KPMG transfer pricing or PwC auditing

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  • #821565
    yy612
    Participant

    Hey everyone. I’m a 30 years old international CPA candidate who passed all the exams in July with no experience in finance or accounting field. Thanks to all the Ninjas and this forum, I’ve been accepted by KPMG transfer pricing and PwC auditing, but I am not sure which to choose for my career. Could anyone with experience in the field give me insight and pros&cons? Or just tell me which to choose.

    I listed below what I think is pros and cons for each, which could be totally wrong. Please bare with my ignorance. Thank you all in advance.

    KPMG transfer pricing
    [Pros]
    More opportunities for working internationally
    Better salary
    In my opinion the firm is better organised or has healthier environment.

    [Cons]
    Possibly narrows down my future career
    Too professional

    PwC auditing
    [Pros]
    Experience in auditing could build up the foundation for my career since I don’t have any experience in the past.

    [Cons]
    More overtime during busy season
    Less salary

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Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 16 total)
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  • #821622
    monikernc
    Participant

    i posted a (deloitte?) transfer pricing doc on the old forum for you when you were interviewing and read through a bit. it sounds like the experience will be more narrow but a lot more interesting than audit. not sure what career advancement there will be after a few years but i personally would prefer the international exposure and that type of analysis. i have a friend in PwC audit and she works crazy hours but has loved it the last two years.
    you are lucky to have these options presented. i think this comes down to where you want to be in 5 years and which of these jobs will get you there. i do not know the answer to that.
    good luck! let us know what you decide.

    AUD - 93
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    #821883
    yy612
    Participant

    thanks monikernc for your response. so sorry i must have missed your response in this transition. i will try to go back and check what you posted.
    i think i would enjoy the international exposure and analysis too, but not sure transfer pricing is where i can use and develop my CPA ability in full extent.

    i'm not sure what i want to be in 5 years, but i want to be flexible and also enjoy a corporate finance position and auditing seems like a good place to start my career as CPA.

    i really hope i can enjoy auditing like your friend. really nervous about crazy hours… i hope i can handle it.

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    #821901
    monikernc
    Participant

    she works crazy hours. crazy. i get texts from her at midnight that say, “still sitting at a client's. tomorrow is release day.”
    but i also get some that say she is working from home, taking a cpe, or she has a few days off.
    here is the deloitte guide that i posted before.
    https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/Tax/us-tax-2016-global-transfer-pricing-country-guide-051816.pdf

    AUD - 93
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    FAR - 76
    REG - 88
    How have you been?
    Ninja book and MCQs and the forum, all first try! 2016
    Licensed State of Montana April Fool’s Day 2020
    State of Colorado June 2020 - AICPA Ethics 93
    Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
    If you want things to change you have to do something different.

    FAR 7/25/15 76!
    AUD 10/30/15 93
    BEC 2/27/16 82
    REG 5/23/16 88!
    Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
    and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
    if you want things to change, you have to do something different

    #821904
    monikernc
    Participant

    she got a $5000 bonus when hired as experienced and licensed CPA. she has been promoted once in two years with decent raises. she is just starting her third year and promised herself to stay for the 3 year vesting period for retirement. she will explore her options next year.

    AUD - 93
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    FAR - 76
    REG - 88
    How have you been?
    Ninja book and MCQs and the forum, all first try! 2016
    Licensed State of Montana April Fool’s Day 2020
    State of Colorado June 2020 - AICPA Ethics 93
    Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
    If you want things to change you have to do something different.

    FAR 7/25/15 76!
    AUD 10/30/15 93
    BEC 2/27/16 82
    REG 5/23/16 88!
    Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
    and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
    if you want things to change, you have to do something different

    #821925
    monikernc
    Participant

    as for down the road, something like this sounds pretty good to me.
    search jobs that you want this to lead to and see which one is more relevant.
    https://www.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=c21c3f79ebaef0eb&from=recommendation

    AUD - 93
    BEC - 82
    FAR - 76
    REG - 88
    How have you been?
    Ninja book and MCQs and the forum, all first try! 2016
    Licensed State of Montana April Fool’s Day 2020
    State of Colorado June 2020 - AICPA Ethics 93
    Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
    If you want things to change you have to do something different.

    FAR 7/25/15 76!
    AUD 10/30/15 93
    BEC 2/27/16 82
    REG 5/23/16 88!
    Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
    and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
    if you want things to change, you have to do something different

    #822012
    Mayo
    Participant

    i’m not sure what i want to be in 5 years, but i want to be flexible and also enjoy a corporate finance position and auditing seems like a good place to start my career as CPA.

    If you want corporate finance (which I'm guessing you mean FP&A or possibly Cost), then your best bet is to go to audit and make sure you get on clients that are not financial services (although, there is FP&A in Insurance and Real Estate). Then you can steer your career in trying to work with P&L accounts as well as inventory. Then after 2-3 years, your transition to FP&A won't be too hard.

    Mayo, BBA, Macc

    #822292
    littlemissrocky
    Participant

    Personally, I think audit works you wayyy harder for the pay. Even though you may work some long hours at KPMG, you will have an overall better work life balance and better pay as well.

    But I totally agree with the others – you need to consider which direction you want your career going.

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    #822319
    Smartcpa
    Participant

    @YY612. Can you give me some tips to get accepted in Big 4? I also passed all 4 sections of CPA exam. I have 9 months experience in small CPA office and 1 year experience in private entity. I have sent my resumes to a lot of companies but getting no responses yet. I graduated with Master of Accountancy with 3.8 GPA. I am frustrated because I am qualified for any opportunity out there but no hiring manager has even contacted me so far.

    Passed all 4 sections within 6 months

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    #822478
    Valar Dohaeris
    Participant

    @Smartcpa. Have you tried participating in your uni's campus recruiting? Rather, how many years removed are you from school?

    I know firms like RSM, BDO, and Grant Thornton hire from smaller CPA offices, especially for tax. Maybe if you put in 2 years at RSM/BDO/GT, you can then apply at Big 4? I would go this route.

    Big 4 firms are very persnickety and don't value experience at small firms. Plus, the kind of experience you mentioned is the kind of experience many of their college recruits have (ie., internships, etc.), hence, my first questions about leveraging campus recruiting. While Big 4 offices have some variation with staffing needs and market forces, it's really hard to know this information without an inside connection.

    Again, I've started my career post-college at Big 4, and if I didn't, I would at least be chasing a career with great firms like RSM/BDO/GT. These are well known and respected firms that provide great experience and exit opportunities.

    AUD - 81
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    CPA

    Finance Manager

    Experienced in Big 4 audit, regional audit, and technical accounting consulting

    BEC - 85
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    #822487
    Smartcpa
    Participant

    @Valar Dohaeris. I did not graduate from targeted universities. I was out of the campus for 9 months. My university did not have campus meet the firm event. I applied to many opened jobs at these national firms (like BDO, Moss Adam, RSM, GT) and be rejected from screening step. That is the reason why I am frustrated and don't know what to do to get CPA experience requirement. At my current firm, I am working part time because this firm is super small and it does not have a full time position now. I need to find the full time job to fulfill my experience requirement within a year.

    Passed all 4 sections within 6 months

    FAR: 4/2016

    BEC: 5/2016

    AUD: 6/2016

    REG: 7/20/16 (exam day), score day (8/4/16)

    #822508
    yy612
    Participant

    Thanks guys for all your inputs!! I agree that I will have better work life balance in transfer pricing at KPMG, but I'm thinking maybe I can try 3 years of crazy hours at PwC considering my future career.

    About how to get accepted in Big4 I do not think my experience will help since I live overseas. In my country where our prime minister dressed up as mario we usually apply through career consultants and in my case I went to school for CPA and they do career consulting and have strong connection with Big4 and other accounting firm. So it wasn't really hard for me after my consultant thinks I'm good to go. You seemed to have strong academic background and experience in CPA office which I don't have and envy you. I'm pretty sure you will find your way, but if you can use recruit consultants where you live, maybe they can help you.

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    #822547
    atabiaka
    Participant

    Hi,
    I actually have a question to you… How did you get a job with them? Can you get some tips? I am an international candidate also and hopefully will pass the last section in September, and really considering working for one of big four. Don't know how to put my foot into one of those…

    #822694
    MonsoonCandy
    Participant

    @smartcpa I'm in a similar boat as you (CPA certified, 1-2 years of experience but not w/ CPA firm, out of school by about 3 years now). Applied to both big 4 and national firms too without any luck of an interview.
    Been told to just keep applying, but some firms re-use the same job code when they re-list the position a few months later and I can't even re-apply because it says I had already applied.
    Feeling stuck, I'll let you know if anything changes for me.

    Going back on topic, best of luck on your career yy612. I think both are good options. If I had those choices, I would prefer audit for the broader experience.

    #822754
    .
    Participant

    If the hours are horrid at the big 4 in the US, I can't imagine how bad they must be in Japan. Japan is infamous for forcing workers to stay late even though it's totally inefficient. The US is pretty horrible compared to Europe/Australia/NZ though.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karōshi

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    #823006
    Nessie
    Participant

    Audit may be broader, but you could end up working on one large client which could mean the scope of your work will be narrow. Not that there is anything wrong with Audit, but TP is considered a bit of a high level group that other lines of services rely on, like tax.

    As far as companies go, PwC is larger in revenues in most LOSs and has a bit more brand recognition. Good luck with whichever you choose and at least you have options!

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