[jaredo155]

I have been in corporate tax for almost 5 years now, and yesterday a manager at a Big 4 firm who is a friend and colleague approached me to ask if I would be interested in working for them, and that if I was they could probably get me a position.

I was an econ major in undergrad and didn’t realize I wanted to be an accountant until later, and so I never went through conventional recruiting or had really ever thought working for a Big 4 firm would be an option for me. With that said I am very torn on what to do, I know the experience of Big 4 on my resume is priceless and their training is second to none, but I am 30 have a wife and kid and my current job rarely ever requires over 40 hours a week. I suspect if I put in 5 years at the Big 4 and made Manager I would more than double my current salary when I came back to corporate. On the flip side I make enough money now that my family isn’t struggling or anything, and I will get to those same levels it will just take considerably longer.

Has anyone gone from Corporate to Big 4 or vice versa, what was your experience like do you think it is worth it?

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"Do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda

[fuzyfro89]

It will give you good experience and a better resume, but yes, the hours and responsibility will be rough.

The question for you is: can you deal with hard grueling hours for 2-5 years, in exchange for a (potentially) better career path and better mobility? Even that is not guaranteed, as finding the sweet gigs after public depends on how well you network and interview…

[Author]

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