[Julia_anika]

Hi everyone,

I’ve decided to combine 2 questions in 1 topic.

Question #1: I’m thinking if I should even try to get a job with one of Big 4 companies.

After I pass all 4 exams I still need to get 1 year of work experience in order to get my own license. It doesn’t have to be a public accounting firm. That’s why I’m not sure if I should bother trying to apply to big 4.

Is that true that they pay 50K (entry level) and you work close to 70 hours a week? If it’s the case, then it’s not for me.

Question #2: I have BBA in Accountancy from Baruch CUNY, and right now I’m getting my masters in taxation from Pace U.

Yesterday I’ve checked license requirements for NY and it looks like I might now even qualify ((( with all these years in school I don’t have right classes.

For instance, the requirements states that “The curriculum must also include, either as stand alone courses or integrated into other courses, the study of business or accounting communications, ethics and professional responsibility, and accounting research” – I didn’t have such classes.

Would they accept Tax research instead of Accounting research? Would they accept tax classes towards 36 general business credits?

It’s very frustrating. It feels like that even after passing all exams I will never see my license.

NYC, NY
FAR - 82 Jan 2014
AUD - 86 Apr 2014
BEC - 77 Aug 2014
REG - 79 Nov 2014

[kmm1216]

I can try to help.

As a fellow Baruchian, I know tons of people that got Big 4 jobs starting this fall. I'm starting at a midsize myself instead, so this is really only second hand. From what I understand, starting salary at big 4 in NYC is around 60k for both audit and tax, unless you're going into tax with an MST, which boosts your salary to around 70k. Assuming you're doing tax (since you're getting an MST), I know their busy seasons are probably at least 70 hours a week for sure, and I know of people who work upward of 100 hours a week during that time.

Baruch's undergrad gives you basically everything you need education wise in terms of business/accounting courses. From my understanding, you only need one extra accounting/tax course aside from the ones you took in undergrad, and I'm sure you're getting that at Pace.

Hope this helps a bit!

BEC: 88 (8/27/13)
FAR: 93 (12/3/13)
REG: 92 (2/27/14)
AUD: 95 (4/22/14)

Roger CPA, Wiley Test Banks, NINJA Notes & Audio

[kmm1216]

I can try to help.

As a fellow Baruchian, I know tons of people that got Big 4 jobs starting this fall. I'm starting at a midsize myself instead, so this is really only second hand. From what I understand, starting salary at big 4 in NYC is around 60k for both audit and tax, unless you're going into tax with an MST, which boosts your salary to around 70k. Assuming you're doing tax (since you're getting an MST), I know their busy seasons are probably at least 70 hours a week for sure, and I know of people who work upward of 100 hours a week during that time.

Baruch's undergrad gives you basically everything you need education wise in terms of business/accounting courses. From my understanding, you only need one extra accounting/tax course aside from the ones you took in undergrad, and I'm sure you're getting that at Pace.

Hope this helps a bit!

BEC: 88 (8/27/13)
FAR: 93 (12/3/13)
REG: 92 (2/27/14)
AUD: 95 (4/22/14)

Roger CPA, Wiley Test Banks, NINJA Notes & Audio

[Mayo]

1. Big 4 in NY is around 57k from what I hear and, yes, they work a lot of hours during busy season, and possibly during interim periods. It just depends on the client.

2. At ;least in my state, a variety of classes counted for the “research” requirement. If the curriculum involves searching databases and writing research papers on accounting topics as a major part, then normally it will count (at least in my state).

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

1. Big 4 in NY is around 57k from what I hear and, yes, they work a lot of hours during busy season, and possibly during interim periods. It just depends on the client.

2. At ;least in my state, a variety of classes counted for the “research” requirement. If the curriculum involves searching databases and writing research papers on accounting topics as a major part, then normally it will count (at least in my state).

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Julia_anika]

If it's around 70K, then It's worth trying. If it's 57K… not so sure

Thanks for your replies!

NYC, NY
FAR - 82 Jan 2014
AUD - 86 Apr 2014
BEC - 77 Aug 2014
REG - 79 Nov 2014

[Julia_anika]

If it's around 70K, then It's worth trying. If it's 57K… not so sure

Thanks for your replies!

NYC, NY
FAR - 82 Jan 2014
AUD - 86 Apr 2014
BEC - 77 Aug 2014
REG - 79 Nov 2014

[NYCaccountant]

I wish I chosen public accounting instead of private to start my career. Private sucks from a money perspective.

AUD - 99
BEC - 84
FAR - 93
REG - 87

NYC born and raised.

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[NYCaccountant]

I wish I chosen public accounting instead of private to start my career. Private sucks from a money perspective.

AUD - 99
BEC - 84
FAR - 93
REG - 87

NYC born and raised.

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[Julia_anika]

@NYCaccountant, really? I've heard the opposite… private pays more and you have more of work/life balance

The only advantage of working for big 4 (as I see it) is that it looks good on a resume.

NYC, NY
FAR - 82 Jan 2014
AUD - 86 Apr 2014
BEC - 77 Aug 2014
REG - 79 Nov 2014

[Julia_anika]

@NYCaccountant, really? I've heard the opposite… private pays more and you have more of work/life balance

The only advantage of working for big 4 (as I see it) is that it looks good on a resume.

NYC, NY
FAR - 82 Jan 2014
AUD - 86 Apr 2014
BEC - 77 Aug 2014
REG - 79 Nov 2014

[NYCaccountant]

Really? I don't know about that. The work/ life balance though is def. right on.

AUD - 99
BEC - 84
FAR - 93
REG - 87

NYC born and raised.

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[NYCaccountant]

Really? I don't know about that. The work/ life balance though is def. right on.

AUD - 99
BEC - 84
FAR - 93
REG - 87

NYC born and raised.

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[teeteenounouche]

@NYCaccountant we are on the same page with starting career in private not being that great…if you have public experience, then you get paid more in private later on is how it works…

I am sure you can still get in cause you are super smart!

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[teeteenounouche]

@NYCaccountant we are on the same page with starting career in private not being that great…if you have public experience, then you get paid more in private later on is how it works…

I am sure you can still get in cause you are super smart!

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[Author]

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