[WantCPA30]

I need advice! I been at big 4 for about 6 yrs and been at a “manager” position for 2 yrs now and the reason I don’t have the title is because of the CPA. I was currently planning on taking time off to concentrate on exams and try to pass once and for all but an opportunity came by for a senior position with more money than I’m getting paid now and way better quality of life (actual work/life balance). I’m just debating my decision because if I stay and pass the exam by Jan I will get the title as soon as I pass but if I dont pass the exams by Jan then I will have to wait for the next promotion round at the end of next yr. I’m just debating because of manager title and of course going back to being senior. Just trying to weigh out all my options and going back and forth with a decision.

Any Advice? HELP!

[Anonymous]

I can't really offer advice, but how were you a manager without being a CPA? Most firms won't promote past senior without CPA…

[Anonymous]

and what senior position pays more than manager?? At my firm senior is $20k less than manager.

[WantCPA30]

@Audit_This I been treated as a manager on all my clients at big 4 for past two years without title. So my title is senior associate but I do all manager work and have senior and staff on my engagements, clients and partners in the group treat me as manager all I need is CPA. Also the firm is a smaller public accounting firm which is offering alot more than I get paid now in Big 4. I know some of my colleagues at Big 4 who get paid the same amount I just got offered.

[Anonymous]

take the higher paying position! Big 4 is so overrated.

[005]

I'd jump ship.

BEC - ✔
REG - ✔
AUD - ✔
FAR - 11/29/14

CPAExcel, Ninja MCQs, and a sh*t ton of coffee

[Anonymous]

So ill be the first to ask: why no CPA yet? It'll help outside of Big 4 too

[WantCPA30]

@Audit_This and @005 – Good point 🙂

@_Nick_ I took two parts and didn't pass then put it aside and tried to pick it up again but just got more n more responsibility at work when I should of focused on the CPA first.

[Anonymous]

because with your experience, I bet you would kill FAR/AUD

[Anonymous]

@_Nick_ I'll second your comment RE: AUD, but not FAR. No one passes FAR without suffering. Hell, a few months ago, I identified a misstatement in an audit solely because of my 3-4 hours/day FAR studying. Even the partner didn't agree with me until he consulted with the tax department.

[Garion]

@WANTCPA30… I have been in the same position and decided to leave… Not such a great decision for me in hindsight but it was great at the time. It really has not hurt the career until recently but it would have made the journey a lot easier. Think I am the exception on the career front but my former Big 4 colleagues that did get the CPA and title have had an easier time than I getting to executive level positions. Plus, they have more doors open to them. I guess it depends on your long term ambitions.

FAR 84 (7/24/14)
BEC 87 (8/28/14)
REG 84 (10/14/14)
AUD 86 (11/24/14)
Ethics 98 (1/19/15)
Licensed CPA: March 13, 2015

[WantCPA30]

@Garion Where did you leave to? and did you have opportunity for growth where you ended up going?

I agree my colleagues who have left with CPA and manager title have it a little easier when it comes to more opportunities out there.

[NYCaccountant]

On average, how long does it take become a manager in Big 4?

AUD - 99
BEC - 84
FAR - 93
REG - 87

NYC born and raised.

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[WantCPA30]

@NYCaccountant 5-6yrs normally or earlier depending if you prove you can run the engagement and what partners you work with….there's a lot of politics in the big 4 unfortunately.

[Topsya]

@WantCPA30 while at Big4… what were the industries you were auditing?

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[Garion]

@WantCPA30… Dating myself here… Well a lot. I was with KMPG in 2002 rising fast and steady but getting tired with three large public clients. I left for Schlumberger Sema which was the $5B IT arm acquisition of Schlumberger Oil & Gas. Very large company with 85,000 employees at the time and felt very safe. I increased salary by nearly 50% on the jump, big office, upward mobility, etc… I was promoted within six months to geo-controller of North America and all looked good until they moved the HQ in the midst of the IT bust.

Bad luck… perhaps but this is where it began getting difficult. Instead of being able to make the jump easily to a lateral position with a title and CPA I was forced to find creative ways to gain experience despite certain doors being closed to me because “my pedigree” was not sufficient on the resume despite the talent, experience and work ethic I had exhibited. I had to start over as an accounting manager and prove myself again to get back to controller. I did it but what a blow on the resume, salary, etc…

This is happening to me NOW nearly 15 years later after two controller-ships, a vp-finance and a CFO position at medium, large and small companies, respectively. That is why I am taking advantage of my time off in transition to mitigate at least half of the fall out from the decision so long ago and begin an MBA program. That would be the moral of the story and an abject lesson in cost/benefit of your career decisions.

My path has been very unique in that I have found opportunities to create myself in a way that mitigates the effects of my past decision. So it is doable… however, it has been grueling and I have had to work very hard at this every day. Harder than my former colleagues and must continue to do so… hence my caution to you about your future ambitions.

@NYCaccountant… Generally five years unless something has changed. Some make it in four if they are very good. Some take six years if they need more seasoning. It also depends on how full the stable is for the local office.

FAR 84 (7/24/14)
BEC 87 (8/28/14)
REG 84 (10/14/14)
AUD 86 (11/24/14)
Ethics 98 (1/19/15)
Licensed CPA: March 13, 2015

[Author]

Replies