[Anonymous]

I have been having trouble getting a job in accounting. I applied to Big 4 and can’t get in because I’m not a student so I can only apply for experienced jobs which I don’t have. I tried smaller Public accounting firms and they don’t really have the capacity to hire me and train me.

I’ve been looking at some Internal Auditing jobs and the threshold seems pretty low and they pay doesn’t seem bad at all, 40k plus most the time. I am wondering how many people start their career off in internal auditing and what’s the ramifications? It does intrigue me that I could get a CPA and CIA license from it. Also the hours are better I’m sure.

I was at a career fair and the guys from KPMG said that 3 of them started off internal auditing for GE then became managers/experienced associates at KPMG so I guess it can launch your career to public accounting in some cases.

Just any information people can give me on internal auditing would be appreciated because I’m thinking this is going to be my key to break into the auditing field. The experience seems great and it gives you a CIA license but not many people on here, at school, or accountants I know are internal auditors and the requirements on some of these sites seem really low. Like a bachelor degree in any business concentration and a 2.5 or higher GPA was 1 qualification.

[wizards8507]

You don't want to “get into” the Big 4.

People go to the Big 4 so that they can get a fancy, well-respected name on their resume and then move out into a corporate job with cushy hours. It's the rungs on the ladder to a good career, not the good career itself. Even Big 4 recruiters will tell you this. I had a manager at PwC tell me about how the busy seasons at work led to him “missing his kids growing up,” and he said it like it was some kind of badge of honor to be proud of. Most people IN public accounting are trying like hell to get OUT, not the other way around.

NY CPA

[wizards8507]

You don't want to “get into” the Big 4.

People go to the Big 4 so that they can get a fancy, well-respected name on their resume and then move out into a corporate job with cushy hours. It's the rungs on the ladder to a good career, not the good career itself. Even Big 4 recruiters will tell you this. I had a manager at PwC tell me about how the busy seasons at work led to him “missing his kids growing up,” and he said it like it was some kind of badge of honor to be proud of. Most people IN public accounting are trying like hell to get OUT, not the other way around.

NY CPA

[Anonymous]

Well I don't want to get into big 4. If I did I would probably be working for one right now not to sound arrogant. I just don't want to make way less than I should or get stone walled by working in internal auditing instead of working in public accounting.

It's just hard for me to comprehend what you just said and then look at these internal auditing jobs that none of my classmates even tried to get into.

[Anonymous]

Well I don't want to get into big 4. If I did I would probably be working for one right now not to sound arrogant. I just don't want to make way less than I should or get stone walled by working in internal auditing instead of working in public accounting.

It's just hard for me to comprehend what you just said and then look at these internal auditing jobs that none of my classmates even tried to get into.

[wizards8507]

Internal auditing isn't the only ballgame out there. I graduated in 2011 and I'm up above $60,000 with a promotion on the way working in corporate accounting.

Public accounting is appealing because the career path is very predictable. If you're pretty good and pass the exam, you'll probably get promoted in 2-3 years. However, if you're confident that your talent and hard work will stand out, it can be hard to “rise above” the predetermined track.

NY CPA

[wizards8507]

Internal auditing isn't the only ballgame out there. I graduated in 2011 and I'm up above $60,000 with a promotion on the way working in corporate accounting.

Public accounting is appealing because the career path is very predictable. If you're pretty good and pass the exam, you'll probably get promoted in 2-3 years. However, if you're confident that your talent and hard work will stand out, it can be hard to “rise above” the predetermined track.

NY CPA

[K_Sunshine5]

It depends on the company that the internal auditior position is in. I am an internal auditor for a F500 company so we do a lot more than just auditing the company we work for. I absolutely love my job and don't at all regret not going into public accounting. I am getting diversified experience and will be able to move up in the corporate world once I get enough experience.

Like @wizards8507 said, most people in public accounting are looking to get into corporate accounting sometime in their career. There is a lot of opportunity in corporate accounting. I would advise you to think about what you want in a job. Corporate accounting jobs usually have a better work/life balance than public accounting. If you are young with no children or anything holding you back, public accounting would be great for your resume if you can put a couple years in. But if you don't want to work your life away, corporate accounting is a good idea. It all depends on what you want right now and in the future. Good luck with the job search though! I know it's a tough market out there!

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[K_Sunshine5]

It depends on the company that the internal auditior position is in. I am an internal auditor for a F500 company so we do a lot more than just auditing the company we work for. I absolutely love my job and don't at all regret not going into public accounting. I am getting diversified experience and will be able to move up in the corporate world once I get enough experience.

Like @wizards8507 said, most people in public accounting are looking to get into corporate accounting sometime in their career. There is a lot of opportunity in corporate accounting. I would advise you to think about what you want in a job. Corporate accounting jobs usually have a better work/life balance than public accounting. If you are young with no children or anything holding you back, public accounting would be great for your resume if you can put a couple years in. But if you don't want to work your life away, corporate accounting is a good idea. It all depends on what you want right now and in the future. Good luck with the job search though! I know it's a tough market out there!

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[Author]

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