[Lunchboxx]

Short-Term Goal: I want to make it as an external auditor for a Big 4 firm. I want to maximize my compensation and I do not mind working long hour weeks; so Big 4 seems to be the way to go!

Long-Term Goal: After being an external auditor for 5-10+ years and make manager or higher, I will most likely want to transfer into the private industry to become controller/CFO/internal-auditor.

Path 1: Seasonal Audit Specialist at PwC – I will earn approximately $20 an hour doing extremely menial task such sending out confirmations. I figure this is a great job to get my foot into the door. On the down side, I will not learn much since Seasonal Audit Specialists primarily do the tasks deemed too trivial for the staff auditors. Also, since this is a seasonal job, after my contractual period is over, I could potentially be unemployed.

Path 2: Staff Auditor at a Small Audit Firm – I will earn anywhere from 40-45k per year doing a multitude of different audit procedures. This is by far a better job in terms of learning, since I will work primarily with small clients, I will do everything from the preliminary analytical procedures to drafting financial statements. On the down side, I will most likely get promoted slower, make less money and have a harder time transitioning to the Big 4 if that is still my goal.

Which path should I take? Currently, I am thinking of attending my University’s career fair on January 28th and applying at every Big 4 for a staff auditor position. I will have a Master’s of Accountancy(3.8 GPA) and be a CPA. Which of the two jobs listed above will give me a better shot at landing a Big 4 staff auditor position at my school’s career fair so I can meet both my short-term and long-term goals.

AUD - 93
REG - 96
BEC - 92
FAR - 90

Done!

[Anonymous]

pwc. if you do good work they will keep u. plus its pwc on your resume. and even though pwc is riskier…with your aspirations you minus well take the risk. bigger risk bigger reward

[OnMyWay732]

Do P dubs for 2-3 years then be out

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[Lunchboxx]

Thanks for the advice!

@OnMyWay732, what do you mean by do PwC for 2-3 years then be out? Do you mean make senior auditor then look for a job outside of public accounting?

AUD - 93
REG - 96
BEC - 92
FAR - 90

Done!

[Anonymous]

Can you survive financially (and wisely) being unemployed after the seasonal gig is up? If so, then it's OK, but I'm assuming by about the time the seasonal gig is up, your student loan payments will start rolling in. Most places, $20/hr isn't enough to save a lot on, so I'm guessing you can't save during busy season enough to live on till next hiring season (seems to be Dec-Jan starts usually for B4?). So, make sure you've got a contingency plan in place in case they don't keep you on. Putting PwC on your resume to get a job a minimum wage job as a cashier or something like that isn't quite the goal. If it were me, I'd take the small-firm offer because you're more likely to still be employed in a few months.

[greg422]

It depends. Don't be overly obsessed with Big 4. You may end up auditing cash for 3 years and no really know what's going on. I spent some years at a small/regional firm and was able to audit everything from cash through equity and complex revenue rec and feel like that really helped me understand auditing better. My end goal was to leave public, which I did, but I wouldn't trade the hands on experience for anything.

REG - 82
AUD - 97
BEC - 81
FAR - 84
DONE!

[soyanks]

As someone who previously worked at a Big 4 firm for about 5 years, I think it's crazy for you to take a seasonal job (which is basically a temp job) over a guaranteed FT offer.

A seasonal job is a seasonal job. It's not even an internship. In fact, an internship would be considered a better opportunity than a seasonal job because most interns end up with a FT offer (Unless they screw up so badly). Seasonal employment is basically a temp job. Chances of getting an offer is not that good. You do basically the same task that interns are asked to do, but interns get invited to workshops, meet & greet, baseball games, free lunch/dinners, etc etc. Temps are not part of workshops or meet & greets, etc.

You have to ask yourself. If the seasonal job was with a small accounting firm (instead of Big 4), you probably would take the FT offer instead. So basically, you are hung up on the fact that you will get an opportunity with a Big 4 and it's a good way to get yourself in. The reality is, this is a temp job. That's all it is. If this was an internship, you can take the plunge because the chances of you landing a FT offer is pretty good. But when it's only a temp job, you should take the FT offer with a smaller firm. Go work for the smaller firm, pass your CPA, and after a year, apply to Big 4 if you want. It would be much easier to land a job that way.

FAR - 86
REG - 85
BEC - 90
AUD - 84

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with soyanks.

1) The work experience is going to be waaaay better at the small firm.

2) You'll be jobless going into what is typically a slower time of year for public accountants.

3) It's fairly easy to go from a small firm to the Big 4. Happens all the time. Get your CPA and apply at the one year mark.

I am very skeptical of taking part time work. I've seen one too many people get wrapped up in going from gig to gig as “consultants”. Real consultants BILL $200/hr plus on their time and employ their own methods. Temporary employees hired as “Consultants” punch a clock like a pipe fitter.

[Lunchboxx]

@billbrasskey, What do you mean it's easy to switch from a small audit firm to a Big 4 firm? If I were to work at a small firm for 1 year to receive my CPA license, would I be a high demand candidate for the Big 4?

AUD - 93
REG - 96
BEC - 92
FAR - 90

Done!

[cool_kid]

I would definitely go with the small firm FT offer. You'll be learning a lot and getting some experience. Considering that you've already passed all the exams, you shouldn't have a problem finding a position at a larger firm.

[randerso]

I would also recommend the FT offer with a smaller firm. You'll learn more, you'll be paid more, it's a sure thing. In my area, the Big 4 are always looking for senior auditors so you can make the switch later if you want, probably after 2-3 years.

REG: (May 2014) - 80 ✔
AUD: (Nov 2014) - 93 ✔
FAR: (Oct 2014) - 71, (Jan 2015) - 88 ✔
BEC: (Feb 2015) - 89 ✔

CA PETH: 94 percent

[Anonymous]

lunchboxx-

I can't tell you if you'd be a high demand candidate. Your work ethic, networking skills, and ability to market yourself is what will make you high, or low in demand.

I can tell you that a lot of people make the jump to the Big 4 after cutting their teeth at a small firm. It happens all the time.

Young CPAs like it because they get a big bump in pay and the Big 4 like it because they don't have to worry about review every email you draft so you don't sound like an ass only to have you jump ship for a client after the first busy season grinds you out.

[ScarletKnightCPA]

I say take the small firm. It is less of a risk and you have opportunity to apply for big 4 1 year down the line.

If temps are being hired in large numbers most of them will probably not receive job offers. I know Bloomberg churns through hundreds of temps that they were paying $12 an hour.

If temps are being hired in smaller numbers you have a greater chance, but generally the reason companies hire temps is because they don't want to hire permanent for whatever reason. You might be able to use it leverage it into networking opportunities though. Of course they say there is a chance to go permenant, they all say that to make the position more attractive.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[cool_kid]

Yea Bloomberg does hire a ton of temps. I actually know people who work there. I've heard the free food at the cafeteria is pretty awesome though haha.

I generally would be hesitant to accept temp jobs though. You may be lucky to have it convert to full time but at the same time it seems too risky and a pain to look for another job after if you dont get it. Also as ScarletKnightCPA said, I'm not sure you can always trust an employer when they say it could turn permanent. We all know that its so that employers can pay less and not have to give benefits so they'll do whatever is in their best interest.

[acamp]

“It depends. Don't be overly obsessed with Big 4. You may end up auditing cash for 3 years and no really know what's going on.”

LOL. This is along the same lines as saying, “hey don't work for a small firm, you may end up with no exit opportunities as all the really great jobs want Big4 experience”

If you a senior at a Big4 (3 years) and are auditing cash, you would have already been fired.

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

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Author]

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