EY if I liked the people in that group better. You will work long hrs regardless. 🙂

[jlough]

dreamcatcher–

If I were you, I'd pick the office location that makes the most sense logistically for you. Also, keep in mind that the people they use for recruiting are usually the friendliest, most gung-ho employees that they have. The people that you get put on a team with can turn out to be vastly different than the ones you meet during recruiting.

Side note- When I was at PwC, I had a friend who was in the Stanford office. She was in the financial services group and got sent to Curacao for 3 months. She also was allowed to fly down a friend/family member every weekend, paid for by PwC. Not too shabby.

Also, don't stress out too much about choosing the wrong firm– I've known plenty of people who have moved between Big 4's without a problem. I had a friend who spent two years at PwC, then two years at Deloitte, and is now back at PwC.

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[Anonymous]

@dreamcatcher: what did you ended up doing? Did you go with EY or PwC? How has it been? Any regrets? I'd love to hear about your decision and experience. Thanks!

[Author]

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