[Gabelogan]

Hi everyone,I am an accounting student at a decent state university in the state.For reasons that are not hard to guess I plan to stay in the states after my graduation so I am thinking of getting my CPA and working at the big 4.I had some questions:

1)Does the big 4 sponsor H1 visa`s for Audit positions or is it geared towards more advisory roles?

2)Apart from networking and getting a decent GPA is there anything else to do to increase your chances ?I am learning Python programming just to make my self more marketable.

Best

Gabe

[gio957]

You would need to look into the most recent h1b visa report to find your answer.

[Yukkeko]

1. Yes they do. From my experience in Texas area, E&Y and PWC generally hire more people who need sponsorships than the other two
2. Not sure if Python will help a ton, but networking as you said is very important.
3. My advice: Try to look around for other opportunities as well. Though not many, but some regional firms and industry companies are also providing sponsorships.

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Accounting

FAR (4/14/14) - 97
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BEC (11/30/14) - 92
AUD (2/28/15) - 99
TEARS!

[sumaysap]

Yes, all the big four sponsor H1B visas and they all have a brilliant team of lawyers who are on top of the things. Are you at the target school, meaning do all the big four recruit at your campus? If they do, try to attend all the workshops and info. sessions they organize. This is how I got my job.

[rp 12]

In my opinion if you want to get into big4- I think you should first and foremost make sure you have 150 Credits to suffice the requirements of the State/Jurisdiction you plan on working. Since big4 are mostly concerned w/ having a good GPA and 150 credits to be eventually licensed as a CPA upon passing your CPA exams. There are 2 ways you can do it:

1. Do Master's in Accounting or MBA to get to the 150 Credits from your school if they're offering such program. OR
2. Do remaining 30 credits in undergrad itself (make sure you have sufficient accounting and business credits towards 150 requirement).

If you go to target school things get little easier in terms of networking w/ Recruiters and visiting professionals form Line of Service. If you don't go to target school it's not like an end of the world. I would highly recommend you join ASCEND, ALPFA, IIA (Risk Advisory, and Internal Audit) – great chance to meet professionals from big4. If I were you I would also heavily try using LinkedIn to get ‘Informational Interviews' w/ recruiters, and professionals in the CPA industry. I didn't go to a target school, but through networking and some luck I ended up at big4 and had a great learning experience.

I heard that if you have a Master's degree chances of getting H1b visas are more greater. I hope this helps. Good luck!

AUD - NINJA in Training
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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"

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REG:
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[CPAfit]

What is the likely hood of an international candidate getting a H1B visa, who has passed all exams and is referred to a big 4 through an associate?

AUD - 82
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 83

HIYA!

NH Licensed CPA - Jun 2018

[jm962011]

I have a curiosity question about sponsorship and I am not sure if anyone on this forum will know…

So, Big 4 or even top 10 firm hires an individual that needs sponsorships. Sponsoring costs money, correct? Not to mention the time, research, etc. the Big 4 lawyers have to put into making sure all the sponsorship documents are complete, in compliance, etc. Do some of these costs get deducted from the offer for that individual needing the sponsorship? Even if it would be too difficult to allocate the lawyer's time to ALL the individuals throughout the organization needing sponsorship, there are filing fees with the forms and things, correct?

For example, if there are two individuals with the EXACT same qualifications (apples to apples) expect one of them needs sponsorship, is the offer for both going to be the exact same or should the individual needing sponsorship expect to be paid less?

Just curious because that would technically be an extra benefit to the individual needing sponsorship in which the firm takes care of, yes?

[Nessie]

jm, I am an international student recently hired by one of the big 4. I am waiting for my H1-B- the company is preparing for me. They offer lots of benefits to campus recruits. They will pay a bit of your student debt (I don't have student debt), they will pay for your Becker courses (I already paid on my own). They will also pay for your cell phone.

While they are paying for my H1-B (even though I am part of NAFTA and don't require sponsorship), I don't need the $100/month in student debt payoff they offer. I also don't need other services like help finding an apartment.

Overall, I would say hiring international students lowers the pay for everyone. As an international student you can't really quit as easily as an American and find another job. And, you can't really complain about the salary. You basically have less bargaining power. From what I know, everyone is offered $59k for my position, regardless of work eligibility.

There are rarely two *exact* candidates. They don't really care if you have the CPA completed, or not. Grades help, but having cool extracurricular things on your resumé, and being an outgoing, friendly person will get you the job. Getting along with the couple of people who interview you help as well.

AUD - 80
BEC - 84
FAR - 80
REG - 88

Using Becker Self-Study, Final Review and NINJA MCQs
Sat for BEC Dec 6th, 2016 !!!! 84!!!!!

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[jm962011]

Thanks, Nessie. I said “exact” because these days when you're looking at affirmative action, paying one gender more than the other, etc. companies get away with saying “well, Joe over here as this one extra qualification than Mary which is why we paid him more.”

There have been a lot of studies on the hiring on individuals, including removing the names from resumes to see who the HR recruiter and/or interviewing partners/managers would pick. Or having the exact same resumes but putting a female sounding name on one and a male name on another. I've also seen a study about putting more “westernized” names on a resume (for example, if you're Asian, adopting a western name and putting only that on your resume, or if you're name is Jose, you drop the S and go for Joe).

I hope I didn't offend anyone, I was just curious about some of those costs and if it a makes a difference in the offers.

I would say grades are a big factor in even getting an interview at big 4 though. I also think already completing your CPA will put you a tick or two above the competition, especially if you're not a straight-out-of-college hire. Of the 20 level 1-level tax staff at my firm, there are only 2 of us with our CPAs. There 7 tax seniors and only two have their CPAs…

[Nessie]

jm, I totally agree with what you are saying. With the grades thing, I am applying as a graduate student, so I think everyone's GPA is pretty high since you don't really get C's and D's in grad school. The people who applied with me all had high GPA's, so it is hard to say if someone with a 3.9 beat someone with a 3.5.

I am in NYC, and it is pretty multiracial and multi cultural here, and the firms seem to reflect diversity. But, I don't disagree with you about quotas and perhaps how one's background or name, or gender can skew an opportunity. As far as CPA completion, my recruiter said most people haven't completed the CPA upon starting work, but of course, it could not hurt to have all or a few under one's belt.

I think there is a basic threshold as far as grades go to get through the proverbial door and get an interview. But after that, I think it is really based on a personality match, how you get along with the partners with whom you had an interview. I actually think having military experience, or similar rigorous team building position trumps completing of the CPA before start date.

AUD - 80
BEC - 84
FAR - 80
REG - 88

Using Becker Self-Study, Final Review and NINJA MCQs
Sat for BEC Dec 6th, 2016 !!!! 84!!!!!

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[CPAfit]

@Nessie do you have any idea about someone who was in my same position and was hired by a big 4 recently? I mean international candidate all four parts passed but requires a H1B to work. Also I was referred by one of the associates at EY recently, so still waiting for a response from them.

AUD - 82
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 83

HIYA!

NH Licensed CPA - Jun 2018

[Nessie]

@zubairs, close to 3/4 of students at the biz school I went to are international. Everyone I know in accounting got a job, except perhaps those who really struggle with the English language. So, they will all require an H1-B.

Not sure how much influence an associate will have in getting you a job. I was fortunate to have been referred by a partner (via a large client), and got an interview almost immediately, but that was during hiring season, so you may have to wait if you are applying right now. If you get an interview, try to be personable and have interesting interests outside of school to discuss.

AUD - 80
BEC - 84
FAR - 80
REG - 88

Using Becker Self-Study, Final Review and NINJA MCQs
Sat for BEC Dec 6th, 2016 !!!! 84!!!!!

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[Mayo]

1)Does the big 4 sponsor H1 visa`s for Audit positions or is it geared towards more advisory roles?

Audit does have H1 visa's yes.

2)Apart from networking and getting a decent GPA is there anything else to do to increase your chances ?I am learning Python programming just to make my self more marketable.

Tax? No one will care. Audit? No one will care. IT Audit? Meh, possibly. They tend to help with scripting in ACL, which is a souped up version of Excel. But learning scripting is not necessarily programming.

You can bring it up as a point of interest I guess, but it's not applicable in 98% of what auditors or tax people will do. Can't speak to advisory at all.

In terms of what can help?

-High GPA
-Good social/networking skills
-Being involved with recruiting events so as to form connections with the recruiting team
-Being involved in Beta Alpha Psi or other similar group
-Being in a leadership position in Beta Alpha Psi or similar group
-Having work experience in a client facing role (waiter, bartender, customer service, retail, etc.)
-Having work experience in a team environment as well as a leadership role (head so and so or manager of XYZ)
-Being physically in shape/moderately attractive (not a must but it helps if you're at least in shape; It is what it is IMO)

Most important thing? Don't wait to the last minute to try and do any of these things. Big 4 recruiting is one of the most formulaic things out there. If you are likable (even if you are not you can learn not to be awkward) and start early, you can check all the necessary boxes to set yourself up for an interview with all Big 4 at a minimum. If you can check all the boxes and the firms like you, then you're golden.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[CPAfit]

@Nessie thanks a lot for the advice and I agree with you on the timing. I'll just wait for now and re-apply when the season starts again.

@Mayo amazing advice man! I couldn't agree more with being in shape, it's human nature to be attracted to good looking people and It you never see people complaining about being too fit 😛 Besides that I am already employed in a large organization so I have experience with working in teams and I was in a leadership role until recently, when I changed department. As far as joining Alpha Beta Psi goes, I think I'm not eligible for that as I did my undergrad from an international university outside of the US. My other concern is that I am currently residing outside the US and I don't know how much of an impact will that have on my chances of getting interviewed. Anyways, I will keep my fingers crossed and keep working on improving myself.

Once again, thanks for the advice everyone.

AUD - 82
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 83

HIYA!

NH Licensed CPA - Jun 2018

[Author]

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