Accountants of OT: Public or Industry?

If you want work life balance, go industry. If you want to hammer out 8-10 years in Public and then transition to probably any industry role after that might work to.

However, most of the people I work with that were hired from Big 4 all state that work life balance is why they left Big 4. Working industry at a big company is a great move.

Depends on what you want to do.

If you know what you want to do, then go for that. If you're unsure, public will give you the best experience to make yourself the most attractive candidate in a few years when you're ready to decide exactly what kind of career you want.

Public doesn't have to be Big 4, either. I know some companies prefer Big 4 candidates, or even practically require it - but in my experience that isn't usually the case (even though big 4 might be better experience). I've worked 4 years of public at a top 100 firm, currently looking at a change in career and I have come across very few job postings where Big 4 experience is required.

Big 4 blows from a work life balance standpoint but opens a ton of doors down the road if you're patient and do your time.

I will tell you that Big 4 is a young man's game and that being a 30 year old new staff is awkward for everybody (with all due respect). Also think it would be difficult for you to land Big 4 with your age because of it.

I worked for a well known regional accounting firm, got my CPA a couple years into that and transitioned to industry 4 months ago. Was nice to come in and be fairly high up the totem pole. Love it, really happy to get out of the life of 12 hour days and constant travel.

I always advise soon-to-be graduates to give public accounting a go. Tons of experience and exposure to multi industries. You really gain a ton of knowledge buying trapped in a conference room with senior/manager level auditors for weeks and sometimes months at a time, both direct auditing knowledge and just small industry tidbits about what they've seen throughout the years.

I did 3 years in public accounting and noticed a significant difference between me and coworkers with the same years of experience but all in industry.

If you are older then the public accounting grind may not be for you if you already have kids or a spouse. Without those, I would get into a regional firm with a good reputation.

Postlethwaite & Netterville recently opened up their Houston office and they have a really good rep within the industry.

quote:

---

I will tell you that Big 4 is a young man's game and that being a 30 year old new staff is awkward for everybody (with all due respect). Also think it would be difficult for you to land Big 4 with your age because of it.

---

I disagree, especially right now. All the big firms have more work than they can do with tax reform and Quill looming. They'll hire any good people they can.

The only accounting I do is accounting the days til I get off this rig baw

My guess is the large companies in Houston that hire accountants straight out of college are putting them into GL accounting for the first few years.

GL accounting is boring and sucks.

If you want to go work for one of these big companies, do 3 years at a Top 100 firm and come over as a senior doing something at least interesting.

Or... recognize there is an entire world of public accounting outside the very large firms.

Do public then switch to industry. You'll meet a lot of cool people that will help you for the rest of your career. You will also get some amazing training. You may even like it and stick around on the partner track.

quote:

---

People say the experience looks great, and it hasn't been bad so far.

---

I'm in a no traditional group, I don't file returns or do audits, its more consulting, but I feel the same way. Some weeks I work 60 or more hours and am here on the weekends, others I don't work a minute over 40. I have a flexible work schedule and get a ton of time off. For what I get paid, the experience, and benefits it's actually pretty good I think.