[tud20551]

Just like the title says.

[Missy]

Tud I can answer that, I am absolutely not willing to compromise my family time for my career. Period. I've never missed a parent teacher night, sports practice or scout meeting nor do I intend to. I'm convinced when it's time to meet my maker I won't regret the 50-100k a year I traded for my kids and their friends counting on me to be there. Yea making double my current salary would get us a lot more toys but it's not what matters at the end of the day to me.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

@tud – not everyone has the personality or drive for a chillax corporate job. Yes, you might make a lot of money, but as some previous posters have mentioned, money is *not* everything. Right now I work in a law firm. They are extremely well-capitalized and the average attorney there takes home $40,000 a month. But, let me tell you, they don't sit around doing nothing all day for that money. Their clients depend on them! If they lose litigation cases or screw up somehow, they're not going to make any money! It's not that people don't want to be, as you say, “high up in the world” – but to be successful in a position like that, you have to be cut out for it – not just in terms of having the brains to steer the boat of a big organization, but also the personality/emotional stability/etc. etc. There are so many factors at play. Let me be the first to tell you that a CEO can't just sit in their office drinking scotch and smoking doobies all day. If senior management screws up, the board will usually get them the hell out of the company very fast. Of course, if you have your own company, you can chill as much as you want…but I dare say that chill doesn't usually equate to having a highly successful company.

You say B4 is “the best”. They are only “the best” in terms of having the largest number of public companies for clients. There are plenty of fine accountants who make plenty of money who work in private and/or have no CPA. You also say “why have different career goals?” Do you think that everyone wants to work in audit or tax at the B4? If so, let me be the first to tell you that that is not true. My career path is audit, but I don't really have an interest in auditing financials of public companies. My interest is more on the internal audit/compliance side. That's the nice thing about accounting – if you don't like working in one area, you can move into another that suits you. But working in B4 is not a match for everyone, especially those of us who didn't go into B4 right out of school. If you're on that track, then that's cool, but most people aren't. Best of wishes.

[Missy]

Yeah the “chill” corporate jobs that pay in excess of 200k/year involve two plus hours commute per day (because you want the house in the suburbs with good schools for the kids) then a 60 hour plus work week. If you make 200k/year which is average that's about 54/hour when you consider the commute. I'll stick with my current salary including 20 minute commute in the burbs. If I ever CHOOSE to work a 70 hour week I'll do consulting on the side for $60-@250/hr.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Operation_CPA]

My experience so far in Big 4 accounting is as follows: Everyone is relatively young and motivated. You know why you're there and so does everyone else, it's no secret. People generally care about their jobs and want to learn as much as possible.

Also – this goes without saying, but sometimes you'll enjoy the “Big 4 life” and drink the kool-aid. Other times you simply won't… and wonder why you're working 70 hours a week making $58k a year.

Bottom line though: having Big 4 on your resume is huge and can pay major dividends down the road, which in reality is why you start there in the first place. You have the opportunity to work on some really awesome/desirable clients and build your overall network across the firm. While busy season is a real pain, look at all the successful people in the business world that started in Big 4 and transitioned into something bigger and better. It's clearly very common which is why so many people want a B4 job.

[Anonymous]

Big 4 people, would you say there is a lot of gossip and competitiveness? Are some offices highly fraternal and a lot of behind the scenes promiscuity?

[Anonymous]

The B4 firm that audited a big private company I used to work for seemed like a bunch of cocky high school kids. I was thinking “I'm glad I am not on that audit team.” My personality would never have jived with theirs. They seemed very driven and determined…it's a highly competitive atmosphere, at least that's the impression I got. Sort of like “If you don't like it, we're not only going to show you where the door is located, we're going to throw you right out on your face and laugh at you.” Some people like that stuff. I'm not one of them though! As for the promiscuity, yeah, I'm sure of it. I've always had a personal thing about not getting involved with coworkers – lust does not always equal love. But, the younger the involved parties are, the harder the hormones rage and the harder it is to avoid the inevitable. I'm soooo glad I'm past that part of my life. It can be fun, but the outcome is not always good. Dating another audit team member…..maybe not the best thing?

[Anonymous]

Of course, I'll be knocked for saying this, but I unequivocally love my big four firm. The giant clients have a lot going on, a lot of complexity, nitty gritty details, news coverage to follow them, and I guess a cool name you recognize if that matters.

I don't think the private equity firm I audit right now could have been as interesting as it is found elsewhere.

We also have a ton of specialists who are attachments to audits – so you/I've picked up on basic programming and valuation. I know I couldn't have got it elsewhere. Yes, long hours, but long is up to ones opinion – and I find the work to be fun.

[Author]

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