Need career advice (CPA Passed)

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  • #2183968
    xpan
    Participant

    Hello All. I finished all four exams in early 2018. Finished them very quickly – 3 parts in late 2017 (roughly 10 days per section). Gave myself several months of break, took and finished the last one during tax season 2018. And luckily, all on first attempt.

    I finished my master’s degree in May 2017. Jumped right into public accounting after graduation (my current employer). Within my current position, I am responsible for providing a wide range of financial services such as: bookkeeping, tax prep, tax resolution, and insurance. I am pretty much taking the full charge over the financial services side of the business. But, the company is really small and no one in the firm is a CPA. I am trying to see if I can make into Big four after this tax season.

    The question is, what position should I apply? All the positions I have applied so far are either “experienced business tax” or “experienced tax private company services (or high net-worth individual).” I did talk to KPMG couple days ago. KPMG asked for a initial phone screen a week after I applied. It went pretty good. Quickly went over my background and experiences, and then jumped right into locations and openings. The recruiter did mention tho that business tax team is usually looking for someone with provision-type tax returns experiences (Public Traded Company).

    I am okay with both tax and audit, or advisory. I know for sure if I want to get into audit or advisory, I might have to apply for associate level (college hire); whereas, I may apply for experienced positions if I am okay with tax.

    Any suggestions? Should I just go for associate? Big four are my targets. I am totally okay with long hours and all that. Really looking for a position that I can utilize my capabilities.

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  • #2184766
    Hank Scorpio
    Participant

    Just about every firm is staffed up for this busy season. Decide if you want to stick with tax or mover over to audit. Don't discount regional firms vs the big 4 either, especially if you decide you want to move to audit. A firm would love to have your tax experience with you wanting to move to audit. You'd be considered a well rounded auditor at that point and could search out experienced positions.

    FAR - 10/3/16
    BEC - 69 - 10/31/16
    AUD - November 2016
    REG - December 2016

    #2188555
    vbmer
    Participant

    If you can avoid going into Audit, do it. Everyone at a Big 4 firm is trying to get out of Audit, not into it. (not to disparage auditing, but is what it is) Tax, Advisory/Consulting, and Transactions/Deals are generally preferable service lines unless your exit goal is internal audit or financial accounting. Don't take a Staff position if you know you have the experience for Senior – you can always network and try to lateral into your desired practice later at the level you should be at.

    #2188645
    DM
    Participant

    Big4 wants corporate experience, so internships/externships go a long way in landing a big4 job. In your case, I think you are competing against others who have this internship experience, comparatively diminishing your value. You can try for a seasonal hire, but I think staffing is done for this busy season. Your best bet is to try for summer internship in audit or tax. Advisory people are recruited directly out of college. Some auditors transfer into advisory, but the advisory practice has to be hiring, which varies in geographical regions. Out of 100 first year starting staff at Big4, my experience in NYC suggests that only around 1-5 auditors transfer successfully before making senior. Big4 will make auditors wait for 1 year senior to be considered for advisory or consulting. Managers and senior managers are more likely to get a rotation on advisory projects.
    Big4 is extremely competitive. Everyone and anyone applies, so you have to distinguish yourself as a top candidate. This includes 3.5+ major GPA, prior Big4 internship/experience, accounting degree and passed CPA exams. Once you have met these initial qualifications, then you need to show Big4 you are interested in networking/expanding your business network while at Big4.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
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