[sliang89]

I was graduate from University of Illinois in 2013 with a master degree in accounting, CPA certified. 1 year experience in local CPA firm, 2 years experience in corporate (duties include AP, preparation and review of financial statements). Looking for an entry level position in big 4. Can anyone kindly give me some suggestions? I do not have referrals from big 4 staffs at this moment but would be greatly appreciated if anyone can help out.

AUD 84
BEC 80
REG 87
FAR 80

[fuzyfro89]

You will need to form a relationship (not necessary to have a best friend) in one of the firms to be willing to forward a resume and have at least a little bit to say about you professionally.

Reach out to some managers on Linkedin and try to set up a coffee or other meeting to network and talk. It may take some time to make the relationship and then to find a time when the firm is looking for experienced hires, but that's basically the process you'll need to go through.

Some message like: “Hi, my name is [name] and I'm interested in learning more about public accounting and your firm. Would you have some time in the next 1-2 weeks for us to have a coffee or drink? Thanks for your time, and I look forward to meeting.”

You won't always get a resposne, but if you reach out to 1 person per week and try to set something up, within a few months you will at least get a few meetings. Most managers have hiring as part of their performance review, so next job for you is to ask good questions, make a positive impression, and then when an opportunity comes up, ask for their help to get in touch with HR/recruiting.

[sushi222]

Go to big4referral.com and get a referral there.

[levhelm]

@sushi222 Is that site for real? Do you have experience using it? How can people refer you if they don't even know you?

Passed

[sliang89]

@fuzyfro89 Thank you, I will work on it.

AUD 84
BEC 80
REG 87
FAR 80

[levhelm]

@sliang89 Try looking for an experienced position. (Edit: Not a senior position–I literally mean an “experienced associate” position.) They're less common, but they're out there. PwC has some right now, and KPMG has a whole bunch of them open. It will require one year of public accounting experience, which you already have. That way you can be closer to becoming a senior once you get started. Plus you can start sooner if you start as an experienced associate. If you start at entry level you most likely won't be able to start until fall.

Passed

[ScarletKnightCPA]

I pretty much gave up on my dream of working public accounting, I've tried communicating to folks on linkedin, attending networking events and career fairs, tried small public accounting firms but nothing panned out. Final opportunity is leveraging my MBA to get into advisory side. Fortunately I have a great private accounting job.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[levhelm]

ScarletKnightCPA don't give up. Have you had any public accounting interviews? If so, how many, and how did they go?

Have you tried having your resume reviewed? Sites like FINS and Wall Street Oasis can do that for a fee. Or you can post your resume and have people critique it (taking out personal info obviously).

Passed

[FutureCPA8]

@ScarletKnightCPA Hey there! Not sure where you're located; after graduation I had a private job but it was NOT the bee's knees…for four months I was job hunting. I wanted to be in public so bad 🙁

I reached out to some LOCAL public accounting firms in my area that are very small but still do governmental audits, etc and ended up at one and have never been happier!

Don't give up…try smaller public firms too! ^_^

FAR - 01/30/2016 - 57,
REG - 02/27/2016 - ?
BEC - 04/30/2016 - ?
AUD - 05/28/2016 - ?

[Last Chance CPA]

@ScarletKnightCPA & others – Why is public accounting experience so important? Doesn't working in industry give you everything you need? I follow posts like this but don't really get the public accounting hype. BTW I am a non-accounting IT person who finished the CPA exams last year, and am looking to combine IT/accounting. But I would rather work in an IT environment building financial systems. Just curious…

AUD - 75
BEC - 75
FAR - 76
REG - 76

I want those initials next to my name!!!!

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[gio957]

I have come across many job post in my area that require public accounting-big 4 experience. I suppose if you want to maximize your options its a great thing to have, but obviously you can still succeed without it. Back to OP's post, why didn't you tried to get in while you were still at Illinois?, if you know some former student on linkedin who work there that might be a good place to start.

[iddyrashy]

I want to try advisory side of Big 4, I do have 8 years experience industry.

AUD 89 (07/06/14)
REG 83 (08/27/2015)
FAR 78 (04/27/2015)
BEC 75 (11/13/2015)

TEXAS 2016

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Thanks for the replies!

I've actually spoken to mid-size public accounting firms per the advice of others in public accounting. The response I received was pretty much the same as the Big 4. I received a single interview out of the experience but no follow-up offer. I did the entire attend networking event, obtain cards, follow-up on email, etc. The people that I met at the actual event actually seemed very interested but it resulted in no follow-up, they responded stating that they forwarded my resume to their recruiters and that was that.

I will post my resume once I have the opportunity, perhaps that is the problem but I have my doubts.

I did not approach the very small public accounting firms because I suspect that it would be too much of a step back… at the moment my Salary + Bonus is around the 75-90K range, I think small firms tend to pay less than the mid size and large firms.

As to why I want public accounting experience? I feel like it would be an excellent opportunity and experience to gain exposure to different areas of accounting and opportunity to develop professionally.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[ruggercpa2b]

Its going to take some time to find something. It took me almost a year to go from Big 4 to Industry and another year to get from industry to a mid tier firm. I realized I liked being in public accounting. If you are trying to get into Audit I would definitely high light the prepare and review financial statements experience. I would talk about that the most in selling yourself as a good candidate.

The only other thing might be salary since you are making a lot more than what the firms would be paying someone with no public accounting experience. I would try to get a job as an experienced hire vs starting out as a staff. Are you willing to take the pay cut?

The other thing with going into public is that you are almost starting out. Are you ok with the regression? I think you can learn a lot, however, you wont be exposed to much till you are at senior/manager level. Some smaller firms though you are exposed to everything so at a staff or senior level you can be exposed to a lot more than your peers.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 1/6/18
FAR - TBD
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Anonymous]

rugger is right, you have no business being in Big4 entry level position. those pay 55K here in the Northeast with no bonus. you will be taking a $30,000 paycut. i hope you dont want big4 that bad that you will be willing to take such a paycut. theres seniors/S2/S'3's @ Big4 making less that you currently are.

big4 have been very successful in overworking and underpaying their entry level people. please have the common sense to not be another one of their victims.

shoot for the stars and come in as Senior which will be hard cuz i assume you havent been in a supervisory role.

[Author]

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