Comments on: Why You Should Not Work for the Big 4

By: Superdad

Superdad — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:39:09 +0000

I just completed an internship with the big four during busy season and they do not lie about working long hours. However, I enjoyed the internship and will be taking a full time offer. It was tough working in the Big 4, but it did not even closely compare with my time spent sitting in concrete towers on guard duty in Iraq . Life is all about perception. Don’t forget how much we have it made in this country. Elders tell me that people do not honor hard work anymore. I believe them.

By: Accounting Genius

Accounting Genius — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:28:48 +0000

@NYSTaxGuy: The starting salary for Big 4 associates is pathetic given the number of hours they end up working, not to mention the stress. That being said, you don’t work for the Big 4 to get a big paycheck from the start. You work with them to get the experience, so when the time comes, you can ditch them and work in private industry for a much bigger pay check. And 37.5 hours?! I am pretty jealous!!

By: NYSTaxGuy

NYSTaxGuy — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:05:07 +0000

The big 4 recruiting strategy is ingenious.

Find the most attractive male and female third/fourth year accounting students, booze them up, let them dance, show-off a life of glamour and luxury, and sit back as they willingly sacrifice their 20s by working insane hours for what they think is a good salary.

Some people thrive in that environment, which is good. More power to them.

Not me though. I want a balanced life.

I recently accepted a position as a tax auditor with the state, and I won’t make a lot of money, but rarely will I work more than 37.5 hours.

Actually, I just found out my starting salary is only 4 grand less than a new associate at a Big 4.

By: Accounting Genius

Accounting Genius — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:19:33 +0000

@ Al Dawson: I agree with you, which is why I wrote the other side to this argument about three months back. Try giving it a read:

http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/recruiting/why-you-should-work-for-the-big-4/

By: Al Dawson

Al Dawson — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 11:11:50 +0000

but come on…lets not forget how much value it adds to ur resume, when u wanna switch to industry..it has almost become a pre requisite that u need to have solid big 4 experience to break into upper level management jobs else where….

By: Krupo

Krupo — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:16:04 +0000

“elected leadership” is the best combination of two words with quotation marks in the history of the internet, for tonight – for so many of the right reasons.

By: AG

AG — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:56:40 +0000

The competition for the brightest students is intense amongst the Big 4. Chances are if you get an offer from one, you will get an offer from all of them. So, it’s in their best interest to impress you as much as possible, and get you to sign with them.

This is why interns are wined and dined a lot, while the actual staff is stuck working and ordering in.

By: big4bound

big4bound — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:41:08 +0000

I went to a recruiting event of a mid-sized firm the other day. It was the most boring and excruciating 3 hours I ever spent because they kept talking in detail about what they do.

That is when I realized that I have never heard a Big 4 firm talk in detail about their work. Obviously they realize how crappy it sounds and most students would probably run away.