[spartancpa15]

Hello everyone,

I’m currently a Masters in Accounting student who just started the long and tortuous CPA exam journey. I’m all set to start my full time job as a staff accountant next summer after I graduate and I hope to have most of the exam done by then.

I did a tax internship with a large local CPA firm and loved it. About 80 people in the firm (all of whom were great people). I mostly did individual tax and personal property tax and really enjoyed it. I quickly accepted the full time offer they gave me when I finished the internship.

I never really wanted to do Big 4 public accounting, so this firm seemed like a great fit for me. However, I know a partner (a family friend) at a Big 4 who recently saw the 4.0 GPA on my resume and tried his hardest to convince me to go the Big 4 route (after I had already accepted the other offer). He argued that I would have so much more opportunity in my future career, the pay is better, and that I wouldn’t be challenged enough at a smaller firm. I didn’t get the chance to tell him that starting pay at the large local firm is on par with Big 4, I won’t be working quite as many hours, and I’d have a much lower cost of living where I am currently at. Also, I’ve talked to a couple professors who seem to have the same opinion as the partner.

I’m happy with my decision right now, but if I don’t want to stay in public accounting will I still have a decent opportunity to move on to bigger and better things (like what supposedly comes along with Big 4 public accounting)? Anyone have experience with this that could help me feel better about my decision?

FAR - Aug '14 - 90
AUD - Jan '15 - 91
REG - May '15 - 93
BEC - July '15 - 85

Used CPAexcel exclusively
Master of Science in Accounting (focus in Tax) May '15

[OnMyWay732]

It would definitely help your resume but in my experience you don't learn nearly as much in the Big 4 as you do at a smaller shop. Resume will look great but employers will know you know how to take orders and follow step by step methodologies which are inefficient, not necessarily think critically. Depends what kind of that employee that certain job is looking for, and what kind of job you want

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[thechapman]

If you're making decision based on starting pay and hours, in my opinion that's irrelevant. Look at what you want to do long term. Not saying big 4 is better than a small shop, but the things you mentioned as deciding factors are very temporary.

Passed - 2014

[fuzyfro89]

What is your career goal, and would Big 4 vs a small firm help/hurt you get there?

There is no uniform answer for everyone.

The Big 4 rubber stamp helps to push your resume into most Fortune 100 companies, because they need accountants/auditors/tax/etc with public company experience which most smaller firms have less clients with SEC reporting. Of course, if you don't want to work in one of those areas in a public company, then it's irrelevant.

[UM1868]

Your starting pay is on par at the local one, lets get this correct. This is how local firms recruit with Big 4, by offering the same staring salaries. Within five years at the Big 4 you could be 90K+, and this is not true for your local firm.

As long as you aren't a screw up, Big 4 is guaranteed advancement. You don't get that ALL the time at a local firm (you may even be staff for 5 years, just depends on what they need)

Bec-76 (7/14)
Aud-81 (8/14)
Reg-82 (7/15)
Far- 82 (10/15)

Moral of the story, don't do your CPA while working in Big 4 Public Accounting.

[UM1868]

And don't worry, if in three years you decided you want to do a stint at a Big 4, they will take you in one of the smaller offices in a heart beat. No rush is going now.

Bec-76 (7/14)
Aud-81 (8/14)
Reg-82 (7/15)
Far- 82 (10/15)

Moral of the story, don't do your CPA while working in Big 4 Public Accounting.

[Author]

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