| Topic Name: |
Life after Big 4 |
| Message Name: |
Hindsight 20/20 |
| Date Posted: |
11/13/2007 |
| In Reply To: |
I am currently a 1st year associate at a Big 4 firm and I was wondering if anyone knew of exactly what opportunities are out there after about 3 years of audit experience.
I was thinking about a rotation in Structured Finance, M&A, or Valuation when I came in... but of course when they said they 'encourage' rotations, they mean rotations in some department that specializes in something as dry/boring as internal controls or tax. In the short time I've been working here, I've quickly realized two things:
1) The work accountants do is very important, but
2) It is so dry - doing control tests, etc. is not exactly stimulating
Looking back I wish I had gone another route, but guess thats worthless to think about now. If I want to reshape my career, would it just be best to go back and get an MBA so that I can pursue something such as valuation or Transaction Services, or can I try to land those jobs at other companies after some experience at my firm? |
| Message: |
Looking back, we all wish we chose something else.
I quit with CPA and 3 yrs big 4 experience. The opportunities are out there, they're just so hard to find when you're getting worked to death. I chose finance consulting, which is much easier to get in with a bit more experience.
Headhunters will try and get you to interview for lame sr GL acct positions. You'll have to work hard to get the kind of experiences you're looking for and it definitely won't be through a recruiter. It'd be much easier in some larger-size cities and willingness to travel, but you should contact those places directly (and hopefully already have an in there).
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