[renniesan]

Hi guys!

I’m new to this site and have some urgent questions regarding choosing which offer I should accept!

Protiviti offered me a position with their IA department doing IT internal audit work. The pay is very good, however, the commute to clients would be HORRIBLE. I think I’m looking at potentially 2 hours of commute a day on average.

My alternatives would be a small CPA firm doing audit and tax (since it’s a 60 people firm, they want you to do tax as well), and the audit would focus primarily in non-for profit clients.

I have another interview coming up this Friday with Moss Adams, if I get this job, then I think I’d prefer that instead. However, I’m not sure if I’ll get this job yet.

For now, what do you guys think I should take, the smaller CPA firm job or Protiviti?

Thank you!

[masa_inn]

Do you like tax? If not, Protiviti is a way to go, IMHO.

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

Roger, WTB, Ninja materials

[masa_inn]

Do you like tax? If not, Protiviti is a way to go, IMHO.

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

Roger, WTB, Ninja materials

[fuzyfro89]

Protiviti is the biggest name of the 3. Besides a commute, which would be tough, the experience you get there should easily let you transition into industry or risk/IA consulting elsewhere.

However, if you aren't keen on travel, local or out of town, then IA probably is not for you.

Do you have any ideas on what you may want to do (or if you know you do NOT want to do) in 2-5 years?

[fuzyfro89]

Protiviti is the biggest name of the 3. Besides a commute, which would be tough, the experience you get there should easily let you transition into industry or risk/IA consulting elsewhere.

However, if you aren't keen on travel, local or out of town, then IA probably is not for you.

Do you have any ideas on what you may want to do (or if you know you do NOT want to do) in 2-5 years?

[StephAV]

I went to work for a CPA firm out of school that sounds similar to your small firm… They specialized in NPO and Gov clients. I've been out of school for almost 9 years… I worked in public accounting for about 3 years then went to work for a NPO. My pay is not what I envisioned, but I have excellent benefits with lots of time off and a 35 hour work week. I didn't put work and getting ahead as a priority in my 20's and now I'm in my 30's and not so happy with where I am careerwise.

I'd say it depends on what is important to you… If you are young and single, I think I'd go for the most money, big name, job. You can work hard in your 20's then try to reign that in later when you start a family if you decide to.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[StephAV]

I went to work for a CPA firm out of school that sounds similar to your small firm… They specialized in NPO and Gov clients. I've been out of school for almost 9 years… I worked in public accounting for about 3 years then went to work for a NPO. My pay is not what I envisioned, but I have excellent benefits with lots of time off and a 35 hour work week. I didn't put work and getting ahead as a priority in my 20's and now I'm in my 30's and not so happy with where I am careerwise.

I'd say it depends on what is important to you… If you are young and single, I think I'd go for the most money, big name, job. You can work hard in your 20's then try to reign that in later when you start a family if you decide to.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[renniesan]

Hi guys,

Thank you for your advice. I did get the Moss Adams job, and I'm thinking to go with that one based on the diversity of the clients, and the ease in transitioning to other accounting careers should I choose to leave public accounting.

masa_inn: I don't like tax, but I'd be starting with Moss Adams' audit department.

fuzyfro89: I do know that I don't want to do IT audits since I believe those are extremely boring from what most people have told me. But correct me if I'm wrong…

StephAV: what would you have changed? Work harder or in a different CPA firm? I'm in my mid-20s and I would like a job where there's not only growth, but also many possibly career routes once I'm done with that job.

[renniesan]

Hi guys,

Thank you for your advice. I did get the Moss Adams job, and I'm thinking to go with that one based on the diversity of the clients, and the ease in transitioning to other accounting careers should I choose to leave public accounting.

masa_inn: I don't like tax, but I'd be starting with Moss Adams' audit department.

fuzyfro89: I do know that I don't want to do IT audits since I believe those are extremely boring from what most people have told me. But correct me if I'm wrong…

StephAV: what would you have changed? Work harder or in a different CPA firm? I'm in my mid-20s and I would like a job where there's not only growth, but also many possibly career routes once I'm done with that job.

[fuzyfro89]

Moss Adams is a solid firm. At least 500+ people I think and plenty of opportunities to go around. I don't see if you mentioned above, but are you going into audit or tax, or both? Either way, if you're not so keen on IT audit then MossAdams is a great choice.

Personally, I could never do IT audit. It seems really boring to me. That's not to say it isn't important or other people couldn't enjoy it, but it's just not the flavor of work I think I would enjoy.

Good luck!

[fuzyfro89]

Moss Adams is a solid firm. At least 500+ people I think and plenty of opportunities to go around. I don't see if you mentioned above, but are you going into audit or tax, or both? Either way, if you're not so keen on IT audit then MossAdams is a great choice.

Personally, I could never do IT audit. It seems really boring to me. That's not to say it isn't important or other people couldn't enjoy it, but it's just not the flavor of work I think I would enjoy.

Good luck!

[renniesan]

fuzyfro89: I'm going into audit. I know that Protiviti has a range of services, beyond just IT audits. However, the position that I applied for was for IT audit. Now I applied it to diversify my options, not necessarily because I was looking for the IT audit experience.

I know I will be working long hours at Moss Adams, I just hope it won't be Big 4 hours!

[renniesan]

fuzyfro89: I'm going into audit. I know that Protiviti has a range of services, beyond just IT audits. However, the position that I applied for was for IT audit. Now I applied it to diversify my options, not necessarily because I was looking for the IT audit experience.

I know I will be working long hours at Moss Adams, I just hope it won't be Big 4 hours!

[acamp]

“Big 4 hours” … “Regional firm hours” from what I've seen they aren't all that different

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

“Big 4 hours” … “Regional firm hours” from what I've seen they aren't all that different

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Author]

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