[Fr0nt0ffice]

It seems like I will most likely not be able to get into Big4 straight out of undergrad, as I didn’t have a great GPA and I wasn’t able to get a summer internship. So I’m looking at smaller, midsize firms. My ultimate goal is to get into Big 4 advisory, which I plan to get into from starting in audit.

I am also writing off the bigger Midsize firms like Grant Thornton, RSM, BDO, etc., as they are also very strict with their hiring regarding GPA. I know these would give me the biggest chance at getting into big4, since they are large and very well known in the accounting industry, but they are also probably out of my reach.

Out of the the following firms:
Marks Paneth
Marcum LLP
Friedman LLP
MBAF CPAs
Citrin Cooperman
Withum

Which one would give me the best chance at getting into Big4, using the previous experience? I really don’t want to have to work at a tiny firm nobody’s ever heard of, use that experience to get into a respectable Mid-size firm, and then finally after 3-5 years, get into big 4. My biggest priority when choosing a firm is prestige, reputation, size of the company, recognition, etc. Since I am only using it to get into a bigger firm. Pay, work/life balance, happiness, etc. can come later once I have a great resume and great experience with the highest level clientele. Right now I just want a firm that Big 4 will respect enough to accept an auditor into their program.

[kpine1852]

Following! I am also interested in doing something similar. I don't want to work for the big 4 but I do want a larger, reputable mid-size firm. During school, my GPA was average and I took a job with a local firm. It was very small, but great at the time since they were super helpful with understanding I was in school and worked with me. Now that I have relocated to Atlanta, I'm noticing no one will even look at my resume once they see a nobody CPA firm I worked at for 2.5 years. Hopefully someone will provide guidance on how to go about this. I wish you the best, @Fr0nt0ffice!

[jules_cpa]

I started out with a tiny accounting firm (less than 50 employees) so I don't think it really matters where you start. I was there for less than 6 months before applying, and subsequent hiring, by the B4. Pick a place that fits you. Learn, learn, learn and then move on. 🙂

[Fr0nt0ffice]

Thanks Jules. I was under the impression that outside of the typical route (being recruited during undergrad), the only real chance to get into big 4 was through experience at a solid top 10-15 firm. And even from this route, I hear its extremely difficult, because big 4 mainly gets its workers through on campus recruiting (roughly 85-90%). So if I'm coming from a small, no name firm, that nobody's ever heard of, what are going to be my chances against guys coming from BDO, RSM, or Grant Thornton? For the few spots that are actually available?

But thank you for your post, it gives me hope to hear about someone else doing it, and helps me believe its possible. And wow, 6 months, did you work full time for 6 months, then jumped ship for big 4 right away, or did you get a full time offer starting several months out, and then quit when it was starting (typically fall)?

[Pete]

You can get into big 4 through other means, including smaller firms, but it takes a TON of LUCK. The problem rest in the experience you typically gain in a smaller firm. Most smaller firms are heavily tax based; more specifically, they're mostly 1040 based. Larger firms are typically corporate tax returns. When I was at a smaller firm, it was a HUGE deal, when our firm had a corporate tax return come in, since they were so rare. Even if you end up doing audit work, which is much less common at smaller firms, the audits are far more simple (Ie. benefit plans, which take a few days to complete, and private companies); on the other hand, larger firms typically audit public companies, which are far more complex. Outside of gaining entry through “experienced hiring (probably won't get from a smaller firm),” and “campus recruiting” getting in is very difficult.

The above stats are very true. Public accounting firms easily hire 85%, if not more, of their hires through interns, who come through campus recruiting. Then you have a partner's relative, who wants a job (outside of campus recruiting), which whittles the open positions down for entry level down even further. For the remaining jobs, the firms probably get hundreds of applicants for open positions, since they're in such demand. Even regional firms hire a vast majority of people from campus recruiting. One large regional firm, where I interviewed, has 1 open position available for my entire state-they aren't even sure about the demand for this position going forward (ie. they might not even hire for it-in fact, they typically wouldn't have any open positions). Now the firm is going to recruit from my alma matter in addition to about 5 other campuses, probably getting hundreds of applicants. The other slots have already been filled by interns.

I know this is how it works, unfortunately, since multiple HR people have stated this to me. Networking is going to be your best bet, outside of campus recruiting; however (I caution), I've been looking for over a year. I know multiple HR people and partners within multiple firms, yet they very rarely hire for entry level positions, outside of their intern pool (both Big 4 and national firms). Forget the big 4 or even national firms (unless you know someone-even if you do, it's still hard to get through); regional firms are ultra competitive, but not quite as bad.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Anonymous]

You can get into Big 4 from any firm but to decrease the chances of your resume getting filtered out you can:

1. Pass the CPA exam
2. Do a lot of networking and meet the people who can get you in the door (Directors/Partners, Managers/Seniors, recruiters, etc)
3. Join and be active in other professional organizations and associations

Number 1 and 3 above are MUSTS in my opinion. Number 2 can just be on Linkedin or other various networking means or through a friend/co-worker, etc.

[katerina2665]

I worked as a financial analyst in a very small firm (aprx 20 people) for around 10 months. One of my friends was a manager in one of the B4 and he referenced me mid-summer for a first year experienced hire position in his company. He helped me with my resume and prepared me for interview and I got hired within few weeks. I then went to training with mostly college hires, but there were also 1st year experienced hires like me, not a lot, but they were there. None of them came from any firm that i know. I think your best bet is to find someone who works in B4 who can reference you after you have 1 year or so experience. References work like magic, especially if they are short on people for the upcoming season.

[Author]

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