[Biff Tannen]

Hi All,

I’m currently studying for the CPA exam, and I’m working for a government agency as an auditor. I have an offer on the table for a big 4 position in audit. It would require for me to move the family to a new city. Also, I know the hours will be brutal, which will make it difficult to study for the exam. I struggle with concepts, so I’m putting in about 20-30 hours of studying per week.

At my current job, the hours are nice, zero overtime, and lots of PTO. This makes it relatively easy to find time to study for the CPA. I feel if I pass the cpa by next year, then many doors will open. But this big 4 offer landed on my lap, and I definitely don’t want to let it go. What should I do?

All the best!

[ultrarunner]

I would take a big4 offer. Even if you pass the CPA exams, your career choice would be limited without a public accounting experience. You could take the exams anytime you want, but the opportunity to get into a public accounting usually happens early in career. If you miss the window, you will never get the chance unless you start over. Good luck!

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[Painted_Jeans]

I'd take it too. I don't work for big 4 just a medium size local CPA firm but plan to try for big 4.. if i can get in of course. As far as i heard hours are bad during busy season.. otherwise it's pretty normal and flexible schedules.

[Allsheneededwassome]

Your life is going to suck and no its not just busy seasons….. and not just for you but also your family. Its a good career move NO DOUBT but it can be very hard on you, your health and your family. If you're fine with these sacrifices in order to get long term gains, definitely do it. For me, the suffering wasn't worth it at the end and I left. To me the pros were: quality experience, resume boost, network. Cons: Sacrifice family time, work on vacations, plan your life around YE's and quarterly shit. As a mom it wasn't going to work for me in the long run.

[ruggercpa2b]

I personally would stay where you are and pass the exam. I went to a Big 4 after 5 years in industry and I found no time to study at all. After 2.5 years I was ready to leave. It took me almost a year to find a job because everyone wanted a certification and my peers were also jumping ship, which a handful of them had passed the exam before starting. The opportunity will always be there if its something you want to do. Also, I do not agree that your career is limited without public experience.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on you. I am slightly in agreeance with @ruggercpa2b. I struggled passing my exams at a Big 4, working there for 2 years, then jumped to a regional firm. I was still really busy, but passed one exam, made senior, and got an offer from a client that I couldn't pass up where I was able to pass the remaining 3. I don't regret anything, but I also agree its harder to leave public without your exam, and also hard to study and work in public – but doable for the right person, just extra tough for me. Good luck!

[krstnam]

@allshee – we have almost the same experience in terms of number of tests, except you have higher scores than me 🙂

@jay – I'm on the lazy spectrum, I'd do the test before moving – but that's an easy choice for me because I never wanted to be in a big CPA firm. If big4 has been a big dream of yours and now you have the opportunity, maybe it's your time to seize your dream.

Good luck!

[MaLoTu]

Public accounting firms are incredibly busy right now. I am and have been juggling a minimum of 5 clients since before busy season and I am not at a B4.

It is highly unlikely that you will make time to study in your situation. You will be gone 12 + hours a day with commute not including busy season, which is worse. Your family will want to spend time with you and you will have to make the choice to spend time with them or study. However it won’t be that way forever. I am sorry if I am jaded. A lot of people I work with without families have a hard time studying for the CPA because the constant deadlines we deal with.
If you think you have the support system to make it all possible, B4 is a good opportunity. Sorry to be a nay sayer 🙁
I have kids and started public in my 30s, just a little perspective, lol.

[Pork Flavored Bacon]

I've worked at two Big 4's in my career and it's definitely tough, especially if you're joining the assurance practice. Studying for 20-30 hours a week is a luxury and during busy season, it's going to be pretty tough on you mentally and physically.

It is definitely possible to study and pass exams while in the Big 4 and even during busy seasons. The problem is, busy seasons may not just be January through April. Oftentimes you will be slammed with other interim crap, quarterly crap, non-busy season audits like pensions, etc. You might be lucky enough to be scheduled on a client during the summer where you're working busy season hours. That was the worst for me. Leaving work on a Friday night at 10pm in the summer and seeing people heading to bars and clubs knowing their night has just begun while mine was ending and I had to get home as soon as I could to rest because Saturday was another twelve-hour day.

Then to add more pressure, you'll have people passing the CPA exams around you left and right because you need to have the CPA for promotions. In PwC, you can't even make Senior Associate without the CPA license.

During my busy seasons I would wake up at 5am to study until 7am and then head to work. Hopefully get home by 11pm so I could study an hour or two and then sleep four or five hours. Rinse and repeat.

As MaLoTu said, if your family is supportive and this is something you want, you will have to be prepared to make some sacrifices.

Or, you could have the best clients ever and your busy seasons will be so easy you will wonder why so many people complain about working at a Big 4.

FAR - 75 | REG - 87 | AUD - 82 | LAW - 81

[Anonymous]

The answer to your question will actually depend on you since you know yourself best! What works for others may not work for you.

I passed the CPA Exam before I joined the Big 4, and was glad I did it that way. The long hours and energy needed to succeed are no joke. If you are the type that needs 20-30 hours a week of study time for the exam, you may consider passing the exam before you join the Big 4.

The way I see it, if you are able to get an offer to the Big 4 before you pass the CPA Exam, I would think your probability of getting an offer from them will only increase after you pass the exam!

[rp 12]

Hello Jay,

Congrats on your offer! I did join big4 without passing any exams and I still haven't finished it. I no longer work for any big4 firm, but passing while working there was tough for me. Since you know that working there will be long hours, and this will also require moving to a new city which can be overwhelming. Also it depends what kind of year end client you'll get, how busy you're going to be. For example, 12/31/18 client planning and SOX 404 work happens now, with 9/30 review work going as well, then interim work, then year end audit work, etc… this like a cycle my friend. Just my two cents here, try to pass exams by next year or two max and then make a run to join big4. You'll not get time to study like this once you join public accounting. Also your experience in govt agency will be counted towards CPA licensure requirements upon passing this certification.

I'm joining a state government agency as well next month and I'll restart my FAR prep in October 2018. The reason I went to govt job is bc of work life balance, stability (upon completion of my probation), and knowing that I'll get time to study after work. I hope this helps. Hope this helps to make your decision.

Sincerely,
Ronak

"Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss act only as motivation"

AUD: 68, 62, 77✔ (expires 10/31/16)
FAR: 53, 48, XX (retake 6/16)
REG:
BEC: 53

[Author]

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