[Never_Give_Up1]

Wondering what people out there work hour wise at their big 4 office or other employment. I have an interview at E&Y at one of their Texas locations and am wondering what to expect if I get back in the game.

Put your division you work in and busy season hours and non busy season hours per week.

I use to work at a regional firm as an auditor.

Busy season – Average 60 hours a week (peak: 70-75)

Rest of year 40 – 55

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[I'm, Ron Burgundy?]

@CPA10: “I don't really understand why anyone would stay in public if they were working over 80 hours a week. No overtime, small bonuses, and low salaries.”

While you illustrate a good point, here is the way I see it:

Hourly employees (mostly non-CPA's) – make huge bank during that time period.

Salaried employees (mostly CPA's) – kind of get screwed during that time period. However, they are generally making a lot more throughout the ENTIRE year with a consistent wage, not just during the period. And they also get bonuses after busy season, mostly. So it all evens out and in the end the designation always trumps.

Also, the best scenario in the end is to gain as much experience as possible by nearly killing yourself with long hours with the aspiration to one day strike out on your own. Or, you could always move over to private accounting and stare at Accounts Receivable Balances in your cubicle all day (a complete contradiction to the designation Certified PUBLIC Accountant).

To each is own, but I'd rather be in public accounting any day of the week where I'm working with multiple small business owners, instead of just one.

"If you're going through hell, keep going"
- Winston Churchill

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

BEC: (54), (72), 80 (losing credit on 02/02/15 - nervous)
AUD: 78
REG: (74), 91
FAR: (71)

[I'm, Ron Burgundy?]

@CPA10: “I don't really understand why anyone would stay in public if they were working over 80 hours a week. No overtime, small bonuses, and low salaries.”

While you illustrate a good point, here is the way I see it:

Hourly employees (mostly non-CPA's) – make huge bank during that time period.

Salaried employees (mostly CPA's) – kind of get screwed during that time period. However, they are generally making a lot more throughout the ENTIRE year with a consistent wage, not just during the period. And they also get bonuses after busy season, mostly. So it all evens out and in the end the designation always trumps.

Also, the best scenario in the end is to gain as much experience as possible by nearly killing yourself with long hours with the aspiration to one day strike out on your own. Or, you could always move over to private accounting and stare at Accounts Receivable Balances in your cubicle all day (a complete contradiction to the designation Certified PUBLIC Accountant).

To each is own, but I'd rather be in public accounting any day of the week where I'm working with multiple small business owners, instead of just one.

"If you're going through hell, keep going"
- Winston Churchill

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

BEC: (54), (72), 80 (losing credit on 02/02/15 - nervous)
AUD: 78
REG: (74), 91
FAR: (71)

[UCMCPA]

The draw to public accounting for me is the experience. Sure, working 80-100 hour weeks sucks, but if you're actually doing work, you are exposing yourself to 2-3x more than private or smaller firms.

I think with 6-8 years experience in a Big 4, the change over to private can be very lucrative. From what I have seen/been told; for example, take two graduates, one goes private, the other public The private guy will make more an hour, but if the public accounting graduate changes over 5+ years down the road, he is going to jump over the private guy in terms of salary/benefits/etc. This is where the true value is for me.

Within my group, at least during busy season we are provided with:

2-3 catered meals a day for 2.5 months

unlimited drinks

unlimited snacks – things like chocolate covered pretzels, etc. (no wonder people get so fat)

Also, the first day of the NCAA tournament our entire office shut down and just watched games the rest of the day, was an easy way to make 200 bucks. I seriously loved my internship and the people I worked with.

At a smaller firm, I doubt most of that is going to be provided, even on a rare occasion.

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[UCMCPA]

The draw to public accounting for me is the experience. Sure, working 80-100 hour weeks sucks, but if you're actually doing work, you are exposing yourself to 2-3x more than private or smaller firms.

I think with 6-8 years experience in a Big 4, the change over to private can be very lucrative. From what I have seen/been told; for example, take two graduates, one goes private, the other public The private guy will make more an hour, but if the public accounting graduate changes over 5+ years down the road, he is going to jump over the private guy in terms of salary/benefits/etc. This is where the true value is for me.

Within my group, at least during busy season we are provided with:

2-3 catered meals a day for 2.5 months

unlimited drinks

unlimited snacks – things like chocolate covered pretzels, etc. (no wonder people get so fat)

Also, the first day of the NCAA tournament our entire office shut down and just watched games the rest of the day, was an easy way to make 200 bucks. I seriously loved my internship and the people I worked with.

At a smaller firm, I doubt most of that is going to be provided, even on a rare occasion.

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[UCMCPA]

Also, I work in oil/gas, mining, etc. So going from Big 4 to management within one of those companies could pay VERY nicely.

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[UCMCPA]

Also, I work in oil/gas, mining, etc. So going from Big 4 to management within one of those companies could pay VERY nicely.

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[Mayo]

For me, leaving early means leaving around 6pm. Even during non-busy season hours.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

For me, leaving early means leaving around 6pm. Even during non-busy season hours.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[meggo]

I work in a small accounting firm (right now 11 people total). Our normal hours are 40 hours per week, and busy season we work 55 hours per week.

AUD - 77 (Becker only)
BEC - 75 (Becker only)
REG - 73 (Becker only), retake July 2013 - 86!! (Becker supplemented with NINJA notes)
FAR - 74 (Becker only), retake August 2013 (Becker, supplementing with NINJA notes and audio)

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

[meggo]

I work in a small accounting firm (right now 11 people total). Our normal hours are 40 hours per week, and busy season we work 55 hours per week.

AUD - 77 (Becker only)
BEC - 75 (Becker only)
REG - 73 (Becker only), retake July 2013 - 86!! (Becker supplemented with NINJA notes)
FAR - 74 (Becker only), retake August 2013 (Becker, supplementing with NINJA notes and audio)

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

[Anonymous]

It may depend on how ambitious you are, too. I'm at a medium sized firm in DE that does both tax and audit. We have 3 locations, 28 CPA's, 7 paraprofessionals. Tax season hours are usually 60-65 for the Seniors and Juniors but I know Supervisors and Partners put in more. Off-season hours are 37.5 per week (ending each day at 4:30) but if you are on an audit or special project we may do up to 50.

[Anonymous]

It may depend on how ambitious you are, too. I'm at a medium sized firm in DE that does both tax and audit. We have 3 locations, 28 CPA's, 7 paraprofessionals. Tax season hours are usually 60-65 for the Seniors and Juniors but I know Supervisors and Partners put in more. Off-season hours are 37.5 per week (ending each day at 4:30) but if you are on an audit or special project we may do up to 50.

[Anonymous]

I think people are so used to hearing that working at a Big 4 gives them more “exposure” and they get more experience. They may work on a big client that does have derivatives, hybrid whatever…etc , but they never see it. They are stuck on cash receipts for two years…

It is at the smaller firms that they get more experience. You have to do everything…there simply isn't the staff to be assigned just cash receipts. It is naïve to think that just because a business is smaller that they do not have complex accounting issues to tangle with. Business owners are very savvy when it comes to technology and what they can do with it. They don't have a franchise to hide behind—this is their baby. Their business is their life. Working at smaller firms is really an awesome place to learn an enormous amount and fast! AND without the 100+ hour weeks.

I believe you are paid more per hour, have a better work/life balance, get to see and work with much more that at a Big 4, and are truly serving your community. Some of these smaller firms don't have just “small” businesses. They may not be Apple or Wal Mart, but aren't “Pops Shaved Ice” either!! I understand you want your resume to reflect status…??, but you should really think about what you want to accomplish, your personal goals, and where you want to end up before you get sucked into the mentality that Big 4 is so great…just my opinion, of course!

There is so much more than Big 4 and smaller firms as well!!! A friend works for Sandia and LOVES it. We even had the discussion that in college they put you into this Big 4 trance and never mention a government job. Like it's a lowly place to be…not so!!! There are lots of CPA's there and are an amazing wealth of knowledge…

Just remember…research the smaller firms and see who is working there!!! The principals and shareholders are mainly people that worked Big 4 and have seen the light…

[Anonymous]

I think people are so used to hearing that working at a Big 4 gives them more “exposure” and they get more experience. They may work on a big client that does have derivatives, hybrid whatever…etc , but they never see it. They are stuck on cash receipts for two years…

It is at the smaller firms that they get more experience. You have to do everything…there simply isn't the staff to be assigned just cash receipts. It is naïve to think that just because a business is smaller that they do not have complex accounting issues to tangle with. Business owners are very savvy when it comes to technology and what they can do with it. They don't have a franchise to hide behind—this is their baby. Their business is their life. Working at smaller firms is really an awesome place to learn an enormous amount and fast! AND without the 100+ hour weeks.

I believe you are paid more per hour, have a better work/life balance, get to see and work with much more that at a Big 4, and are truly serving your community. Some of these smaller firms don't have just “small” businesses. They may not be Apple or Wal Mart, but aren't “Pops Shaved Ice” either!! I understand you want your resume to reflect status…??, but you should really think about what you want to accomplish, your personal goals, and where you want to end up before you get sucked into the mentality that Big 4 is so great…just my opinion, of course!

There is so much more than Big 4 and smaller firms as well!!! A friend works for Sandia and LOVES it. We even had the discussion that in college they put you into this Big 4 trance and never mention a government job. Like it's a lowly place to be…not so!!! There are lots of CPA's there and are an amazing wealth of knowledge…

Just remember…research the smaller firms and see who is working there!!! The principals and shareholders are mainly people that worked Big 4 and have seen the light…

[Never_Give_Up1]

I work in government and I can't wait to get out. If you have any ambition at all you will hate it. The people are incompetent and lazy. I use to audit a lot of government clients at a regional firm I was at and were amazed at the incompetence of the people. Now working for government has confirmed it… there may be 1-2 people in an office of 20 people who are workers. The rest are clock punchers who are there for just a check. Yeah the benefits are great… ill take the 70+ hour work week over this any day.

But to each their own.

And while I tend to agree with you that a small firm will expose you to more, the opportunities from big 4 far outweigh the negatives associated with it. That is why schools push it, name recognition. Go look on ladders.com or roberthalf.com any position that makes 100k+ all have the “big 4 preferred.” So If you give up 3-5 years of you life to get the resume builder, it opens up way more opportunities for the rest of your life. Good luck getting those opportunities at a smaller regional firm. I was with a regional audit firm, and if you wanted to be an auditor for the rest of you life, smaller firm is the way to go. But if you are doing it for the stepping stone, then big 4 is a no brainer.

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[Author]

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