[Xsnob1234]

Hi All:

After back and forth phone and onsite interviews with numerous accounting firms over the past several months, I have been offered audit staff positions with a local small regional firm ~60 people and an out-of-state mid-tier(Top 30), here are my own thoughts of the Pros and Cons for each:

Local Small Regional:
Pros
-Close to home, don’t have to relocate to pay rent and other expenses
-Can network with school alumni who are working in accounting more easily
-While the pay is a bit less than the Mid-Tier, it isn’t bad for an entry level position

Cons
-Lack of the exposure to bigger clients/more complex transactions at the Mid-Tier firms
-Less Recognized

Mid-Tier:
Pros
-Higher pay(but also higher expenses)
-More prestige
-More exposure to bigger clients/more complex transactions
-While it is out of state, it is not unimaginably far(~500 Miles)

Cons
-Can’t network easily with school alumni

If my future goal is to go to work for a Big4 after I get some experience, which one is the better option? Please give me some opinions.

Thanks

~My CPA Journey~
FAR- 2/24/15- 81
REG- 4/27/15- Pending
AUD- TBD
BEC- TBD

[PNS2CLT]

If your goal is to join B4, it won’t make a difference whether you started at a small, local firm or a medium-sized regional firm or even industry.

I’d pick the place you’d feel most comfortable working in over the next 3-3 years (possibly longer). Consider not only pay, but also benefits and work culture.

For example, I’ve received two offers I’m currently evaluating. I’m leaning toward the lesser paying one — $8k less per year is significant, but I like the idea of wearing a hooded sweatshirt and jeans to work vs. a suit and tie, additional time off (about 15 more days), and a less pressured environment.

Good luck!

[ultrarunner]

Congratulations on receiving multiple offers! How exciting! I mostly agree with PNS2CLT except that industry experience won't count in any public accounting firm. When I considered multiple firms, I talked to some experienced people (they are not accountants though). They all said it was important to start a big company for your resume. I am not sure whether name recognition matters in accounting, but it all depends on what you like. Once the firms extend the offers, they try to get you signed ASAP. You could wait and see if one firm offers something that the other doesn't. All the best.

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[PNS2CLT]

@ultrarunner – the early years of a B4 career are focused largely on compliance; if you’re trying to get a B4 gig with “experience,” it won’t matter whether that experience was within public or industry. The work At B4 is entirely different, and they do recognize industry experience.

[Xsnob1234]

@PNS2CLT

Thank you for the input. I have until early Jan to make the decision, no matter which Accounting firm I end up choosing, I only plan to stick there for short term(one year). I have passed all sections of the CPA exam and I look forward to an opportunity to jump to Big4 after I get my CPA license and reach the one year experience mark. Definitely during this “one year period,” I will network my ass off with school alumni who are working for the Big4.

Personally, I have met with and talked to many Big4 folks at various levels(Associates, Manager, SM, Partners) at my past school career fair/networking events and I was quite impressed by their perfessional manner and soft skills. Unfortunately, I have already graduated so I can’t go through the On-Campus recruiting anymore.

~My CPA Journey~
FAR- 2/24/15- 81
REG- 4/27/15- Pending
AUD- TBD
BEC- TBD

[Author]

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