Accounting Education

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Would I be severely limiting my opportunities by choosing ULL?

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As far as Big 4, yes I think so. I got my undergrad at LSU and my MACC at LA Tech to move home and save money as I already had a Big 4 job. Most of my classmates at LSU went into public accounting, either Big 4 or at least P&N. 1 out of the 25 or so I got my MACC with went Big 4 and it was in Shreveport and that firm services like 2 clients out of that office.

If you just want to get your CPA, it doesn't matter where you go once you have the designation.

If trying to get hired by a Big 4 or even one of the larger non-Big4 firms (e.g., GT, Crowe, etc.), then going to ULL will definitely hinder your chances. All the large firms recruit at target schools, and ULL isn’t likely to be one of them. Within Louisiana, your school choices are realistically LSU or Tulane. All others are unlikely to be on the target list.

While it is indeed possible to get hired even if you don’t go to a target school, you generally need to have an internal contact.

That said there are other career opportunities outside the Big 4 or another large national firm. There are large local and more regional firms that likely will recruit from schools that the Big4 doesn’t touch.

I went to UL Lafayette and am at Big 4. But you have many more options going to LSU when it comes to Big 4 jobs to be honest. But it's not impossible or anything. UL Lafayette's accounting program is still very solid. But if you are thinking Big 4 or bust, then you'd probably be safer going to LSU.

ETA: It's only a little tougher because they don't really actively recruit over there. But you can still reach out and/or use any potential connections to get your foot in the door. They don't look down on UL Lafayette as a school or anything imo.

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How old are you? I don't know many "second career" accountants who go big four. It's hard to make that initial commitment when you get a bit older.

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Late 20s. Definitely not sure about that either with the kind of hours/travel that might entail. At the same time, I’m trying to feel out realistic expectations before getting started.

I appreciate the responses, I get the sense that I’d be okay with a non-target school. I hadn’t thought much about online courses before though as a starting point, and that’s something I will consider.

Got it, if you want to take down the email address.

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Late 20s. Definitely not sure about that either with the kind of hours/travel that might entail. At the same time, I’m trying to feel out realistic expectations before getting started.

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I mean a lot of it would depend on what you want to do long-term, if you even know. I’m assuming you don’t want to work Big 4 all your life and try to make partner. Most people don’t but if that’s your thing, then hey go for it.

If you have no idea what you want to do with your life after public, then Big 4 will keep the most doors open for you.

However, it isn’t the end all be all that some make it out to be. I didn’t know what I wanted to do after graduating and I went to a mid-sized regional firm for 4 years. I passed my CPA while working a much more manageable schedule as far as work-life balance, and eventually figured out what I wanted to do. I applied to a lot of jobs and received a ton of interest, interviews, and 5-6 offers within my 2-3 month search. In some cases, the regional sized firm gave me better experience because I had experience in a variety of sections (tax prep of high and low net worth individuals, small and large corps, audits of not for profits, gov, small and large private businesses in a variety of industries).

Working Big 4, I’m told, you don’t get varied experience. That might not be true, I can’t say from personal experience, but that’s my impression from talking to B4 alumni. On the other hand, some doors were closed for me because some companies and industries will only hire from B4.

All I’m saying is B4 doesn’t have to be the only option and there are tons of advantages to it, but also advantages to other firms. A lot depends on what you wanna do.

EY recently opened an office in Lafayette so there is a pretty good recruiting presence at UL. The major LA schools that they recruit from are LSU & UNO.

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Actually, LSU and UNO are the main target schools although Tulane does get attention.

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Fair enough. Admittedly, my experience is primarily from the EY perspective and within the FSO consulting/advisory side. I've never run into a UNO grad, but plenty of Tulane.

I graduated from SLU with my MBA and was hired by a local CPA firm, no problems whatsoever. Degrees from larger, more prestigious schools are completely overrated in my opinion. You only need that and your CPA license if you plan to stay in Public Accounting, which I would not wish on my worst enemy. It's great for about 5 years, then get the heck out. Public gives you a great base and overall Accounting exposure to make you more marketable, but is NOT for a family man. Go to Private or Governmental Accounting. I have been in both, and much prefer them over Public. Not even close. You can make just as much, and usually more, in Private (I made much more in Private than Public), and Government, which is where I am currently. Much easier and much less stressful.

You definitely won’t make more long term in government than the Big 4. Private you are probably correct as long as you’re only comparing the audit side.

Also I’m a “family man” and have been With EY for over 10 years. The hours and travel can be tough, but that’s true of any competitive and upwardly mobile position. You can be a family guy and still work here. In fact most SMs and PPEDs have families.