[jensterzac3]

Hello!

I am new to the Another71 community and would like some insight.I will be starting a full-time position with CohnReznick in January; right after my December graduation.Can anyone who has worked at CR give me any information about what work is really like, especially during busy season? I am very nervous because I never interned in public accounting!

[Anonymous]

I work there, in LA. I started there out of college and was never an intern.

Busy season has not been bad, at least for me. No 18 hour days, work in the early hours of the morning, or anything like that. Not sure if you're coming in audit or tax, but the audit dept in LA targets 55 billable hour weeks during busy season, and there is actually a lot of work done from the office. Expectations are reasonable for new staff.

Offices from the old Reznick side will be more affordable housing/commercial real estate focused, while old JH Cohn offices will be more diversified, but the firm is trying to grow more diverse practices in the old Reznick offices. LA is unique because it was the first integrated Reznick Group-JH Cohn office (the JH Cohn half itself the remnant of an old LA firm). As a result of the merger, LA has a great diversity of industry practice: affordable housing, commercial real estate, hospitality, retail, manufacturing, tech, and NFPs, among others.

The firm has a good reputation with public company audits, but it doesn't audit many of them (LA is no exception). It's really committed to the middle market.

My guess is that your experience will depend on the office that you've been hired at. A lot of the firm's growth is fairly recent merger/acquisition-related, and offices often will work and feel different as a result.

[jensterzac3]

Hey thanks so much for the great insight! I will be working in as an audit associate at a busy upper east coast CR office. I have heard that busy season is not as bad as a big 4, and you can still have a life during non-busy season. Does the firm offer tuition reimbursement for a master’s in accounting? I could not find that information anywhere.

[Anonymous]

The only advanced degree that the firm really wants to pay for is a master's in tax. Anything else you'd have to have a “business justification” for and have specially approved. I have honestly never heard of someone getting reimbursement for anything other than a master's in tax.

[jensterzac3]

What about a master's in accounting? I will have my 150 credits, but if I can get a free graduate education; I wouldn't mind getting any degree.

I have a question unrelated to my thread question. What do you see as the benefits of switching from CR to a Big 4? I honestly want the prestige of having a Big 4 on my resume and I also want the network and connections the Big 4 provide. I feel as though, if I am going to be working long hours and enduring a busy season why not do it at a firm with some cache.

[Freyer002]

@jensterzac3, I work at CR in the east coast myself. The policy for tuition reimbursement is only for a MST and they only do 50% tuition reimbursement and you have to work in tax to get it. Basically, CR knows that they are hiring you with 150 to get your CPA and knows if you are looking to get an MBA you won't be staying long after you get it. Over my time here ive seen people jump ship to Big 4 and they all regret it! Big 4 is the definition of SLAVE LABOR, the recruiters who tell you other wise are simply lying to you. You will learn so much working at any CR office and have prestige of working at a top 10 firm. You have a minimum of 55 hrs a week during busy season and will not do very much more than the minimum, especially your first year. Trust me, you are about to join a great firm and will be happy here. Keep an open mind this year through busy season and if you think your job is good or even not bad for public accounting, stick with it because big 4 will be 10 times worse. Best of Luck!

FAR 66 (07/01/13), 75! (10/01/13)
AUD 64 (08/12/13), 80! (11/23/13)
BEC 84! (05/22/14)
REG 77! (08/28/14)
DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Failure is only the opportunity to more intelligently begin again"

[jensterzac3]

@Freyer002. Thank you for sharing your experience! Forgive me for being very Big 4 minded, but I go to a large state school where the Big 4 dominate the recruiting period, donate to the school, and are highly suggested by most accounting professors; therefore, I feel a bit of sadness not working at a Big 4. However, you are very right Big 4 does work their associates like SLAVES, which no recruiter or professional will tell you. Beyond the resume glitz of Big 4, I am attracted to their clients and niche practices such as PCP(PWC) and FSO(EY). I will begin my employment with CR with an open mind and see how I enjoy it!

[Author]

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