Is a Career Working at One of the Big Four the Right Choice for You?
The Big Four accounting firms offer prestige and growth opportunities, but they may not be the right fit for everyone. This blog explores the benefits and challenges of working for these global giants, helping professionals decide if it aligns with their career goals. If you would like help deciding on your best career fit, contact PrideStaff Financial.
Pro-Best of the best:
The Big Four only hire the best and brightest, so you will be working with some of the most talented and motivated individuals in the industry every day. You will also collaborate with individuals from different departments throughout the business, both locally and internationally, meaning you will be exposed to a lot of new areas quickly and will learn something new every day. This makes sometimes very long workdays (we’ll get to that later) much more enjoyable.
Con-Long hours:
We all know it, the dreaded busy season. Working for a Big Four could mean you can work very long hours during this time to ensure that a deadline is met. This can mean working up to 11 hours every day, and occasionally at weekends. It’s rare to do this more than a few months out of the year, but for a Big Four, you will be expected to put in some long hours.
Pro-Top-tier clients:
In your first year as an Associate/Assistant, you will be exposed to processes and controls with some of the largest and most prestigious businesses in the world. The simple breadth and quality of the clients at a Big Four are unrivaled, so no matter where you go your experience will be completely unique.
Con-Travel:
You will normally spend a significant amount of time visiting clients that can be a long way from home. This can often mean significant commutes or days and nights away from home. This can be exhausting after a certain amount of time and should be heavily considered when thinking about whether a Big Four is the right fit for you.
Pro-Growth opportunity:
A huge pro of working with a Big Four firm is the significant development and growth opportunities that will be available to you. Not only will you receive hands-on training from top professionals and be able to lead your own audit/tax teams early in your career, but you will also have various opportunities to move into different specialisms or departments, such as Corporate Finance, Data Analytics, or Forensic Accounting.
Con-blackout dates for time off:
During the busy season, you will not be allowed any annual leave or personal time off, so there is a large chunk of the year where you will be working continuously. This can mean your work/life balance potentially suffers.
Looking to boost your accounting & finance career?
Connect with PrideStaff Financial–where award-winning job seeker satisfaction is our standard. Visit our job board to explore the latest and greatest job opportunities today.
