[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I was wondering if you guys would be nice enough to offer me some advice. I recently went through college recruiting and was lucky enough to receive offers from a few firms, including one of the big4. Everyone has been telling me to go with the big4 offer but to be honest I would like to work for a top 30 firm that extended an offer to me as well. I have three main reasons why I would like to work for this firm instead of the big4 one:

1: I have never worked in tax and I feel like the top 30 firm would expose me to a lot more things than the big4. I would literally be doing a little bit of everything (state, local, corporate. international, estate, trusts, etc.) and this is the type of experience I would like to get in the beginning of my career since this is how you find out which area you would like to specialize in. Working for the big4 would be great but from what I hear your duties tend to be really specific due to the larger size of the clients and thus you don’t get as much exposure.

2. It all comes down to the people. I LOVED the people I met at the top 30 firm. They were so down to earth and many of them had the same type of personality that I have. I was able to speak to over 15 different employees from the company and felt like I would not mind spending 60 hours/week with them. I have worked in an office environment before and being able to get along with my co-workers is extremely important to me.

3. I don’t plan to be a CFO or work for a Fortune 500 company in the future. Instead, I would like to either stay in public accounting working for a large regional firm, switch to the government sector, or go back to school to get my PhD and become a professor. So considering my future goals and expectations I don’t think the fact that I didn’t work for one of the big4 would prevent me from accomplishing either one of the stated goals.

I know how great it looks to have a big4 name on your resume but to be honest I am not going after the name, I’m going after a company where I would be exposed to many of the areas in taxation and where I would feel comfortable working at.

Considering my reasoning what you would you do if you were to be in my shoes?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you have pick what company you want to work for already.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the person above me. It sounds like you already have your mind made up!

Personally, I would choose the regional firm, but that's because I chose a regional firm myself! In regards to your #2, I would strongly take that into consideration. I know several people who work at big4 companies and hate it. They're just a number and basically do the same tasks day in and day out. You will get SO MUCH experience at a smaller firm. For example, I'm starting with a regional firm in January after interning with them for 3 busy seasons and a summer. I've had experience in every type of tax so far and I can't tell you how beneficial it was for me on the cpa exams, especially reg. I've also been exposed to audits, compilations, and personal financial statements.

You're going to work a lot of hours wherever you end up so I can't stress how important it is to enjoy your work environment and the people that work there. I love my job and I love going to work everyday. I can't wait to start again in January. I think if a company gives you that feeling then you should for sure hop on board!!!

Good luck with the decision. I know big 4 is hard to pass up…

[Anonymous]

Go with the smaller one. I was in a similar position, and while everyone told me to choose the Big 4 for the obvious resume booster, I didn't listen. Granted, I don't start until Jan 2, so I can't tell you for sure if I made the right choice or not, BUT I feel similar to how you seem to feel. I'm a person who works to live, not lives to work. 60+ hour work weeks during busy season for your first job is daunting enough nevermind the 80+ if you went to a Big 4. Also I didn't want the hassle of commuting into the city/Financial District vs staying in the suburbs. I also got the same vibe you did about a regional firm exposing you to a greater VARIETY of accounting issues (although I'm SURE the learning experience at a Big 4 is great too). If you're happy with the pay offered at the smaller firm (I was, completely) and your goal isn't to be the most respected and prestigious CPA/partner to ever walk the earth, I think you (and I) will be fine 🙂

[Whatdidyou]

Personally, I would choose big 4. Generally, the clients are more interesting & the name recognition is great. and:

“3. I don't plan to be a CFO or work for a Fortune 500 company in the future. Instead, I would like to either stay in public accounting working for a large regional firm, switch to the government sector, or go back to school to get my PhD and become a professor. So considering my future goals and expectations I don't think the fact that I didn't work for one of the big4 would prevent me from accomplishing either one of the stated goals.”

You never know if your plans are going to change in the future, and can easily switch from the big 4 to a regional firm or gov't or phd program, in the future.

As far as #1: There may be some truth to that. But it really depends on your offfice/clients. Often big 4 offices in smaller/medium markets will give you the same diversity as a regional firm in a large market. In my area, the big 4 offices are actually smaller than the regional offices that are in the neighboring state, as such, I feel like the regional firms usual pitch (you get to work on X amount of clients and exposed to a large amount of areas) doesnt really work so much here because it is true of the big 4 offices as well, except that the big 4 average client is of a much higher quality than the regional firms.

#2: This is definitely something to take under consideration. Did you not like the people you met from big 4?

I also think that big 4 offers the best training, access to resources, larger salaries (in the long term), and oftentimes more perks.

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[porschify]

I would pick Big 4 because I think it would benefit you more in the long term. It is a name that everyone is going to recognize even future employers. Big 4 gets thousands of resumes for each open position,and it looks great on your resume if you show that you were one of the few selected for that position. Also dont assume that you would not get exposure to other areas of tax they want you to be successful in your career so make sure express interest in being on those engagements and you will be exposed to those areas. Good luck in your decision.

Edit: I agree with everything Whatdidyou said above me. It looks like we were responding at the same time.

REG- 81
BEC- 72,76
AUD- 67,88
FAR- 78

Done!

[PhDCPA]

If you decide to go the Ph.D. route experience at a big 4 firm will be much more beneficial to you in coming up with interesting research ideas.

[Anonymous]

Wow, top 30? IS that what that firm calls themselves. What a load of crap! Top 30 could mean only 120 million in revenue. Big 4 is 10 billion. Sorry, not even close to being in the same catergory.

Big 4 will never hurt your resume.

I worked for a top 30. They said “we are the best of both worlds” That is complete garbage.

More like the worst of both worlds. You will work like you are in the Big4, but you will not get the recognition.

Likewise, a small firm will not be glamourous, but you will not work like a slave.

So here it is – B4 – Slave, Glory

Top 30 – Slave, No Glory

Small – Not really a slave, No Glory

[Author]

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