[Anonymous]

Hey guys, long-time lurker, first-time poster…I am in a fairly difficult situation, albeit a positive one. I am currently working for a federal agency as a financial analyst doing audits of government-assisted projects, properties, etc. At the same time, I have a chance to join the Big4 as an entry level auditor. I have gone over the pros and cons list (Jim Halpert style if you’re with me on that one) multiple times and come up with this:

Gov’t Pros:

great work-life balance (steady 40 hrs)

working for a federal agency is meaningful (maybe cheesy, but still)

solid benefits

opportunity, maybe, to move up as I am young and people will be retiring in the next 5 yrs

Cons:

bureaucratic, slow, often unmotivated work force

limiting my career too early on?

not sure I see myself at this particular agency for an extended period of time

Big4 pros:

resume builder

good experience

opportunity to work with other young people

Big4 cons:

work-life balance

hating it and not wanting to stick around

kind of a crapshoot when it comes to what clients you get, colleagues you work with, etc.

If anyone could provide some insight, especially if you have worked in both, that would be amazing. I think I am struggling with it mostly due to what I see as just an extreme difference between the two options. I have of course asked numerous people and have gotten the range of responses from, “how could you possibly pass up big4?” to “once you leave the government, good luck getting back in” and “stay the hell away from big4 at all costs.” I am young and just finished up a master’s degree straight away after a bachelor’s and am halfway through the CPA and that really won’t affect either path. Soooo, yeah, sorry for the extended post and thanks in advance for any kind of assistance.

[futuremdcpa]

I worked on Federal Audits as well as an intern for about 8 months before I graduated. I start a big 4 position next month. If I could choose over, I would stick it out with government. Why? 40 hrs a work week, overtime if needed, solid retirement/pension, health, vacation, GREAT work/life balance..

Big 4 – Good resume builder, but honestly I think its over-rated. I am not going to be in public accounting for more then 1-2 years.. I am going to B4 right now because of the resume builder for the 1-2 years, and then moving right back over to government.. Yes govt is lower pay, and sometimes un motivational.. but honestly I value my outside life a little more then 6-7 days a week during busy season..

This is just my opinion. Some people have different priorities. Mine is life outside of work. Like I said, after I get my experience signed off on, and pass my CPA exams… I am not staying @ B4.

REG: PASS || BEC: PASS || AUD: PASS || F: SCORE PENDING..

[mikeyT17]

I worked for PwC for 2 years and I currently work for the IRS. Since you currently have a good job I wouldn't make the move until you have passed all 4 parts of the exam.

REG - 75
BEC - 82
AUD - 90
FAR - 78

[msgolds]

I work in Federal Audit. Pretty much all of my friends in Big-4 say they envy me. And honestly, federal experience is more of a resume-builder than people realize.

BEC - 90 PASSED
FAR - 84 PASSED
AUD - 93 PASSED
REG - 84 PASSED

I DID IT!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study

"If we were put here to carry a great weight, then the very things we hate are here to build those muscles."

[Anonymous]

Much appreciation for the responses…I kind of get the sense that it can be overrated to get in, and then inevitably out, of Big 4 for some people. Meaning that for some it may work out if they want to give up a good portion of their lives to move up the ladder, or transitioning to a “better” position after a couple years. But, obviously there is some risk there as it surely does not work out that way for everyone. I am a little afraid that I am just excited about the start of something new and fresh and the “perks” more than seeing the big picture for the future.

@futuremdcpa – I feel ya on the “life outside of work” for sure. I want to get into learning a third language, taking on a different certification, etc and I get the sense that would be awfully difficult with the non-gov't route. Are you in the fed position now or you just were in it in the past and are going to the big 4 next?

@mikeyT17- are you suggesting that with the thinking that it will be tough once i start to finish the other 2 or?

@msgolds – haha yeah, i get sick of people at big4 complaining (bragging) about all their hours…but then again, i guess that could be me

Thanks again

[fcoulter]

What do you want to do in ten years? If your goal in life is CFO or Controller for a large corporation, you need the Big-4 experience. Not just a couple of years, though.

The rule of thumb about the length of time in a job that I learned was that you needed to stay at a job for a minimum of three years for it to be meaningful. If you were at a job for one year of less, consider leaving it off your resume. Two years meant that you weren't bad. But three years meant you were accomplishing something.

Given that, if you want the high levels of corporate financial management, then a minimum of three years of Big-4 experience is a requirement for your resume. More would be better, but three years minimum.

On the other hand, if you aren't interested in climbing the corporate ladder, then stick with your government job.

(I've been employed by a local government for over ten years. The Department Head of what used to be called the Fiscal Services Department, my boss's boss, just quit, giving six weeks notice. I was working on the advertisement for the new position — what was initially published sucked — and we are preferring a CPA/CGFO/CPFO, but it isn't required. We're not even mentioning Big-4 experience, or public accounting experience, although our current Director was an auditor for one of the firms for a while. So, based on this one item sample set, Big-4 is less important for local government than for the corporate world.)

Fred Coulter

Decided to reactivate my CPA

[fcoulter]

I thought I'd post what a horrible job announcement looked like, but it looks like our complaining about the existing announcement worked. It's already been pulled from the web site. (Who said government always works slowly.) Hopefully the new one is up quickly.

Lucklily the Director isn't leaving until after the new year's budget is adopted. But I'd rather have a real director in place as quickly as possible rather than some sort of Acting Director.

Fred Coulter

Decided to reactivate my CPA

[futuremdcpa]

chiguy19 – I am going to do the B4 route for 1-2 years, and then hop to Government. Trust me, if you want to enjoy your friends, family, gf/wife etc, government is the way to go! I would go 7am, and be off by 3! Big 4.. I know people stay until 1am for Tax. I've heard as late as 7 am the next day.. so hey.. its really up to you.

I want to have a life outside of work.. No amount of money will bring me more time in my life. My life is too precious for working myself to death… But like I said its really up to you.. I did learn a lot in the government, and the atmosphere was VERY laid back! No pressure or anything.. I liked it, but I would not go back to audit, maybe just an accountant.. I mean really look at the SEC, accountants who've been there forever are making 250k? I think! Come on!! 40 hours a week, and all those good benifits? Are you kidding me!!!

REG: PASS || BEC: PASS || AUD: PASS || F: SCORE PENDING..

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies. I guess that's the thing, I am not really sure what I want to do in 10 years, let alone just 5. I don't have a burning desire to climb the ladder but obviously I would not be against it. Vague, I know. I think it would be cool to remain in the federal work force and if people are familiar with the new pathways hiring program, that is definitely a step in the right direction to get a younger workforce as compared to the private sector.

@futuremdcpa – Yeah, those are great points. So you said you are just doing it for a short while for a resume builder? But if you are going to go right back, is it really going to be that beneficial for you? Will you receive some kind of promotion for it at the gov't job or do you just mean you are going to look for a government job again, perhaps a different one, in a year or two? Do you really think it will be that easy to get back into the federal workforce? Not suggesting you couldn't but I am just very curious. Thanks a lot.

[Anonymous]

I have no problem and would enjoy a long, federal career, but I just don't want to pigeon hole myself into just one thing, as someone has mentioned previously. I just feel like a public accounting experience would, at least in the eyes of those evaluating you, make you a more appealing candidate for the government rather than transfering from a different agency where things only worked one way. Also, I know first hand how awful and drawn out the federal hiring process is and I am almost afraid to give up what I've got…

[futuremdcpa]

@chiguy19 – I am not really doing it for the resume builder. Its just different experience for me. And also, they pay slightly more right now. I am doing it for the experience to get a better government job. If I stayed in the government, the promotions are a bit slow. If I work at a Big 4 for a couple of years, I will end up at a higher grade(salarywise) then I would if I had stayed.. I don't think it will be easy.. but I hopefully will be a CPA with 1 year gov experience, 2 years tax expereince (before), and 2 more years of big 4 experience! Hopefully this will make me stand out! Good luck!

REG: PASS || BEC: PASS || AUD: PASS || F: SCORE PENDING..

[mikeyT17]

it all depends on what agency you work for… i don't know what the promotions are in your agency, but i'm at the IRS and i make 80K after 4 years…. good luck making that kind of money in public after 4 years… obviously your long term salary will be higher in public or private, but then again you won't have the defined benefit plan… right now it's extremely hard to get into the gov't b/c of the economy, my buddy applied and didn't even get an interview and he's a CPA w/ 5 years experience in public… so seriously i wouldn't even consider leaving untill you at least pass all four parts, so you at least have something in your back pocket if your attempt at public doesn't work out… the econonmy is total sh*t right now study and be happy you have a job

REG - 75
BEC - 82
AUD - 90
FAR - 78

[yellowboy817]

Mikey –

How hard is it to get into the IRS?

I currently work for a Univeristy of Texas right now but would like to work for the IRS after I get my license.

[mikeyT17]

right now it is EXTREMELY difficult… we had 250 applicants for 9 positions… like I said my buddy who's a CPA didn't even get an interview… once the economy turns around i'm sure it will be easy.. i was the only one who applied for my position back in 2008.

REG - 75
BEC - 82
AUD - 90
FAR - 78

[Anonymous]

@mikeyT17 – Yeah, I know what you mean about getting into the government. I too know someone with similar qualifications and others with the same, if not better, and don't even get a single opportunity. I am no doubt very grateful to have two different opportunities, but like I said, it's just the uncertainty and the complete opposites it seems they are that has left me clueless. We are on the GS pay scale too assuming that's what IRS is on and yea after 3 years here, you get to a GS 12 which is around 75k, and that is great.

[Anonymous]

Similarly, we had over 500 apps for 2 positions which were just filled by 2 CPAs, but there were some other amazing candidates on the list as well.

[Author]

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