[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

[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

[acamp]

I'm at a Big4, a lot of it is engagement dependent and some of that is on you.

ie: Work with schedulers, I have a family and while being on our biggest investment clients would serve BEST for my career, I'm perfectly happy working on mid-sized firms where I get great exposure, clients big enough that people in my office actually know who they are… but I don't work wildly excessive hours.

Busy season usually 55-60 hours, off season, 45s or so. That said, I ended up on a summer IPO once and was doing 80+ hours during the summer, completely out of my control nothing I could do to wiggle out of it. So, there is always that too haha

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

I'm at a Big4, a lot of it is engagement dependent and some of that is on you.

ie: Work with schedulers, I have a family and while being on our biggest investment clients would serve BEST for my career, I'm perfectly happy working on mid-sized firms where I get great exposure, clients big enough that people in my office actually know who they are… but I don't work wildly excessive hours.

Busy season usually 55-60 hours, off season, 45s or so. That said, I ended up on a summer IPO once and was doing 80+ hours during the summer, completely out of my control nothing I could do to wiggle out of it. So, there is always that too haha

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Anonymous]

I think it just depends on your personal situation…every office is different. Never worked government–just an option. I was just trying to point out that what may be right for someone, may not work for someone else. Every person has their own path. I just want people to realize their just isn't the ONE magical path to success. Big 4 may be the perfect path…a small firm or industry…just depends on your personal goals, what you want to accomplish, and where you want to end up. If your goal is 100k+ then Big 4 may the fastest way to get there, but you can certainly get there without it! 🙂 Not being condescending!! I just try to research EVERYTHING before making a decision and listening to the masses.

I wish everyone the most fulfilling journey to your goals!! Getting your CPA is just the beginning…:)

[Anonymous]

I think it just depends on your personal situation…every office is different. Never worked government–just an option. I was just trying to point out that what may be right for someone, may not work for someone else. Every person has their own path. I just want people to realize their just isn't the ONE magical path to success. Big 4 may be the perfect path…a small firm or industry…just depends on your personal goals, what you want to accomplish, and where you want to end up. If your goal is 100k+ then Big 4 may the fastest way to get there, but you can certainly get there without it! 🙂 Not being condescending!! I just try to research EVERYTHING before making a decision and listening to the masses.

I wish everyone the most fulfilling journey to your goals!! Getting your CPA is just the beginning…:)

[jkpoker1]

70-100 hours? You guys must hate your lives. Why would anyone work that many hours for what an accountant position pays. I'd rather be a controller in private working 40 hours a week with some sort of social life.

Quest to be a CPA

BEC-74 (7/13),
REG- ?? (8/13)
AUD-TBA
FAR-TBA

[jkpoker1]

70-100 hours? You guys must hate your lives. Why would anyone work that many hours for what an accountant position pays. I'd rather be a controller in private working 40 hours a week with some sort of social life.

Quest to be a CPA

BEC-74 (7/13),
REG- ?? (8/13)
AUD-TBA
FAR-TBA

[barelystayingsane]

I haven't started working at my Big 4 company yet, but I'm looking forward to the long hours. I have a tendency to spend too much money on entertainment when I have a lot of free time. Working long hours will keep me from spending my paycheck. 🙂

[barelystayingsane]

I haven't started working at my Big 4 company yet, but I'm looking forward to the long hours. I have a tendency to spend too much money on entertainment when I have a lot of free time. Working long hours will keep me from spending my paycheck. 🙂

[vanadium3]

it's the nature of the profession. but wouldn't it be nice to balance it out in the summer and not work and still get paid? but no.. you still have to work “8 hr” days non busy season.

well nothing is perfect I guess. still 100+ hr you are asking for early death.

CPA

[vanadium3]

it's the nature of the profession. but wouldn't it be nice to balance it out in the summer and not work and still get paid? but no.. you still have to work “8 hr” days non busy season.

well nothing is perfect I guess. still 100+ hr you are asking for early death.

CPA

[Ntw6817]

@vanadium3 I actually work for a smaller firm and they allow us to work less in the summer. It's not a huge difference but we work 36 hours a week from July- September. However, this year the partners decided to extend it from July-December.

[Ntw6817]

@vanadium3 I actually work for a smaller firm and they allow us to work less in the summer. It's not a huge difference but we work 36 hours a week from July- September. However, this year the partners decided to extend it from July-December.

[Mayo]

“I haven't started working at my Big 4 company yet, but I'm looking forward to the long hours”

😀

As for Big 4, if you begin your career with smaller clients, you get the upside of learning lots, and having the Big4 name on your resume. Later on, you can always move to larger clients to get more exposure to large accounting departments and their operations. Personally, I've had that opportunity, and as a staff I audited nearly everything (Cash, AP, Fixed Assets, Derivatives, Inventory, Intangibles, Equity, Investments, etc.).

At the end of the day though, it doesn't matter where you start, but where you end up. If you work for John Doe, CPAs, but you end up at Big 4 for a few years, no one's going to bat an eye.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

“I haven't started working at my Big 4 company yet, but I'm looking forward to the long hours”

😀

As for Big 4, if you begin your career with smaller clients, you get the upside of learning lots, and having the Big4 name on your resume. Later on, you can always move to larger clients to get more exposure to large accounting departments and their operations. Personally, I've had that opportunity, and as a staff I audited nearly everything (Cash, AP, Fixed Assets, Derivatives, Inventory, Intangibles, Equity, Investments, etc.).

At the end of the day though, it doesn't matter where you start, but where you end up. If you work for John Doe, CPAs, but you end up at Big 4 for a few years, no one's going to bat an eye.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Author]

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