[Anonymous]

A little about myself.

I am currently working for a not-for-profit organization (which does make a lot of money lol) in DC area as a Budget Analyst (4.5 year of experience) and make about $95k a year. I am in my early 30s and passed all CPA exams. Master degree in Accounting. Had a new born in the house so basically cannot afford a huge pay cut, ruling out the entry level positions.

Is there any chance (or worth it) to get a job in the big 4? I have been going through the career web pages of the Big 4 and got the sense that Advisory might be the only field at which I have a shot.

I always wanted to work for the Big 4 back in school but wasn’t able to get in due to various reasons (recession and immigration status, neither of which is a problem now).

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[rp 12]

There is always a chance. As you might know that there is a very high attrition rate in Public Accounting especially Big4. You will be starting as an experienced associate and also take a pay cut.

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

AUD - 67, 62, 77 (lost credit), TBA

FAR - 53, 48, 58, 62, XX

BEC - 53, XX

 

"Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss act only as motivation"

AUD: 68, 62, 77✔ (expires 10/31/16)
FAR: 53, 48, XX (retake 6/16)
REG:
BEC: 53

[Anonymous]

Thanks rp12,

yeah I heard about the “experienced associate”. One of the auditors who audited my company's FS actual got into pwc in this way. He said he did take a pay cut. Not sure how much though. I can probably go with a drop to $80k from $95k but nothing more, definitely not to $55k, which is probably how much the rookies are paid.

[justgivemea75]

Why the hell would you want to go to the big 4 when you're already making close to 6 figs, have a newborn + your CPA? They might make you start as a senior instead of a manager, which means you'll HAVE to take a big pay cut, and you'll be stuck working 60+ hours on the reg. I really feel as though Big 4 is mostly worth it if you're a new grad and can afford to take an initial pay cut + can work those long, treacherous hours.

FAR - 84
AUD - 76 (phew)
BEC - 88
REG - 77

DONE!

[jbarwick]

A71….the place where everyone hates on Big 4's which makes me surprised any managers are left at the company.

Journey Started - January 2015
FAR - 4/2015 - Passed
AUD - 7/2015 - Passed
BEC - 8/2015 - Passed
REG - 11/12/2015 - Passed

[Lion_of_the_Rock]

$95 a year in DC isn't bad, but I'd say you're going to take a bigger cut than $80 a year jumping to public, plus your hours might double. Does your other half work too? I just moved from DC and my other half made over $100 a year and I chose to stay-at-home with my kid because my salary couldn't really justify the daycare expense (it's like a second mortgage).

I'd really think about the pay and hours before moving to Big 4. I'd guess you are more valued at your not-for-profit gig.

Or, leave DC for Big 4 in a smaller market. You could actually get a nice house in a smaller market instead of a condo or townhouse.

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 74, 79
FAR - 75

You have to buy a ticket to win the raffle.

[rp 12]

@chnbsb – I myself as a Big4 alum will not recommend to take a steep paycut. You will not be getting close to $80k per yr. I as an Exp. Associate w/ PwC got paid between $57k to $60k (NY Metro market). Also, you are giving up your title as a Senior or Mgr. Why would you do that? If you were as a staff accountant or an entry level financial analyst – you should try getting into public acc for the experience, and launchpad in your career.

In my opinion you are better off where you are now. If not consider Internal Audit. You could get your CPA hours signed-off, get to see different parts of U.S or even other countries, hours aren't that bad. Since you have a new born enjoy the time and why to get beat up during busy season…? Hope this helps my friend.

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

AUD - 67, 62, 77 (lost credit), TBA

FAR - 53, 48, 58, 62, XX

BEC - 53, XX

 

"Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss act only as motivation"

AUD: 68, 62, 77✔ (expires 10/31/16)
FAR: 53, 48, XX (retake 6/16)
REG:
BEC: 53

[Missy]

I think Big 4 is a great thing to have on a resume and great experience. I also think theres a point in your career that there is very little benefit to it (I didn't go big 4 because I am a finance manager for a manufacturer and don't think Big 4 would advance my career enough to make the pay cut worth it for the forseeable future)

I think you're at that point as well. Look at it very practically because as others have said 80k is not likely at all. Even if you could easily afford a pay cut to 65k, what do you expect that to achieve for your career? It will be a long road to get back to 95k, if you ever do.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Oimie]

It really depends on what your long term goal is and how much of an impact would joining the Big4 have on it. And then you ask yourself if the paycut and risks are worth it.

FAR 85 June 2015
AUD 80 Nov 2015
REG 83 Nov 2015
BEC 79 Feb 2016

[Anonymous]

You're nuts for even considering it. And if u are crazy enough to actually do it I can almost guarantee that you'll realize you were wrong and quit before you make it thru two busy seasons. If you really want something different, interview for different jobs that are actually appropriate for someone at your level.

[Smarty_Pants]

@chnbsb Please don't take to heart anything you hear on this site. My suggestion is to go out in the field and get real answers from people you can meet and talk to face to face. Go to networking events where people are that work in public accounting, specifically working mothers with young children and ask them straight up about their experiences. I DO NOT advise you to listen to the above. I am in a similar situation. I am a Revenue Agent for LB&I IRS with 7 years of experience making $95K. Someone above asked “why would you want to leave when you already make close to 6 figures?”. It's because I would like more experiences than the government currently has to offer me. I am assuming you may be in the same boat hence you entertaining other opportunities. I also have a three year old daughter in day care. I am entertaining leaving the government and working for a public accounting firm. I have already interviewed and been offered a senior position from Big 4 at $85K, a regional firm as a manager for $96K and Fortune 500 for $87K. And I haven't even passed all 4 parts of the CPA yet! Sure, it's a salary cut; but the experience and the exit opportunities are worth much more. AND I am not stuck at this salary forever; its temporary until I progress. Someone posted earlier that some times it's too late for Public Accounting to be much more of a benefit to one's career. I disagree! You can go look at any randomn leadership role posting for a Fortune 500 company and the leadership roles will specifically ask for public accounting, and sometimes specifically Big 4 experience! If you are not looking for a leadership role, this person may be right, may be you don't NEED public accounting but I'm assuming you are leaving your current job for something more. The advice I received from 2 of the Big 4 managing partners here in my city is that you have to step back a bit to go forward alot. This WILL be one of those times. You will get a salary cut, but I don't think you have to go lower than $80K from my recent offers. You will work a lot, but there is flexibility in that and it is for a portion of the year. I say, don't knock it til you try it!

[Smarty_Pants]

and another thing…it wouldn't hurt just to apply and interview, just to see what's out there. If you don't like what you learn, go back to the drawing board.

[Anonymous]

You should definitely take a job in big 4. Who wouldn't want to get a job as an experienced senior (you honestly might get thrown into experienced associate) work 50% more hours per week and make $20k less? What are you waiting for? Apply now!!

[waffle_house]

Let's look at the options:

1.You have a good job making a good salary and there is potentially room for growth assuming you aren't supervisor/manager level yet. Also, assuming you have a good work/life balance at the moment I'm not sure why you would want to work those slave hours for min wage. And last YOU HAVE A NEWBORN. Come on man really? Your baby and significant other needs you the most right now stop being selfish.

2. Okay so you decided to work big 4. Now what? You just took a huge paycut and your work hours just grew exponentially. At the same time you miss your child grow up. How long do you plan to stay with big 4? I'm going to assume again manager level because anything less than that is sh*t. I hope you like commuting to clients and sitting in traffic because you are in for a treat!

Honestly, I think you are confused. A lot of people here will tell you to go big 4 so you can one day be a CFO (lol). But peolpe are in big 4 right now to be in your position. Seriously wake up.

AUD - 80
BEC - 75
FAR - 84
REG - 76

Exams started Sep 2014 -Exams done Mar 2017

Texas CPA

I put in work, it was evident

[Missy]

Clearly there is a huge difference between someone who is an agent for LB&I IRS and someone who is a budget analyst for a non profit going into public and the salary they will be offered.

Regarding advice on this forum vs advice at networking events, six of one half dozen of the other. You still don't actually KNOW the people you are soliciting advice from. Besides I highly doubt anybody makes career decisions based on message board advice. If they do, well they probably deserve the outcome.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Smarty_Pants]

bunch of smart a$$…that's why I love this site! You get all different perspectives…I love it! In my professional networks and circles, this has been a GREAT move…literally EVERY time. It may suck temporarily compared to what you (we) are used to with our current cushy jobs but it could be a very good move long term…big picture!

[Author]

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