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Mush Mushi posted:So I spent this summer doing summer leadership programs and ended up with internship offers from all of the big 4 for next summer. Part of me wants to say, "Yay, I did it! Time to relax", but waiting nearly a year before starting seems like an awful long time. Would it be wise to pursue a part-time internship during the school year with a smaller firm after already accepting a big 4 offer? I feel like I could benefit from the work experience. Depending on what you want to go into at a Big 4, a little more experience wouldn't hurt. But if you have an offer, you're pretty much good. I did the whole sophomore leadership program thing, got my offer, and rode it out. I've done just fine three years after starting full time. Personally, my advice would be to enjoy the rest of college, learn what you can from classes and don't gently caress up, but remember it is your last few months/years/whatever of not giving a poo poo. Even if you learn a few things at another internship, you'll relearn it or be forced to forget it when you start at the bigger firm. You're young, enjoy it. Which Big 4 are you leaning towards if you don't mind me asking?
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Aug 23, 2012 09:10
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Mush Mushi fucked around with this message at 08:53 on Nov 24, 2020 |
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Aug 24, 2012 05:35
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Mush Mushi posted:I went with PwC. A lot of my friends from school are just starting there full time or will be soon, and they have some of the stronger specialty tax practices in my market (all of my offers were in tax). Good choice.
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Aug 24, 2012 07:06
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This might be delving a bit too far into your future, but depending on your final year's courseload (after your summer internship next year) you could even ask your HR contact if you could do an additional winter internship - maybe even on the audit side of things (if you need a certain number of audit hours for eventual CPA licensure). Things ultimately depend on numerous factors and resource needs, but given the hours that the interns worked on my jobs this past busy season you could make a ton of bank (probably more than what you'd be making as a first-year associate...). Not sure what your plans are after you graduate/before you start at PwC, but if not already, you should strongly consider sitting for a part or two of the exam (preferably FAR and/or REG as the other two are much lighter on study content). As you probably know, Becker and your first attempt at the exam are paid for by the Firm, and we also offer a $5k bonus if you pass all your parts before the end of your first full year  A nice, long trip overseas before you start is a good alternative too, but you'll really thank yourself in the long run making some progress on the exam before starting full-time. In the meantime though, I also wouldn't sweat trying to find another internship if you decide to do the above - enjoy your time in school while you can!!
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Aug 24, 2012 07:38
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Is it not too late to join the Big 4 now? I'm turning 26, already passed the CPA board exam and has trouble landing a job. I have some experience but that was years ago and I don't know if it's relevant anymore. I'm basically starting from scratch. Big 4 is my last resort but if I can't find a job any time soon, I might just swallow that philosophy and go with a Big 4 firm. edit: Holy poo poo I just got a job today. Temporary full-time that has a chance to be permanent in the future. Connections DO really matter. Demented Guy fucked around with this message at 19:44 on Aug 24, 2012 |
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Aug 24, 2012 15:57
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Demented Guy posted:Is it not too late to join the Big 4 now? I'm turning 26, already passed the CPA board exam and has trouble landing a job. I have some experience but that was years ago and I don't know if it's relevant anymore. I'm basically starting from scratch. Big 4 is my last resort but if I can't find a job any time soon, I might just swallow that philosophy and go with a Big 4 firm. Congrats on getting a job. But that being said, you shouldn't have made Big 4 your last resort. Great place to start a career in my opinion.
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Aug 25, 2012 10:05
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hellboundburrito posted:Great place to start a career in my opinion. My brother would disagree. 
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Aug 25, 2012 15:52
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hellboundburrito posted:Congrats on getting a job. But that being said, you shouldn't have made Big 4 your last resort. Great place to start a career in my opinion. I was employed in a Big 4 firm back in my home country (Ernst & Young affiliate) and it was hell. I value work/life balance more than whatever Big 4 firms can offer me career-wise. I see the appeal of Big 4 firms but it's not for everybody. And I'm planning to have kids in the next 2 years so there's that. edit: drat, this CA Ethics exam is hardcore Demented Guy fucked around with this message at 22:12 on Aug 25, 2012 |
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Aug 25, 2012 19:20
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ThirdPartyView posted:My brother would disagree. Demented Guy posted:I was employed in a Big 4 firm back in my home country (Ernst & Young affiliate) and it was hell. I value work/life balance more than whatever Big 4 firms can offer me career-wise. I see the appeal of Big 4 firms but it's not for everybody. Well, I guess that's why I said "in my opinion." I'm not going to sit here and say it's an easy going, 40-hours a week situation, but I will say I've learned a ton, made decent money and still managed to live a very enjoyable personal/social life. Like others have said, it's not for everybody and it may not be for me forever, but right now it pays for the life I live and have become accustomed to. All that being said, your mileage may vary. I don't think you can lump all Big 4 into one general category - there are so many different groups within each, and all those groups operate differently. Some are hell I'm sure (I know people who have been in those, and most have left) and others are reasonable, respectively speaking. Obviously, those of us who were lucky enough to be placed in the reasonable groups, will have better experiences and better things to say. edit: And, I understand the desire to have work life balance. There are of course times I have worked my rear end off and get home late and wake up too early, but in general I would say I have a very good balance. I work late during the week sometimes but it helps me avoid working on weekends (I've worked a total of 7 weekend days in 3 years). Perhaps my view is different because I'm a single guy and can still manage to go out and have fun often enough - I'm sure having kids or other obligations would be more difficult in this field - I'm just giving my perspective/experience. hellboundburrito fucked around with this message at 08:05 on Aug 26, 2012 |
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Aug 26, 2012 07:59
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hellboundburrito posted:Depending on what you want to go into at a Big 4, a little more experience wouldn't hurt. But if you have an offer, you're pretty much good. I did the whole sophomore leadership program thing, got my offer, and rode it out. I've done just fine three years after starting full time. Personally, my advice would be to enjoy the rest of college, learn what you can from classes and don't gently caress up, but remember it is your last few months/years/whatever of not giving a poo poo. Even if you learn a few things at another internship, you'll relearn it or be forced to forget it when you start at the bigger firm. You're young, enjoy it. Let's say I do end up doing another internship before the summer. Is that something I would want to disclose to my big 4 recruiter, or is it really not a big deal so long as there is no schedule interference?
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Sep 5, 2012 17:45
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No schedule interference = your recruiter doesn't need to know. Overall, it shouldn't positively/negatively impact a full-time offer for your Big 4 internship (which is solely based on your performance as an intern) but I think in this case the less you disclose, the better.
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Sep 5, 2012 20:05
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Mush Mushi posted:Let's say I do end up doing another internship before the summer. Is that something I would want to disclose to my big 4 recruiter, or is it really not a big deal so long as there is no schedule interference? I agree with Sukashi. I think some Big 4 "contracts" say you can't work another (related?) job while you're employed full time, so while there's nothing wrong with getting a little more experience before you start I don't think it will benefit you in any way to tell them about it.
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Sep 6, 2012 04:14
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I have a small problem! I am a California CPA but I recently moved to Chicagoland with my wife because she got a job here. Most of my experience is in industry (specifically telecom/subscription revenue). Been looking for a job out here for about 2 months but every senior accounting job around here seems like they want at least a few years of public accounting experience or manufacturing/cost accounting experience I have neither. Been working with a lot of recruiters but I don't think it's really working out. So I figure instead of starting over again as staff at some place that does cost accounting, I'd go the firm route for the first time but I don't even know where to start. Since all of my school based resources like those firm networking things are in California, I have no idea how to get started =/ Anyone have any suggestions or advice ?
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Sep 7, 2012 18:11
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cyxx posted:I have a small problem! I am a California CPA but I recently moved to Chicagoland with my wife because she got a job here. Most of my experience is in industry (specifically telecom/subscription revenue). Been looking for a job out here for about 2 months but every senior accounting job around here seems like they want at least a few years of public accounting experience or manufacturing/cost accounting experience I have neither. Hey man, send me your resume. Do you mind traveling? How is your networking, could you bring business with you? Whats your experience in auditing? I'm a CPA too, I'm with a firm that specializes in Casino Accounting. You have a linkedin?
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Sep 7, 2012 20:03
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cyxx posted:I have a small problem! I am a California CPA but I recently moved to Chicagoland with my wife because she got a job here. Most of my experience is in industry (specifically telecom/subscription revenue). Have you tried AT&T job postings? They have an accounting department in the Hoffman Estates office but they'll be moving downtown soon. About a year ago they announced they were consolidating a bunch of offices, which meant jobs were lost or people had to relocate. I'm not sure if those positions were filled but there could be some so keep checking there. If you want to go the public route I would apply through the various Big 4/National firms in their "experienced hire" section for senior associate positions.
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Sep 7, 2012 20:09
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Do companies really care that much about public accounting when they have that there? I really just don't see how someone who has worked as a staff auditor for 1-2 years at a big 4 is seen as more qualified than a cpa who's worked as a senior accountant/assistant controller for 2-3 years.
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Sep 7, 2012 20:14
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I don't think it's a matter of qualifications. Personally I think that Big 4 experience is indicative of someone's ability to manage their time and heavy workloads. I'd rather hire someone who has had to get through that meat grinder than someone who hasn't. Not because they are better at accounting, but because they probably know how to make the most out of the least time-wise. At least in theory. In reality, there are some really dumb people in every level of this profession, including those with Big 4 experience. But still, it's just another checkbox on the resume that might indicate some semblance of competence.
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Sep 7, 2012 20:37
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chupacabraTERROR posted:I don't think it's a matter of qualifications. Personally I think that Big 4 experience is indicative of someone's ability to manage their time and heavy workloads. I'd rather hire someone who has had to get through that meat grinder than someone who hasn't. Not because they are better at accounting, but because they probably know how to make the most out of the least time-wise. At least in theory. In reality, there are some really dumb people in every level of this profession, including those with Big 4 experience. But still, it's just another checkbox on the resume that might indicate some semblance of competence. So what? Do people think industry doesn't have crunch times as well? Edit: I guess a better way to put it is that since the hirer is in industry and presumbaly have crunch time as well, I don't see why Big 4 is suddenly a requirement. Harry fucked around with this message at 20:47 on Sep 7, 2012 |
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Sep 7, 2012 20:43
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I don't agree with it, just trying to identify reasons for the trend, that's all.
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Sep 7, 2012 20:48
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oniazuma posted:Hey man, send me your resume. Do you mind traveling? How is your networking, could you bring business with you? Whats your experience in auditing? I'm a CPA too, I'm with a firm that specializes in Casino Accounting. You have a linkedin? The 80% travel thing is way more than I'd be comfortable with, thank you for the offer though! fuseshock posted:Have you tried AT&T job postings? They have an accounting department in the Hoffman Estates office but they'll be moving downtown soon. About a year ago they announced they were consolidating a bunch of offices, which meant jobs were lost or people had to relocate. I'm not sure if those positions were filled but there could be some so keep checking there. I just tried and there are none in the Chicago area. I just went through a bunch of Chicago big4/national/regional firms and checked out their "experienced hire" sections and 90% of them are "by experienced we mean you've had previous experience at a firm!". I have found a few positions that I will send my resume for and see how it turns out. I do feel like I went about things wrong though. I changed majors a few years ago and finished my Accounting degree while working full time and graduated in '08. I had a pretty great job working in industry at public company but followed my wife here to the burbs near Chicago, thinking it wouldn't be so bad finding a job with a CPA and around ~5 years working in industry. I've had interviews with mostly privately owned companies and turned down a few interviews because I didn't really feel like I would learn much at those places. I just really feel like right now my options are really limited without any public accounting experience and it's bumming me out. So much so that i'd be willing to start from scratch again but seems like the firms only want college grads.
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Sep 7, 2012 21:26
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cyxx posted:I just went through a bunch of Chicago big4/national/regional firms and checked out their "experienced hire" sections and 90% of them are "by experienced we mean you've had previous experience at a firm!". I have found a few positions that I will send my resume for and see how it turns out. Well, if you really feel underqualified for the senior positions, apply for the associate ones if they are available. Anyone with a CPA is extremely desirable especially for an associate, and your education won't be too big of a deal. You'll start at ~55,000 without a CPA so maybe 58-62 with a CPA? Just to make sure you've covered your bases outside the Big 4 with offices in Chicago, here is a list: McGladrey, Grant Thornton, CBIZ, BDO, Crowe Horwath, Plante Moran, Blackman Kallick, Larson Allen, Baker Tilly, Reznick Group, Sikich, ORBA, CBIZ, Corbett Duncan Hubly. Don't forget the major corporations headquartered in Chicago like McDonalds, Walgreens, ITW, Caterpillar, etc. etc. I don't have any experience in terms of going to large career fairs outside of school ones so hopefully someone can give you advice as to where to find one. I presume they'll also simply take your resume and tell you to apply for their position online as well.
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Sep 8, 2012 01:23
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chupacabraTERROR posted:Personally I think that Big 4 experience is indicative of someone's ability to manage their time and heavy workloads. As someone in a controllership role in industry, I disagree - they might be able to manage their and workload when dealing with engagements (whether Auditing, Tax or Consulting) but you really don't know how that will translate into private industry. One of my former bosses was an Audit manager at KPMG and before that did Tax in a regional NY firm basically told me that his public accounting experience and the pressures there were not comparable to that in private industry as the public accounting mentality is similar to that of an implementation analyst, helping the client to complete a project (in this case, their tax returns, audited/reviewed/compiled financials, M&A valuations, etc) rather than actually understanding how a particular business model has been designed, forecast expectations have been developed and are being budgeted as and so forth. My former boss told me quite a few stories abouts Big 4/National Seniors and Managers that crashed and burned when they transitioned into (Assistant) Controllership or Tax Manager functions in private industry because of the gap between the two worlds. quote:I'd rather hire someone who has had to get through that meat grinder than someone who hasn't. As someone who has made hiring decisions in the past, I disagree - I consider what previous experience in industry (the specific one of the firm as well as in general) and any public accounting experience they bring to the table in aggregate - if the person is a Manager or Senior Manager, being purely in public accounting may be OK but Seniors and Experienced Associates tend to have to show me something else beyond the fancy accounting firm name to impress me in any way.
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Sep 8, 2012 03:02
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Maybe it's as simple as: there are too many applicants and arbitrary requirements like Big 4 experience seem rational while also cutting the size of the applicant pool in half?
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Sep 8, 2012 08:53
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chupacabraTERROR posted:Maybe it's as simple as: there are too many applicants and arbitrary requirements like Big 4 experience seem rational while also cutting the size of the applicant pool in half? Probably, although it's a stupid criteria to be using.
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Sep 8, 2012 15:17
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Looking for some advice. I have been a co-op/intern for more than a year with an accounting department that is on the military side of the house for a big northeastern aerospace company. My boss can't hire me because we are in a no-exceptions headcount freeze and my co-op is coming to an end in a few weeks. He kept extending my internship, hoping to wait it out and try to bring me on full-time when the freeze lifted, but that's not going to happen any time soon and HR won't bring me back for a third go-around (understandably). I'm trying to change industries - I used to be a journalist. This has been one hell of an uphill climb, but I worked through grad school back for an MBA with an accounting concentration and was able to leverage my history degree because my specialization back then was military history. So I was able to talk my way into a defense internship somehow despite not having an undergraduate accounting degree and I like what I do now quite a bit. I'm going to be unemployed and starting yet another job search. Does anyone have any advice? I feel totally lost. I've been sending resumes out to other defense contractors, but I'm worried that they'll just be in the same position with sequestration fears, etc. My plan was to try and hook on somewhere, go back to school some more (hopefully on company money) and chase the CPA if at all possible. I have a BA in History, journalism experience, an MBA with an accounting concentration, and a year working in a military accounting / internal controls group. Is trying for like a public firm even realistic? Should I be looking at certain types of companies?
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Sep 14, 2012 16:26
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How many accounting credits do you have? Can you sit for your states CPA? I think Deloitte is known as the government auditing big 4.
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Sep 14, 2012 16:45
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24 credits (8 classes) as part of the MBA. No accounting credits from undergrad. I think I meet the CT accounting education requirements for semester hours (it changed to 24 recently?) and for NJ (also 24) but do not meet NY (33). My wife and I both have family on the NY/NJ border so I am trying to not lock myself into just Connecticut.
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Sep 14, 2012 17:05
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Which accounting/tax classes have you taken?
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Sep 15, 2012 04:22
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So... I've been posting a lot in the CPA exam thread, and right now I'm halfway done with my tests. I quit my job and moved, and I've been living off of savings for a while. I'm looking for an entry level job in a mid-sized or large CPA firm once I finish up the exam, and I'm not sure how to go about landing an interview. I didn't do recruiting at my university because I was 1) working full time and 2) didn't want to work in that city. How do I go about accessing recruiters given that I'm not in university at the moment? I'm in Los Angeles now, if that helps.
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Sep 20, 2012 18:39
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Vote Republican posted:So... I've been posting a lot in the CPA exam thread, and right now I'm halfway done with my tests. I quit my job and moved, and I've been living off of savings for a while. I'm looking for an entry level job in a mid-sized or large CPA firm once I finish up the exam, and I'm not sure how to go about landing an interview. I didn't do recruiting at my university because I was 1) working full time and 2) didn't want to work in that city. How do I go about accessing recruiters given that I'm not in university at the moment? I'm in Los Angeles now, if that helps. Many schools have Career Services offices that will help alumni, even if they're out of the area now. If that doesn't work, I'd suggest looking at websites of firms that you're interested in and applying through there.
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Sep 21, 2012 03:41
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UCLA's recruiting website bruinview is open to non-alumni for a fee of like $75 I believe.
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Sep 21, 2012 04:44
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I went to a thing called Meet the Firms at my school, an event pretty much geared towards accounting majors. Lots of accounting firms there looking for interns. A lot of oil and gas companies plus your usual public accounting firms doing audit and tax stuff. What advice would you guys give on choosing a career path? I'm guessing for the big bucks down the road go with a public firm? Just wondering what compensation I can expect in a few years between a corporate job or a public firm.
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Sep 26, 2012 12:28
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Well starting for a big 4 is something like $50,000 with a $5,000 bonus when you pass the CPA exam. Accounting is such a catchall type thing it'll be hard to guess what you're making 3-4 years after school.
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Sep 26, 2012 14:58
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Spartan421 posted:I went to a thing called Meet the Firms at my school, an event pretty much geared towards accounting majors. Lots of accounting firms there looking for interns. A lot of oil and gas companies plus your usual public accounting firms doing audit and tax stuff. What advice would you guys give on choosing a career path? I'm guessing for the big bucks down the road go with a public firm? Just wondering what compensation I can expect in a few years between a corporate job or a public firm. Public firms tend to offer a bit more starting salary than industry when starting out, but when you break out the per-hour salary (particularly during peak season), it generally is lower (since you're more likely to have longer hour seasons than in most firms where, at worst, you may have to occasionally stay late for Monthly/Quarterly/Year-End closings as opposed to constant engagements). The major benefit of going to a Big 4 or national firm (BDO, Grant Thornton or RSM McGladrey) is the name recognition of slapping it on your resume, not really so much the quality of  being paid out. Even so, you have to weigh if you want to engage in the big firm "Get chewed up and spat out" lifestyle for a few years to become at least a Senior Associate and thus make yourself marketable enough to get a decent job in industry (or even stick it out and try to make partner at the firm...  ).
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Sep 26, 2012 16:32
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Anyone have suggestions for what to wear to lunch/dinner date interviews? I have my 'resume suit' on standby for usual interviews but should I tone it down to business casual for the lunch date (the senior said that this particular interview of sorts was going to be 'relaxed') or should I just come out guns blazing with the jacket and all? I've had a few interview interviews but I know the whole 'taking the prospective employee out to lunch or dinner' is pretty common in CPA firms I'm just not familiar with that particular situation. What exactly should I expect here?
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Sep 26, 2012 22:23
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It really can go either way - I went to CPA firm lunch/dinner interviews that were dress up and ones where the manager came in business casual. Maybe go with shirt and tie if you don't want to over dress but don't want to under dress?
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Sep 26, 2012 22:47
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For date-interviews, I recommend trousers with strengthened knee padding.
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Sep 27, 2012 01:16
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rockin peanut posted:For date-interviews, I recommend trousers with strengthened knee padding. I'm so thankful I'm being interviewed by women so I don't have to suck any dicks or pretend I know anything about sports.
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Sep 27, 2012 02:45
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Thankful for being interviewed by women? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwx2ce_AyOE
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Sep 27, 2012 03:08
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Silber posted:Anyone have suggestions for what to wear to lunch/dinner date interviews? I have my 'resume suit' on standby for usual interviews but should I tone it down to business casual for the lunch date (the senior said that this particular interview of sorts was going to be 'relaxed') or should I just come out guns blazing with the jacket and all? I'm pretty sure I've never seen a Partner leave the office with a tie to go meet an interviewee - usually the business casual look with a suit jacket or blazer. That being said, it could very well vary by person so honestly, I'd probably overdress rather than underdress. No one will judge you if they're in business casual and you're in a suit, but someone who wears a suit could judge you for wearing business casual. If it helps you feel better about wearing a suit, you'll probably only wear one once every couple of months once/if you get hired.
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Sep 27, 2012 04:27
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