[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?

[I just love this]

Touché

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]

Touché

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.

[Anonymous]

Hello guys,

I live in CT and just successfully completed the 4 parts of the CPA exam. My GPA was 3.49 for my masters (from USA) and 3.15 for my BS (from Africa). I do not have any accounting related experience per say . It's been two months all my effort to land a job in an Accounting firm seems to hit a dead end.

Any franc suggestion is much appreciated.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Hello guys,

I live in CT and just successfully completed the 4 parts of the CPA exam. My GPA was 3.49 for my masters (from USA) and 3.15 for my BS (from Africa). I do not have any accounting related experience per say . It's been two months all my effort to land a job in an Accounting firm seems to hit a dead end.

Any franc suggestion is much appreciated.

Thanks

[Mayo]

I'd suggest a separate thread dedicated to your question.

But short answer is: Network, network, network. Also, apply online and get n touch with a few recruiters.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

I'd suggest a separate thread dedicated to your question.

But short answer is: Network, network, network. Also, apply online and get n touch with a few recruiters.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

Dominassion- I would recommend contacting your school to see if your professors or career services could offer any help or recommend an internship. You may have to do an internship with a private company for a few months to get a position with an accounting firm. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Dominassion- I would recommend contacting your school to see if your professors or career services could offer any help or recommend an internship. You may have to do an internship with a private company for a few months to get a position with an accounting firm. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

“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. “

I agree with “reputation”, but the other things you mention aren't really true. The learning curve at the Big 4 is not very steep when compared to mid-tier or regional firms. You'll gain more experience in different areas of the audit with a smaller firm. I interned with a mid-tier and we audited insurance companies and hedge funds, so I got plenty of experience with ” complex” accounting issues. This may be more dependent on the region you're working in rather than the firm.

[Anonymous]

“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. “

I agree with “reputation”, but the other things you mention aren't really true. The learning curve at the Big 4 is not very steep when compared to mid-tier or regional firms. You'll gain more experience in different areas of the audit with a smaller firm. I interned with a mid-tier and we audited insurance companies and hedge funds, so I got plenty of experience with ” complex” accounting issues. This may be more dependent on the region you're working in rather than the firm.

[thegrinch]

If your interest is in the small business realm, then there isn't a need for you to go Big 4. There are plenty of regional firms that will give you great experience, and you can be very successful. Additionally, many of these smaller firms actually pay you overtime. A lot of them also stress work-life balance more than the Big 4. Your confusion with the Big 4 hype is understandable given your preferences.

[thegrinch]

If your interest is in the small business realm, then there isn't a need for you to go Big 4. There are plenty of regional firms that will give you great experience, and you can be very successful. Additionally, many of these smaller firms actually pay you overtime. A lot of them also stress work-life balance more than the Big 4. Your confusion with the Big 4 hype is understandable given your preferences.

[Norwegian_Badger]

I work on the bay area at a Big 4 and when I get mad at my job, my venting is to look at other jobs around the area 🙂 The top tech firms almost always have something along the lines of “experience at a big 4”. The best advice I got from my professors when I said I got a job at a Big 4 was to stick it out until manager, cause then you can pretty much go where ever you want after that. 4-5 years of soul sucking work to get to where I want to be… might be worth it.

BEC - Passed (1st attempt)
AUD - Passed (2nd attempt)
REG - Passed (1st attempt)
FAR - Passed (3rd times the charm)
I'm a fan of BARF
California CPA

[Norwegian_Badger]

I work on the bay area at a Big 4 and when I get mad at my job, my venting is to look at other jobs around the area 🙂 The top tech firms almost always have something along the lines of “experience at a big 4”. The best advice I got from my professors when I said I got a job at a Big 4 was to stick it out until manager, cause then you can pretty much go where ever you want after that. 4-5 years of soul sucking work to get to where I want to be… might be worth it.

BEC - Passed (1st attempt)
AUD - Passed (2nd attempt)
REG - Passed (1st attempt)
FAR - Passed (3rd times the charm)
I'm a fan of BARF
California CPA

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty ignorant of all the details of the big 4 though most my friends work there. I basically heard working there is like having an IVY league degree in accounting. With that said another benefit I see is that you actually do make more money then starting salaries at other firms around here plus they have a pension your vested into after 3 years. Pensions can be worth a lot of money I don't know the details on this but it's at min worth 10k each year possibly 20k extra. No small firm has a pension system.

With that said I doubt many people even stay 3 years and get the pension.

[Author]

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