[Anonymous]

I suspect this question will seem stupid to some of you, but… What’s the big deal with trying to get into the Big 4? Honestly it’s something I never even considered till I was on this forum…partially cause my interest has always been more in the small business realm, but also partially because it never crossed my mind! Here, though, it seems like almost everyone has been Big 4 or wants to be Big 4. So what’s the reasons/motivation for that?

[Anonymous]

Look at the job listings, especially for senior internal audit positions with Fortune 1000s, and you'll see why it's a “big deal”.

[Anonymous]

If you're interested in small business, it's not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

If you're interested in small business, it's not a big deal.

[RedOctober]

Because Big Four only select creme of the crop that's why they're the big deal. It doesn't mean they will train you to do everything because the company are huge and international. They have a rule that any college grads that they hired must pass CPA exam within 1.5 year or they will let you go. In your first year working for the Big 4 all you do is audit Cash account and AR. I had roommates, friends who work for the big 4. I've heard stories from my co-workers who used to work there and some Big 4 employees are not professional like how we think they are.

It used to be big 8 but Price Waterhouse & Coopers merged and Arthur Andersen got dropped because of the Enron scandal.

[RedOctober]

Because Big Four only select creme of the crop that's why they're the big deal. It doesn't mean they will train you to do everything because the company are huge and international. They have a rule that any college grads that they hired must pass CPA exam within 1.5 year or they will let you go. In your first year working for the Big 4 all you do is audit Cash account and AR. I had roommates, friends who work for the big 4. I've heard stories from my co-workers who used to work there and some Big 4 employees are not professional like how we think they are.

It used to be big 8 but Price Waterhouse & Coopers merged and Arthur Andersen got dropped because of the Enron scandal.

[fuzyfro89]

@ Elisabeth: Honestly, it really depends on your career goals. If you know you don't want to work for a public company one day or you would like to work for an independent accounting firm, there are many paths (non-Big 4) that will easily get you where you want to be. For the others who don't know exactly where they want to end up AND want the best and broadest options available to them, Big 4 on your resume helps to open many doors. It's definitely overrated, after all, what does one really know within 3 yrs of working?.. How to use Excel, how to talk to clients, a few basics specific to what clients you were on, and other very general skills and maybe a few specifics.

The true benefit is name recognition, which goes beyond just the “name”. It's recognized because people know what it entails. If you tell someone 3 yrs after you start working that you work for XYZ CPA firm, they will not automatically be impressed because they do not know what that entails. Of course, if your interviewer or HR person is open minded then they will listen and learn what value you may bring. On the other hand, most firms are sifting through tens, hundreds of resumes and it's easy to filter for the Big 4 and mid-tier firms right away.

Since your goal is in the small business realm (I'm assuming <$10mm sales), Big 4 isn't the clear winner to help you achieve your goals, although many other accounting people will end up serving other larger clients and public accounting is a good stepping stone.

[fuzyfro89]

@ Elisabeth: Honestly, it really depends on your career goals. If you know you don't want to work for a public company one day or you would like to work for an independent accounting firm, there are many paths (non-Big 4) that will easily get you where you want to be. For the others who don't know exactly where they want to end up AND want the best and broadest options available to them, Big 4 on your resume helps to open many doors. It's definitely overrated, after all, what does one really know within 3 yrs of working?.. How to use Excel, how to talk to clients, a few basics specific to what clients you were on, and other very general skills and maybe a few specifics.

The true benefit is name recognition, which goes beyond just the “name”. It's recognized because people know what it entails. If you tell someone 3 yrs after you start working that you work for XYZ CPA firm, they will not automatically be impressed because they do not know what that entails. Of course, if your interviewer or HR person is open minded then they will listen and learn what value you may bring. On the other hand, most firms are sifting through tens, hundreds of resumes and it's easy to filter for the Big 4 and mid-tier firms right away.

Since your goal is in the small business realm (I'm assuming <$10mm sales), Big 4 isn't the clear winner to help you achieve your goals, although many other accounting people will end up serving other larger clients and public accounting is a good stepping stone.

[Anonymous]

@OP – Regardless of your career goals in life (e.g., owning your own business, private industry, small firm, etc.), having Big 4 experience will take you far. I don't know any (although I'm sure some wiseguy is going to say he knows 50) business owners or hiring managers that would frown upon Big 4 experience.

The hours suck, the stress is terrible, the pay is not great, and the people are generally cut throat a-holes. However, if you can stick it out for 2+ years, you will have attained a great asset. Because it's not that Big 4 experience is glamorous…just the opposite. People looking to hire see Big 4 experience and think, “wow, this person has been chewed up, spit out, bent over, kicked in the teeth, thrown under the bus, stabbed in the back, and underpaid for x years…that's someone I could really use on my team”.

So you see, it's not the Big 4 environment people desire working in, it's the intangible asset they acquire by working for them. At least, that's my take on it.

Addendum: That doesn't mean you can't still be successful without it; I'm just saying that having the experience makes a huge impact.

[Anonymous]

@OP – Regardless of your career goals in life (e.g., owning your own business, private industry, small firm, etc.), having Big 4 experience will take you far. I don't know any (although I'm sure some wiseguy is going to say he knows 50) business owners or hiring managers that would frown upon Big 4 experience.

The hours suck, the stress is terrible, the pay is not great, and the people are generally cut throat a-holes. However, if you can stick it out for 2+ years, you will have attained a great asset. Because it's not that Big 4 experience is glamorous…just the opposite. People looking to hire see Big 4 experience and think, “wow, this person has been chewed up, spit out, bent over, kicked in the teeth, thrown under the bus, stabbed in the back, and underpaid for x years…that's someone I could really use on my team”.

So you see, it's not the Big 4 environment people desire working in, it's the intangible asset they acquire by working for them. At least, that's my take on it.

Addendum: That doesn't mean you can't still be successful without it; I'm just saying that having the experience makes a huge impact.

[Sameday]

They don't fire you if you don't pass the CPA within 1.5 years. You just don't get promoted to manager. Which is usually 5 or 6 years out.

A lot of corporate positions list a preference for big 4 experience.

[Sameday]

They don't fire you if you don't pass the CPA within 1.5 years. You just don't get promoted to manager. Which is usually 5 or 6 years out.

A lot of corporate positions list a preference for big 4 experience.

[I just love this]

Frankly, I don't understand why people would work so hard to get in this profession to NOT start at a Big 4..This is a tough profession if you go to a decent program and then passing the CPA exams. If you want your odds to point to great money, it is important to start at a Big 4. Just look at any job descriptions out there. Just my brutal honest opinion.

The reason why is because of the reputation, credibility, accelerated rate of learning/growth/leadership experience, complexity of accounting issues with major clients, and so on that is associated with working at one of the Big 4.

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.

[I just love this]

Frankly, I don't understand why people would work so hard to get in this profession to NOT start at a Big 4..This is a tough profession if you go to a decent program and then passing the CPA exams. If you want your odds to point to great money, it is important to start at a Big 4. Just look at any job descriptions out there. Just my brutal honest opinion.

The reason why is because of the reputation, credibility, accelerated rate of learning/growth/leadership experience, complexity of accounting issues with major clients, and so on that is associated with working at one of the Big 4.

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.

[Mayo]

@I just love this,

“I don't understand why people would work so hard to get in this profession to NOT start at a Big 4”

I think Big 4 is a great career path. I mean it's given me awesome training and skills so far, so I can't complain.

But I can understand why a top recruit might not want to go that route. Especially if you're a nontraditional student and have a family you want to take care of. We all know Big 4 puts stress on family in terms of relationships.

Also, some people just rather prefer the culture of mid tier firms. I worked with a guy who ended up leaving big 4 to go back to the Mid Tier he interned at. His pay was the same at a big 4 and he felt more comfortable. So it's not as simple as “Big 4 is the best” IMO.

OP, the big deal with the big 4 is simple: The job is considered the top of our profession in terms of skills one aquires and exposure to different opportunities.

We're talking about auditing large public clients in a variety of industries. If you stick to Manager level you're interacting withnControllers, CFOs, and CEOs on a regular basis.

Also, yearly promotions means that you have the chance to literally “quarterback” a team of your own. That experience after only two years is not typical outside of Big 4.

Furthermore, while Mid Tiers offer similar benefits, the brand name of a Big 4 is strong enough to put your resume at the top of the pile, even when compared with people with the same experience in non Big 4 firms.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

@I just love this,

“I don't understand why people would work so hard to get in this profession to NOT start at a Big 4”

I think Big 4 is a great career path. I mean it's given me awesome training and skills so far, so I can't complain.

But I can understand why a top recruit might not want to go that route. Especially if you're a nontraditional student and have a family you want to take care of. We all know Big 4 puts stress on family in terms of relationships.

Also, some people just rather prefer the culture of mid tier firms. I worked with a guy who ended up leaving big 4 to go back to the Mid Tier he interned at. His pay was the same at a big 4 and he felt more comfortable. So it's not as simple as “Big 4 is the best” IMO.

OP, the big deal with the big 4 is simple: The job is considered the top of our profession in terms of skills one aquires and exposure to different opportunities.

We're talking about auditing large public clients in a variety of industries. If you stick to Manager level you're interacting withnControllers, CFOs, and CEOs on a regular basis.

Also, yearly promotions means that you have the chance to literally “quarterback” a team of your own. That experience after only two years is not typical outside of Big 4.

Furthermore, while Mid Tiers offer similar benefits, the brand name of a Big 4 is strong enough to put your resume at the top of the pile, even when compared with people with the same experience in non Big 4 firms.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Author]

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