” I am a rising staff 2 with a really good preliminary rating”
As in Staff 1 to Staff2 or Staff 2 to Senior?
I moved offices at my Big 4, and it was pretty easy. A few things helped me transition:
-Good rating
-I was a Senior. The higher rank you are the easier it is.
-High demand and high activity for people to the office I was transferring to
-Good economy (i.e. people leaving the firm, so there's needs everywhere)
“The office is in the same region (larger office to smaller office). Does this make the transfer easier/harder?”
It can be both. Easier in the sense that a smaller office sometimes has less flexibility in resources, so a few people leaving can make a big impact. So in that respect, you have a better shot if people have recently left that office.
Harder in that they might not have, and there's less room or need for you in that office. I've seen both, but it's really out of your control. all I can suggest is to put the word out there early because a lot can happen in a few months. Best to get that flea in the recruiters head early.
“And if so what is the best way to initiate the conversation.”
Talk to you counselor/mentor/coach at your Big 4. They will tell you who in HR you need to contact to initiate the conversation. It might also be a good way to get more information on how easy it is and what to expect.
Like I said, go ahead and start early. It can take as quickly as a few weeks or as long as 3-4 months.
Edit: If for some reason you're getting a lot of pushback or they're dragging their feet on your request, there's a few “Nuclear” options you can take. Just know that HR won't be extremely happy with you either way. So if it doesn't work out then it might get awkward.
Option 1: Shop around. Reach out to friends, ex-classmates, linkedin, and see if you can get in contact with a recruiter from another firm. At the very least you'll get an idea of the salary level of the office as well as the need. Then present your firm with the fact that you have an offer from XYZ firm at the desired location.
If you're a highly rated Staff it's a 50-50 shot they'll cave and expedite. Otherwise, they might be a bit miffed and do nothing. Either way, you have your wish to go to another office. If you're highly rated and a Senior it's almost guaranteed they'll expedite.
Option 2: Reach out to people in the other office. See if there's a need. If it's a very high need, then hopefully you can get a Sr. Manager or Partner on your side to lobby for you to transfer. This is easier if you're very highly rated, as they'll have a vested interest in acquiring you as a resource. Otherwise, you just look like an underperforming/average douche.
Even if this works, it'll get out and HR at your current office will be annoyed at you. However, as long as your new office is happy who cares? It goes without saying that this is the sort of thing to do only once in your career unless you want a crappy reputation.
I probably wouldn't do either unless I had some huge dying urge to leave my office for the other location though.
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