[Anonymous]

Hello everyone! This is my first post on here, and I need some guidance on a few things. In the fall, I am finishing my bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance as well as starting a few master’s classes and feel like a big four position would be a good fit for me. I will be graduating from the MACC program in the fall of 2014. My question is this: in the fall recruiting, would it be better for me to pursue an internship for the upcoming summer (2014) or pursue a staff position starting in the spring of 2015? I wasn’t sure if any of the big four would typically hire that much in advance. I could always pursue the internship for the summer and then pursue the staff position in fall of 2014 recruiting. I am currently working as an intern at a local accounting firm, so that would mean quitting my position there if I got an internship.

Also, I’m trying to evaluate my chances of getting an interview with a big four accounting firm. I have about 9 months of experience in accounting at the local firm I have been working at, a 3.15 overall GPA and a 3.2 accounting GPA. I have worked throughout college, and I have never failed a class. Although, there was a period when I valued partying more than making above Cs in a lot of classes. The only area I have sacrificed (due to working so much) is my on campus involvement, which I hope to improve while pursing my master’s degree. Also, the big four heavily recruit out of my school.

I would appreciate any advice you have!!

[P or F.. I think Im gonna BARF]

I don't want to tell you otherwise, because anything is possible. However, it is generally known in my area (TX) that Big 4 sets 3.5 as their threshold during recruiting. That's not to say you can't get in, but it may require means other than normal recruiting. I know a lot of the larger national firms, e.g. Grant Thornton or McGladrey set their threshold at 3.0. You may want to look at those firms as well.

…Just some food for thought.

B - (08/29/2013) Passed
A - (07/02/2013) Passed
R - (10/17/2013) 73 - Rematch
F - (05/29/2013) Passed

[foreseeableCPA]

I think you would be a great fit for the big 4. Although from what I remember, isnt the minimum GPA 3.3? I am sure they make exceptions. You have lots of experience for someone in college. Are you 100% positive you want to join the big 4? If you arent, do an internship and see what it is like. My sister worked for the big 4 and also interned for them. She said the internship was too easy and that it did not really depict what the work load was really going to be like. The big 4 want their interns to accept full time positions so of course, they wont overwork them too much. Also, Im not sure if they would recruit for full time positions that far in advance. I know they recruit 1 year in advance. Good luck!

CPA - Class of 2013
CIA - Class of 2016

[Anonymous]

Well, I know at my school the big four typically state their threshold at a minimum of 3.0. It just seemed pretty low, and I wasn't sure if I was high enough over the minimum GPA. I guess that's a difficult question to respond to because it all depends on the difficulty of the program. Thank you for the input!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the input foreseeableCPA! Yeah, I was afraid that was a little far in advance. I'm thinking I may just network this coming fall, take the next summer as an opportunity to pass more sections of the CPA exam, and then heavily recruit in fall of 2014. By that time, I can potentially be a licensed CPA since I will more than likely have 2000 hours with how much I work at this firm.

[foreseeableCPA]

@ebarb

That might be a better plan right there. Take the summer to pass the exams. The firms may not recognize your CPA license in terms of pay since youll still be entry level. I am not too sure really. But passing the exams before you start work is highly beneficial. You'll have a life while your other co workers will be hitting the books after work and on the weekends.

CPA - Class of 2013
CIA - Class of 2016

[calicpa]

it varies by school. my school was 3.2

BEC - 84, 4/6/13
AUD - 77, 5/28/13
REG - 83, 4/12/14
FAR - 83, 10/3/13

Ethics - 90% 4/24/13

150 unit education requirement met!
Work experience met!

[Anonymous]

@foreseeableCPA it's looking like that's going to be the game plan. The only downside is that I won't be 100% sure that I want to be in a big four firm without doing an internship. The only way I believe I will know for sure is to have experience working at one of those firms, and I only have experience at a local firm. But from what you were saying, it doesn't sound like your internship experience will truly reflect your full time work there. I won't be devastated if I don't get a position with one of the big 4, but I do like the opportunities it brings with having that experience on your résumé. I just feel like I have the skills that could be better utilized at a larger firm.

Do the big 4 typically hire a lot of students that have not done an internship through them? Or is that just something that increases your chances of getting a position?

[MST_Student27]

The partner I spoke with from PwC said that approximately 70% of new hires were interns, so I'd say test it out since it would only help your cause if Big 4 is what you want to do. I think the biggest hurdle to getting an internship would deal more with what year you are in school. If you are a senior, then typically they will tell you to apply for full time, but if you are a junior then they will push you to do an internship. I have two friends who both were able to get internships after they graduated, but that was a pretty rare experience.

[Anonymous]

That's kind of what I was afraid of; I have heard some very similar numbers. I'm just trying to develop a strategy because I will have to either apply for an internship or a full time position, and I didn't want to waste an opportunity by applying for the wrong one. Since it sounds like it is too early to apply for the full time position, should I try my luck with the internship? Even if I don't get a position, I have started to put my name out there and can follow up in the next recruiting season. I have a friend doing an internship at Deloitte, and he has already graduated. So I know it is possible!

[Anonymous]

Most Associates at the Big 4 were former interns, but I know plenty of kids in Masters program who got offers with no internship. Even if your school posts a GPA cutoff, ignore it and apply anyway.

As far as the internship v. full-time thing, your best resource here is your school's recruiter for each of the firms. Ask them what the best course of action is for a Fall graduate. A friend of mine interviewed with Deloitte in the Fall of 2012 for an Associate position starting January 2014 and got the offer, so I know that's possible.

[Having To Eek My Way Thru Life]

Just go for it. What is the worst that could happen?

Be sure to talk to them as much as possible (job fairs, career mixers, etc). That plays a huge role in getting the first interview. Try to raise the GPA in the master program and possibly your final semester of undergrad. They would rather see you perform better in the final semesters than at the beginning of your undergrad (which were mostly electives, history, drinking, etc).

Balancing work and school looks great on your resume. An internship is great but it is still possible to go right into full-time with no public accounting internship/experience. Hopefully your current job is at least accounting related or some sort of lower management/supervisor position.

If you had no work experience and a 2.75 then you definitely have no shot. You wouldn't even be accepted into a master program at a good university with that! But, your in the middle of the pack and you have to make yourself stand out!

[Anonymous]

Great advice everyone! I have plans to join BAP in the fall so hopefully that will open up some doors as well.

@having to: I thankfully got my act together before junior year and have been making mostly B+'s and A's, and I plan to continue that throughout the rest of undergrad and grad school. Almost everything I do in my current internship revolves around accounting, from preparing tax returns to assisting with audits. I will have an offer from them which can be my fall back plan, but I know that I would enjoy working with larger clients, amongst other reasons.

@co10101: I've always wondered if you should fill out an application even if you don't meet the GPA requirements. But I've heard about people getting big four positions when they had a low GPA, so I guess there is a possibility that they make acceptions; it just depends on the other criteria.

Any other advice regarding my situation?

[Mayo]

Most of the incoming first year staff are interns, so internship is your best bet.

Also, the better the school and the more the big 4 firms recruit from there, the lower your gpa can be. So just keep that in mind. Also, if you just sort of “click” with the recruiters/staff during firm activities, then you can bypass the GPA without an issue. Personality goes a long way in this game.

At this point, do what you can in terms of grades, BAP, volunteering, and recruiting and you should have a good chance.

If you don't get in, I wouldn't fret too much. Just do two or three years at a regional or mid tier firm and come in to work at a big 4 as an experienced associate. Trust me, they'll need the people in the future. As the economy gets better, more and more people will leave. Experienced hires will be sought out.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

@mayo That's true. I think that is one of the reasons I won't be very disappointed if I just get offers from mid tier firms; There will always be future opportunities. I'm usually pretty outgoing so I hope I'll be able to use that. I also plan on doing some practice interviews at my school.

If I do exceedingly well in grad school, would there be any reason to leave my undergrad GPA on my résumé? Also, I've noticed that there are only a few double majors amongst my accounting piers (in accounting and finance). Will that give me any sort of advantage?

[Having To Eek My Way Thru Life]

Big 4 wants to see the GPA it helps them with the selection for the on-campus interview (but GPA is not the only thing they look at). There is no way around that. Just be sure to let them know that you were working full-time and any other activities you did outside of school but don't use it as an excuse. Turn it into something positive.

[Author]

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