@TheRealMehulPatel – I Agree, many of my peers that make over $150K, and are not accountants, have worked in another industry and went back for a business degree and/or MBA. They are prized in their field and work for larger corporations. However, if you are starting with an accounting degree then Big 4 is a logical step to larger paying jobs. I know many of my Big 4 counter parts who do nothing with accounting any more (they are in Sales, Finance, Strategy, ect) but most of them started Big 4. It is just the way business is done. That is not to say there are not good jobs with out it.
My main point is if you have a destination in your career and aspirations of making it into leadership, then make sure your early choices make sense and are logical steps to get there. Don't discount it because it is hard and all that other stuff. Every career that has many people that make money (lawyer, doctor, finance) has a hard driven fast paced path that you can chose and will boost your career early.
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