[Mike9867]

Let’s say you work at the Big 4. They require you work 85 hours one week or a few weeks. You work 70-75 hours instead. What happens? Will you be on a list of people they will soon let go?

I want to work in Big 4, but I need my 8-9 hours of sleep, 1 hour of workout time per day, shower, etc. I can see myself working 70 hours a week, but not much more. Also, I work in tax right now, but would consider audit later if it interested me.

[juuustin]

Well first, they are never going to budget you officially for 85 hours. That's not saying you won't have a week like that, but it's so overblown to think that is the automatic norm. I've booked three 60 hour weeks this busy season so far and two 50's. This week will be a straight 40, but I am technically budgeted for 50. Nothing will happen.

MD Candidate: 10/1/14

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BEC - 89 (4/19/15)
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Ethics - 100

Experience - In Progress!

[mla1169]

It's also going to depend on your workload and efficiency. If you're getting done what you need to get done then leaving it's much different than if you're falling behind on deadlines and leaving because you're tired.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
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Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[rackwin]

As a former Big 4 tax associate, I can attest to the absence of work-life balance and sleep deprivation. The many 2 am deadlines I suffered were caused due to short staff teams and micro-managing by 6 managers( that right – 6). Since I quit, life is much more pleasant.

AUD - 82
BEC 85
REG 2/14/15

[juuustin]

The truly ridiculous hours seem to always come from the tax side of things. 2am deadlines just aren't a thing in Audit, at least not in my office. 10pm was the latest I stayed and I could have been out earlier if we hadn't taken long lunches/dinners.

MD Candidate: 10/1/14

FAR - 87 (11/23/14)
REG - 87 (1/30/15)
BEC - 89 (4/19/15)
AUD - 98 (5/30/15)

Ethics - 100

Experience - In Progress!

[OnMyWay732]

Short answer – No. Long answer – No. They will fire you if you're a really bad worker and don't care about your job/career.

AUD - July 2014 - 76
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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!"

[Anonymous]

Mike-

That may happen on the audit side. In my experience, if it did, it would be in the field. It would also be because a manager was asleep at the wheel and because something went wrong.

Essentially, it's not the norm. You should expect to get up to 60-65 hrs. during busy season. A 60 sucks, but it's not the end of the world.

[ruggercpa2b]

Having worked at the green dot I believe as Bill said, you normally are scheduled 60-65 hours. Now if it takes you longer to do the work and you end up working more hours people end up eating the time because no one likes it when you blow the budget. Another thing I have noticed as mla stated is that even if you are efficient and you get done quick, you cant really leave early. They seem to look down on that. You are expected to hang around till the manager or the senior say you can leave, especially if you are out in the field. Which sucks because there are people that chat all day and get nothing done and then around 3pm want to be productive.

AUD - NINJA in Training
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AUD - 1/6/18
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AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
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I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Author]

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