[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]

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.

[Anonymous]

Big 4 has the most name recognition. But it isn't like if you go to the 5th biggest firm that suddenly opportunities dry up. If working for F500 is your goal in the end, any national or large regional firm can get you there. My first job out of undergrad was at a $40B F200! And I had no CPA or public experience!

As for HR job listings, they always list requirements that are too high, I wouldn't worry about those. You can see job listings HR folks put up that say “6 years experience needed in Photoshop 2010” or the like. You get the idea, they're safe to ignore. If you're a CPA you will be fine career and exit opportunity wise. Big 4 is good, yes, but it isn't some holy grail. If someone who worked at BDO is a better worker than someone who worked at a Big 4, the BDO person will do better in their career.

[Anonymous]

Big 4 has the most name recognition. But it isn't like if you go to the 5th biggest firm that suddenly opportunities dry up. If working for F500 is your goal in the end, any national or large regional firm can get you there. My first job out of undergrad was at a $40B F200! And I had no CPA or public experience!

As for HR job listings, they always list requirements that are too high, I wouldn't worry about those. You can see job listings HR folks put up that say “6 years experience needed in Photoshop 2010” or the like. You get the idea, they're safe to ignore. If you're a CPA you will be fine career and exit opportunity wise. Big 4 is good, yes, but it isn't some holy grail. If someone who worked at BDO is a better worker than someone who worked at a Big 4, the BDO person will do better in their career.

[Mayo]

“If someone who worked at BDO is a better worker than someone who worked at a Big 4, the BDO person will do better in their career.”

I don't think that's really the argument. It's more of a “All things being equal, Big 4 provides more or different opportunities than other firms” kind of situation.

But I agree, in that there are plenty of great opportunities for people coming out of non-Big 4 firms. Also, depending on your personality or goals, going to a Non-Big 4 might actually help your career more because you will feel more comfortable/confident in how you fit in.

Really, the biggest advantage a Big 4 background gives you is the network. Many alumni specifically look to hire people from Big 4's first. So right off the bat there's a built in bias towards that background. Again, this is an “all things being equal” argument, but it's also safe to say that they'll take a quality candidate regardless if they worked in big 4 or not.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

“If someone who worked at BDO is a better worker than someone who worked at a Big 4, the BDO person will do better in their career.”

I don't think that's really the argument. It's more of a “All things being equal, Big 4 provides more or different opportunities than other firms” kind of situation.

But I agree, in that there are plenty of great opportunities for people coming out of non-Big 4 firms. Also, depending on your personality or goals, going to a Non-Big 4 might actually help your career more because you will feel more comfortable/confident in how you fit in.

Really, the biggest advantage a Big 4 background gives you is the network. Many alumni specifically look to hire people from Big 4's first. So right off the bat there's a built in bias towards that background. Again, this is an “all things being equal” argument, but it's also safe to say that they'll take a quality candidate regardless if they worked in big 4 or not.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

“I don't think that's really the argument. It's more of a “All things being equal, Big 4 provides more or different opportunities than other firms” kind of situation.”.

I agree, Big 4 tips the scales if all else is equal. Big 4 is great for networking like you said, and job hunts are always about networking. I just wanted to sort of dispel the “it's Big 4 or a failed career!” panic attitude.

Bottom line is: if you're a CPA you're in the top tier of accountants and resume piles, no matter where you worked in public.

[Anonymous]

“I don't think that's really the argument. It's more of a “All things being equal, Big 4 provides more or different opportunities than other firms” kind of situation.”.

I agree, Big 4 tips the scales if all else is equal. Big 4 is great for networking like you said, and job hunts are always about networking. I just wanted to sort of dispel the “it's Big 4 or a failed career!” panic attitude.

Bottom line is: if you're a CPA you're in the top tier of accountants and resume piles, no matter where you worked in public.

[magatha12]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/world%E2%80%99s-top-employers-for-new-grads-185136935.html

FAR: 79
AUD: 81
REG:5/29/15
BEC:85

Using CPA Excel, NINJA notes and audio, NINJA MCQs

[magatha12]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/world%E2%80%99s-top-employers-for-new-grads-185136935.html

FAR: 79
AUD: 81
REG:5/29/15
BEC:85

Using CPA Excel, NINJA notes and audio, NINJA MCQs

[tough_kitty]

Lilla,

A different answer to your question – mainly because Big 4 and large regional CPA firms are the ones that attend Meet the Firms event and recruit from campus. Beta Alpha Psi and other Accounting Societies advertise public accounting a lot, and don't really say much about the industry – probably because the industry doesn't have entry level positions for people right out of college….State positions are advertised a little bit too….

I wanted to work for Big 4 because these firms are international and I wanted the experience….unfortunately, having a master's degree in accounting and 3.97 GPA wasn't good enough…..but oh well….I might try again after I get my license. At least I have time to study now! And in fact, I gave up on Big 4 career, but after reading these posts I may reconsider….although working 2.5 years in auditing position with the state I already matched the Big 4 entry level salary, so not sure if it makes sense to start lower….especially that I have no one else but myself to pay the bills……..

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Lilla,

A different answer to your question – mainly because Big 4 and large regional CPA firms are the ones that attend Meet the Firms event and recruit from campus. Beta Alpha Psi and other Accounting Societies advertise public accounting a lot, and don't really say much about the industry – probably because the industry doesn't have entry level positions for people right out of college….State positions are advertised a little bit too….

I wanted to work for Big 4 because these firms are international and I wanted the experience….unfortunately, having a master's degree in accounting and 3.97 GPA wasn't good enough…..but oh well….I might try again after I get my license. At least I have time to study now! And in fact, I gave up on Big 4 career, but after reading these posts I may reconsider….although working 2.5 years in auditing position with the state I already matched the Big 4 entry level salary, so not sure if it makes sense to start lower….especially that I have no one else but myself to pay the bills……..

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Anonymous]

I've had two stints at Big 4 firms, neither of which was successful.

The only problem I have with them is this, “and the people are generally cut throat a-holes.” I cannot overstate how true this is. If you don't match or exceed that type of personality, they will find you and purge you like a dead skunk. When I say the following, I don't mean to boast, but rather put my experiences into perspective. I graduated from Texas A&M summa cum laude, with a BBA and MS in accounting in four years. I received a fellowship from PwC for academic achievement. I had no problem grasping the subject at all or working to achieve my goals.

When I went to work for both firms, I failed BIG TIME. I don't have a cut throat personality. That doesn't mean, my work product is sub-par. Rather, I've been told that it's superior everywhere I've gone since then (especially by Big 4 alum). But because I don't have that type of personality, I was somehow deemed to be unworthy to work at Big 4. They didn't use those words exactly. It was more of “lack of focus, not engaged, disrespectful (this one surprised and hurt me the most), not driven.” It never seemed to matter what I actually did in terms of work product. To this day, I still can't grasp how any of that was said about me.

Has my career suffered because of my lack of true Big 4 experience outside of the blurb on my resume? Definitely. I don't think the notion that the only exceptional accountants come from BIG 4 is fair at all, but there's nothing I can do about that. Remember also that the people hiring outside of Big 4 looking for that experience are themselves BIG 4 alum. If you want to get into BIG 4, think about how your personality type would work within that environment. You may find yourself going out the exit faster then when you walked in.

[Anonymous]

I've had two stints at Big 4 firms, neither of which was successful.

The only problem I have with them is this, “and the people are generally cut throat a-holes.” I cannot overstate how true this is. If you don't match or exceed that type of personality, they will find you and purge you like a dead skunk. When I say the following, I don't mean to boast, but rather put my experiences into perspective. I graduated from Texas A&M summa cum laude, with a BBA and MS in accounting in four years. I received a fellowship from PwC for academic achievement. I had no problem grasping the subject at all or working to achieve my goals.

When I went to work for both firms, I failed BIG TIME. I don't have a cut throat personality. That doesn't mean, my work product is sub-par. Rather, I've been told that it's superior everywhere I've gone since then (especially by Big 4 alum). But because I don't have that type of personality, I was somehow deemed to be unworthy to work at Big 4. They didn't use those words exactly. It was more of “lack of focus, not engaged, disrespectful (this one surprised and hurt me the most), not driven.” It never seemed to matter what I actually did in terms of work product. To this day, I still can't grasp how any of that was said about me.

Has my career suffered because of my lack of true Big 4 experience outside of the blurb on my resume? Definitely. I don't think the notion that the only exceptional accountants come from BIG 4 is fair at all, but there's nothing I can do about that. Remember also that the people hiring outside of Big 4 looking for that experience are themselves BIG 4 alum. If you want to get into BIG 4, think about how your personality type would work within that environment. You may find yourself going out the exit faster then when you walked in.

[niggy]

I think overall, big 4 experience is a huge asset in your life, no matter where you go.

First, you get all different kind of industries exposure, public or private, depends on your job.

Second, you will get on-job-coaching all the time, with chances to start teaching lower lever people as you grow.

Third, it is extreamly pressure and hours that you need to suffer while you stayed there.

Four, most high level executives would have some background working in big 4, so they would consider the entire big 4 an alumni, not just their firms alone.

Last but not least, big 4 attempts to hire most smart people in their group when they graduate. Not only they care about high GPA (which will show your ability to learn knowledge in school and in the future, i.e. CPA exam), they also care about the extend of outside school work activities.

AUD - 76 (May 2012)
BEC - 81 (July 2012)
REG - 61 (Aug 2012), rematch 83 (October 2012)
FAR - 85 (May 2013)

Based on Becker 2012 self-study.
Currently licensed PA CPA since July 2013.

[niggy]

I think overall, big 4 experience is a huge asset in your life, no matter where you go.

First, you get all different kind of industries exposure, public or private, depends on your job.

Second, you will get on-job-coaching all the time, with chances to start teaching lower lever people as you grow.

Third, it is extreamly pressure and hours that you need to suffer while you stayed there.

Four, most high level executives would have some background working in big 4, so they would consider the entire big 4 an alumni, not just their firms alone.

Last but not least, big 4 attempts to hire most smart people in their group when they graduate. Not only they care about high GPA (which will show your ability to learn knowledge in school and in the future, i.e. CPA exam), they also care about the extend of outside school work activities.

AUD - 76 (May 2012)
BEC - 81 (July 2012)
REG - 61 (Aug 2012), rematch 83 (October 2012)
FAR - 85 (May 2013)

Based on Becker 2012 self-study.
Currently licensed PA CPA since July 2013.

[Author]

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