Any Accounting majors/accountants on NT?
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I think a lot of people would recommend tax if you enjoy the independence and enjoy working on your own. Not to say you won't ever have to work with others or in team environments but I'd suggest some internships in tax and audit to see which you prefer.
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I'd love to try both and get a feel of which I prefer more. But the way the program is set up, everyone has to pick a side because some companies only offer 1 type (either tax/audit). ie. EY and another big 4 firm are only offering auditing positions for next year (total of about 35 companies coming to recruit at my school though). And yea, recruiting is for internships so I'm hoping that I do well enough (and like the job enough) to receive a full-time job offer.
@LazyJ10 I'm just kind of "meh" about the big 4 honestly...like it'd be nice to work there and get experience as I'd probably be set after I move on from them but I'd be down to just work at a middle-market firm for the flexibility.
@big4man yea, I know i'll probably work with 1-2 other people, but I prefer that than a group of 4-5 lol.
Plus...trying to get my CPA as well.
@LazyJ10 I'm just kind of "meh" about the big 4 honestly...like it'd be nice to work there and get experience as I'd probably be set after I move on from them but I'd be down to just work at a middle-market firm for the flexibility.
@big4man yea, I know i'll probably work with 1-2 other people, but I prefer that than a group of 4-5 lol.
Plus...trying to get my CPA as well.
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I'm at EY now and I'm in Advisory. I'm not big on Assurance or Tax but if you at least try out one of the areas during your internship in school, it'll give you an idea which route to go after school; or which route NOT to go lol.
I think internships at regional/mid-size firms are good too. I see a lot of staff here that get hired as experience candidates with prior experience at regional firms. As you said, you will probably get more flexibility from the regional firms but honestly, if you can suffer...I mean sacrifice a few early years in your career, your opportunities will be increased with a few years of Big4 experience on your resume.
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^Those words be true.
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Yea, guess I'll try out tax for now and see if I enjoy it. If not, auditing it is lol.
Haha that's exactly why I'd be willing to work at a big 4 (that is, if I get a job at one...). Doors will open up after working there 3-4 years and it feels like it'd be a better route to go in the long run.
301216baller
Banned
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man I needed to read something like this
Big 4 Alum and CPA checking in.
Overall I'm happy with my decision to pursue a career in accounting. Here's what I did:
-Maintained a 3.5 GPA in college.
-Snagged an internship at a big 4 my junior year.
-During my internship I knew nothing. The key to succeeding is having a great attitude. Smile, nod your head, and do what you're told to do with enthusiasm on your face. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Got an offer for a full time job.
-With that full time offer under my belt, I went nuts my senior year in college. My GPA dropped to just above 3.0 by the time I graduated. Luckily, they didn't retract their offer.
-Graduated college and started work. Reality hit me hard. Worked 50 to 60 hours a week on average. Pulled a few all nighters, had no social life, yambs were scarce, I was miserable. Spent 4 years doing that......BUT......those were the most important years of my professional career. Learned so much. After working 12 hour days, I would come home to study for the CPA exam, till like midnight. Wake up and do it again. Passed my CPA. Learned so much from the job, both technical accounting wise and human psychology in the work environment wise as well. Most valuable years of my life thus far.
-By the time I turned 27, after 4 years at big 4, as a CPA, I got a job offer from one of the clients I audited. A manager position getting paid over $110k. Work life balance is amazing, 40 hours a week. I'm home by 6 everyday.
-I honestly think landing my job now would only be possible by going through that pain period where I had no life for 4 years. When people see Big 4 + CPA on your resume, they KNOW you are serious about your career. I'm not the smartest guy in the world. You don't have to be. If you are good with people, and somewhat intelligent, with drive and ambition, you'll do well.
how old were you when u got your cpa?
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My experience at big 4:
-Recruited as a sophomore for a summer externship (kind of just get to know the recruiters)
-Recruited for internship as a junior with the possibility of full time offer after
-Went through the internship and did everything I was asked. Internship is all about having a great attitude and not messing up. I know some who were total idiots and would walk around the office with headphones on 24/7 or give lip to seniors for no reason. Otherwise 95% of my intern class got full time offers. 60+/65
-Started full time and all the fun and games from the internship is gone. No weekly happy hours, getting off at 5:30 on the dot, etc.
-Been with a big 4 for 2.5 years now, and I will say that it really depends on which industry/line of business you work in. You can definitely coast at 40 hours a week for a few months, but during busy season, the whole office is working 60+ hours a week due to the sheer amount of work and staffing needs. Personally, I coast at 40 hours a week from March-September, then work 55-70 hours a week from October - February (minus the weeks with holidays of course).
As a first year, you are just barely a step up from an intern. By that I mean, everybody expects you to know nothing at all so you kind of get babied along the way until your seniors and managers feel that they can trust you. Once that happens you're given more responsibility and flexibility to work at your own pace, as long as you're meeting expectations and deadlines of course. Keep in mind that there is a lot of coffee/food runs that you will be going on. 1st years are more thought of as errand boys/assistants.
Most people say the second year is the best due to the knowledge you've gained without as much responsibility as a senior. I would tend to agree, other than the fact that sometimes you're thrust into positions where you're pay grade does not reflect what you do (mostly due to staffing shortages when people leave the firm).
Currently as a first year senior, I would have to say this is my most difficult time as your managers expect you to be on top of everything, but there is a lot more than just the work that needs to be done. You are kind of seen as the manager's assistants helping with engagement management, keeping track of time budgets, going to staffing meetings, etc. For me it all hit me at once and I was not expecting it due to 6/8 people on my current team leaving, so I was forced to step up due to my continuity. All in all, it is rewarding, yet challenging. I've seen some leave for greener pastures working 40-45 hour weeks making 75K, and others making 100K+. It all depends on when you leave. There is usually a mass exodus between 2nd year and 3rd years due to people getting that Senior Associate title, but many tend to forget that what really matters is how many busy seasons you've gone through. That is actually usually one of the questions future employers will ask knowing that you were Big 4.
Good luck with busy season everybody! Don't get too burnt out.
-Recruited as a sophomore for a summer externship (kind of just get to know the recruiters)
-Recruited for internship as a junior with the possibility of full time offer after
-Went through the internship and did everything I was asked. Internship is all about having a great attitude and not messing up. I know some who were total idiots and would walk around the office with headphones on 24/7 or give lip to seniors for no reason. Otherwise 95% of my intern class got full time offers. 60+/65
-Started full time and all the fun and games from the internship is gone. No weekly happy hours, getting off at 5:30 on the dot, etc.
-Been with a big 4 for 2.5 years now, and I will say that it really depends on which industry/line of business you work in. You can definitely coast at 40 hours a week for a few months, but during busy season, the whole office is working 60+ hours a week due to the sheer amount of work and staffing needs. Personally, I coast at 40 hours a week from March-September, then work 55-70 hours a week from October - February (minus the weeks with holidays of course).
As a first year, you are just barely a step up from an intern. By that I mean, everybody expects you to know nothing at all so you kind of get babied along the way until your seniors and managers feel that they can trust you. Once that happens you're given more responsibility and flexibility to work at your own pace, as long as you're meeting expectations and deadlines of course. Keep in mind that there is a lot of coffee/food runs that you will be going on. 1st years are more thought of as errand boys/assistants.
Most people say the second year is the best due to the knowledge you've gained without as much responsibility as a senior. I would tend to agree, other than the fact that sometimes you're thrust into positions where you're pay grade does not reflect what you do (mostly due to staffing shortages when people leave the firm).
Currently as a first year senior, I would have to say this is my most difficult time as your managers expect you to be on top of everything, but there is a lot more than just the work that needs to be done. You are kind of seen as the manager's assistants helping with engagement management, keeping track of time budgets, going to staffing meetings, etc. For me it all hit me at once and I was not expecting it due to 6/8 people on my current team leaving, so I was forced to step up due to my continuity. All in all, it is rewarding, yet challenging. I've seen some leave for greener pastures working 40-45 hour weeks making 75K, and others making 100K+. It all depends on when you leave. There is usually a mass exodus between 2nd year and 3rd years due to people getting that Senior Associate title, but many tend to forget that what really matters is how many busy seasons you've gone through. That is actually usually one of the questions future employers will ask knowing that you were Big 4.
Good luck with busy season everybody! Don't get too burnt out.
What's funny is, the "senior associate" isn't a title to covet.
Headhunters/recruiters notoriously sell "oh with your experience".
Think about it, you essentially have TWO full years of experience once you get to senior and if you get through at least that season, you have effectively 2.5-3 years. That's nothing in the great scheme of things. Going through what you're going through (i.e. engagement management, realization, staffing, etc.) are all aspects of running a business which is a skill that can transform across industries versus just accounting jobs.
I've seen plenty of people leave, at all different levels...from my perspective there's a couple things to keep in mind (and I'm not trying convey anyone to stay at the big 4 just cuz, i believe in working toward whatever your passions are)...
1) If you leave after two years, you're essentially going to re-start your career if you go into industry (private sector). That's ok though, it's not a step back per se.
2) If you leave between your senior years and prior to becoming a manager, you're better off than 1 above but it may take you longer to climb whatever ladder you are trying to climb versus having manager experience.
3) If you leave after at least a year of being a manager, you're in one of the best positions coming out of public accounting. Be it an executive track or equivalent in industry, having manager experience is worth it if you can tolerate it and are interested.
In any of the above situations try to leave at an appropriate time. You may feel you have zero loyalty to the firm, however, you're really just ******* over your co-workers, not your partner or manager.
As for errands, etc...I suppose that stuff happens on bigger jobs which I think is stupid and pretty much a byproduct of laziness on the team. I'm working in Alternative Investments, so it's not like I'm auditing Coca Cola, I'd rather teach my staff to better prepare them toward being a senior and develop their critical thinking earlier because those skills matter versus balancing a coffee order.
Headhunters/recruiters notoriously sell "oh with your experience".
Think about it, you essentially have TWO full years of experience once you get to senior and if you get through at least that season, you have effectively 2.5-3 years. That's nothing in the great scheme of things. Going through what you're going through (i.e. engagement management, realization, staffing, etc.) are all aspects of running a business which is a skill that can transform across industries versus just accounting jobs.
I've seen plenty of people leave, at all different levels...from my perspective there's a couple things to keep in mind (and I'm not trying convey anyone to stay at the big 4 just cuz, i believe in working toward whatever your passions are)...
1) If you leave after two years, you're essentially going to re-start your career if you go into industry (private sector). That's ok though, it's not a step back per se.
2) If you leave between your senior years and prior to becoming a manager, you're better off than 1 above but it may take you longer to climb whatever ladder you are trying to climb versus having manager experience.
3) If you leave after at least a year of being a manager, you're in one of the best positions coming out of public accounting. Be it an executive track or equivalent in industry, having manager experience is worth it if you can tolerate it and are interested.
In any of the above situations try to leave at an appropriate time. You may feel you have zero loyalty to the firm, however, you're really just ******* over your co-workers, not your partner or manager.
As for errands, etc...I suppose that stuff happens on bigger jobs which I think is stupid and pretty much a byproduct of laziness on the team. I'm working in Alternative Investments, so it's not like I'm auditing Coca Cola, I'd rather teach my staff to better prepare them toward being a senior and develop their critical thinking earlier because those skills matter versus balancing a coffee order.
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Your posts are appreciated.
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I agree 100%, Lazy. All that engagement management definitely applies across all industries and can only help. I was just saying that going into my first year as a senior associate, most people don't forget to expand on that. Progressing through our firm, my seniors above never really made an effort to get us staff ready for things like that. Moreso, it was just focused on work itself. I'm not sure how the private/regional firms, but I was just strictly speaking in my own experience.
The bigger jobs are all about the hierarchy and get too caught up in "level" and what a person that level should be doing/working on as opposed to truly getting someone the experience needed to become a good staff/senior/manager, etc.
At the end of the day, Big 4 + CPA will only help you as you progress in your career, it will never be at a disadvantage to you.
The bigger jobs are all about the hierarchy and get too caught up in "level" and what a person that level should be doing/working on as opposed to truly getting someone the experience needed to become a good staff/senior/manager, etc.
At the end of the day, Big 4 + CPA will only help you as you progress in your career, it will never be at a disadvantage to you.
No doubt...I'm now a part of the Big 4, so I can compare and contrast more easily.
One benefit of my past experience is bringing it to my teams. I often put staff 2's as in charges on small engagement so they can develop the soft skills needed in business with limited harm if they royally **** it up
One benefit of my past experience is bringing it to my teams. I often put staff 2's as in charges on small engagement so they can develop the soft skills needed in business with limited harm if they royally **** it up
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Just graduated from my Master of Accountancy program (3.9, high honors) a few days ago! Feels so good to be done!
I have a job offer from an awesome regional/national firm for Jan. 2016. I did an internship with them and really liked them and the way they treat their employees. Everyone works hard and of course hates life during busy season but it's good people.
I have a year left to crush out the CPA exam + become an Excel monkey. The company pays for Becker. I'm trying to get signed up.
Got a few questions for the experienced people on here:
1. Does Becker come with books etc? I'm living abroad right now so it's a hassle to get stuff shipped. Highly prefer all computer stuff.
2. How does one go about becoming an Excel monkey? Any good youtube beginner to advanced series out there (or other) that I can work on little by little over the next 365?
3. Are there (normally) any other perks besides mileage for gas for public auditing?
I have a job offer from an awesome regional/national firm for Jan. 2016. I did an internship with them and really liked them and the way they treat their employees. Everyone works hard and of course hates life during busy season but it's good people.
I have a year left to crush out the CPA exam + become an Excel monkey. The company pays for Becker. I'm trying to get signed up.
Got a few questions for the experienced people on here:
1. Does Becker come with books etc? I'm living abroad right now so it's a hassle to get stuff shipped. Highly prefer all computer stuff.
2. How does one go about becoming an Excel monkey? Any good youtube beginner to advanced series out there (or other) that I can work on little by little over the next 365?
3. Are there (normally) any other perks besides mileage for gas for public auditing?
1) There are various options of various study courses - I did the discs which also had the books. Discs to watch the lecture book for studying/reading/questions.
2) This will partly come with time on the job and depending on how big your firm is, they may actually have training on this area. Learning macro and pivots will be useful down the road for sure...I'm too high up to even know that stuff, I generally as a staff to help me
3) Would assume meal allowances? I get mileage and over 10.5 hrs a meal allowance (which would also count on tax) but I don't have to work at client site as often.
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I passed my CPA exams when I was 23. I just turned 30 this year. Definitely worth it. Although I don't actively use my license in my day to day job today, from purely a recognition perspective, the CPA definitely helps to open doors and is a prerequisite for many jobs.
man I needed to read something like thisim willing to make that commitment....
how old were you when u got your cpa?
Go for it my dude, totally do able and in your control.
100% agree on the above, especially the loyalty part. Screw loyalty at the big 4, and I say that knowing that I LOVED my experience at the big 4, some of my best friends and most meaningful work relationships/ amazing colleagues came out of the big 4.
When you start at the big 4, no matter what kool aid they feed you, know that you are human COGS. You may love your senior, you may love your manager, but we are all in it to be a part of a work environment with an accelerated learning curve for the sole purpose of accelerating our value in the open job market (unless you are one of the few 1 to 2% who make it to partner.) Know that working for the big 4 is too much of a sacrifice on your part to be doing it for anyone else but for yourself. I've seen so many colleagues who hit the 5 year mark and make manager, knowing damn well they weren't partner material, and staying there for 3 to 4 years because they were too scared to leave, too scared to "let down" their favorite partner or senior manager. All the while they had no social life. In my honest opinion, after you do 1 full busy season as a manager at the big 4, the distinction between a manager with 2 and 3, or even a senior manager, gets smaller and smaller from the perspective of private industry looking to hire you. Unless you love working at the big 4 because you enjoy every minute you are there, (and some people do,) leave when you feel you are at a good place! Trust me, I have a lot of SINGLE friends who are still single in their mid 30's cause they are stuck in this big 4 loyalty world. Stay loyal to yourself!
Very true. Leaving as a Senior isn't going to be the jackpot towards a super fast trajectory in private, but it doesn't hurt. You can continue to work your *** off at Big 4 or work your *** off in industry and I promise either path you will be successful. I was incredibly lucky because I had an amazing relationship with my client while I was at the Big 4, they hired me for a manager position out of the Big 4 while I was still a senior. All of my colleagues in this new job were former Big 4 managers, I was obviously not as qualified and overpaid for my experience (Big 4 senior leaving to make Base Salary over 6 figures + bonus and equity on top.) No humble brag, just trying to emphasize how important soft skills are in public accounting. Believe it or not the industry is a SMALL world. People know each other. I work in tech, where everyone from finance is from Big 4, and everyone hops from tech company to company, so everyone knows everyone indirectly. Screw up really bad at the Big 4, people will find out. Kick butt at the Big 4, people will find out. Know how to play the game. I was very good at empathizing with my client, putting myself in their shoes, and making their lives easier, plus I was easy to talk to, that got me my job. I see so many people at the Big 4 try to be super auditors, they go around sniffing for errors, thinking that will make them look technically sharper at the big 4, all the while they are pissing off their client. You have to find that balance. Focus on your interpersonal skills just as much as your technical/accounting/CPA skills.
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Where exactly in south Florida? I live in south Florida and I'm debating whether to stay down here or move to a big market state such as NYC or California, maybe the San Fran area to be exact. What school did you graduate from? How king did it take you to get your degree? How old are you now? Does age play a big part in getting hired?
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I'm finishing off my AA in a community college right now plan on transferring into a big university. Does that affect in any way you getting hired later on?
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I actually heard some firms like this.
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To answer a few of your questions, bigger markets such as NYC, SF, LA, Chicago, etc do have more of a diversity in terms of types of clients, but don't think that just because you work in these bigger offices, you won't be stuck/specialized in a certain industry, such as pharmaceuticals or real estate. You definitely do make a bit more compared to smaller markets (i.e. Boise, Idaho), but remember the the cost of living reflects how much you get paid. $1 in SF does not stretch nearly as far as $1 does in Houston. (I'm currently working in Big 4, SF)
As for your questions regarding age, that definitely does NOT factor into whether or not you get hired. I interned with people that were over the age of 40, and currently have staff who are 4-5 years older than myself. You will find that most people are getting hired right out of college at 22/23 years old, but when it comes down to it, all that really matters is how well your grades were and how well you present yourself during interviews/meet and greets.
Transferring from a JC to a big university definitely does not affect the way you get hired. Usually the Big 4 go to college campuses and recruit from there. I think for the most part, they don't care how you got to that school, as long as your GPA is up there and you can back it up. Once you get that interview, you're golden, as it is your personality that shines through and will get you the internship/job offer.
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Oh alright, I live in south Florida where the cost of living is "cheaper" than other states. I think to start off I might just stick around and work in Miami. Which I don't think is such a bad market to get your feet in the door.
The reason I asked about age is because I'm kinda starting off late I'm 27 and I feel I'm behind. I should've been already working as an accountant.
Are there any tips that you can give me?
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just spoke to my buddy who works at pwc. been doing that for 3 yrs and works like 60hrs a week depending on how busy. dude is having a breakdown and thinking of quiting. like most things, if you arent committed to this profession, you have to really think about it. long hrs and with the commute, he doesnt even have time to get that cpa and move up.
he was telling me how most ppl would work a couple yrs, get their cpa, and get out of the big 4. it looks great on a resume
he was telling me how most ppl would work a couple yrs, get their cpa, and get out of the big 4. it looks great on a resume
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-Keep doing what you're doing and keep your grades up.
-Grades can only take you so far, but at the same time grades are pretty much the only thing recruiters can look at when screening you at meet the firms
-Once you get an interview, it's all about personality and fit; can the people interviewing you see you as a part of their teams? Can they see you interacting with clients competently and bring a good vibe to teams? In my experience with Big 4 interviews, they were 90% get to know you type questions.
-Keep in mind that once you do get an internship/job offer, what you learned in school can only take you so far. Most of the work you do is on the job training which you will gain eventually, so don't trip about being "ready" on your first day
-Get your CPA done ASAP (I'm currently working on mine, and should be studying right this minute |I)
-Try to be a sponge and soak up as much as possible during internship as well as have a great attitude
-Have fun and enjoy yourself before you start work
-Have fun and enjoy yourself when you do start work, you'll be down in the trenches with your coworkers, so it helps to have a good relationship with them
Depends, really...think about it this way...
2 years as I stated above isn't **** in the greater scheme of things...and depending on the job pool you're still in a competitive spot with nothing really setting you apart if 50% of your class is doing the same thing.
Since I interview enough people plus know a bunch of people in industry, I can assure you that 2 years isn't thought of much more than "oh, they got an offer from ________ and didn't really like it".
Obviously if you're getting extended offers from a Big 4 or any other reputable firm, that's a great thing and complimentary to you but hardly much more