The Truth about Working at the Big 4 Accounting Firms | Why I Left
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- Опубліковано 11 лип 2024
- Hi YT! This video is a tell all about my experience working at a Big 4 accounting firm. I worked in the Audit Practice so I am only speaking to that.
Timestamps:
1:19 Background Info
3:40 Big 4 Pros
9:08 Big 4 Cons
19:08 Final Thoughts
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MUSIC:
Intro- Gyrate by Wizkid
#Big4 #PublicAccounting #Audit
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Liked and subscribed!!! Keep at it.
Big 4 Business Model: Convince recent grads that they are the only path to a successful career, work them to death for 2 years then replace them. I started my own firm, make more and work less. To those who still want to go the Big 4 route. Good luck!
For me it was different. I'm experienced hire in tax. Instead 80% of the time I'm sitting there doing nothing. I got so bored of just sitting on my ass of doing nothing. I was expecting it to be busy and great so i can actually focus on my career path in tax, nope. Worst than my small firm. Asked managers for work, no one responds and even my own manager don't seem to give a shit.
HR from different offices asked for my intro which i written and given them 3 times. No one talks to each other.
Its so pathetically mismanaged, its a joke.
@@441meatloaf you can have a side hustle by investing stocks etc. You have a dream job....im ex big four here...damn i knew you tax folks were underutilised . If you were in audit youd wish for even an hour spare time in your day
@@Therevolution7 Under utilized for sure and due to over hiring for tax season, fire and dump is the usual tradition and they can have an excuse about you that ur chargeable is low so they get rid of you lol.
At least in my area, Seniors are in dire needs these days. Covid drove most of the existing seniors to burn out rate and don't ever wanna return to public or even back into the work force for a long while.
From what i've seen, most places public or industry is struggling to hire experienced seniors.
Do you mind sharing what kind of firm you started as someone who’s deciding either to work as a consultant or pursuing entrepreneurship?
@@pridify not clear on what your asking ?
I loved your video, it is vary accurate and I was an intern so the manager support could make a big different.
in terns of performance evaluation I believe that relationship with the managers of the projects play a big role, Like I felt that I had to connect with them in other to be seeing and known, its savage but definitely good for the CV and career path.
I felt that majority of people smiled but they were unhappy!
thank you Jess for sharing
Sounds like a place that makes you live to work instead of working to live. Had a offer from them and glad I looked into this further.
Thanks for telling your story - always great to hear other people's perspective working in client services!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks so much for this! Appreciate you sharing your experience!!!
Thank you for sharing ! I am having an interview with KMPG for internship this Friday.
Hi Jess, may I ask about the professional learning like ACCA/CPA when you left? Do you need to finish a certain course before leaving since you have already registered in the firm?
Btw, I love how you are sharing the truth and I'm gradually experiencing those now T.T I'm a new joiner (non-background) and been questioning if this is my right decision because I don't plan to study for any professional certificates but I heard it is required in terms of developing ourselves along the way here. Hope to hear from you. Thank you so muchh xD
2 weeks holiday! Gosh, Americans never stop working! 4 weeks is standard over here and lots of companies offer a lot better than that. If a company only offered me two weeks holiday, I wouldn't even consider it.
Same. In my country (which is in Europe) you have to have 20 days vacation MINIMUM
I get 28 work days holidays in Spain... should be horrible getting no days off
@Lilman Yellow
Yeah we get bank holidays on top of whatever your holiday allowance is. So most years that's at least 8 extra days on top of what allowance your company gives. Obviously if you're working in certain jobs like retail, you might not necessarily get a bank holiday off, but here if you work a 5 day week, you're entitled to 5.6 weeks paid holiday.
If the bank holidays are inclusive or on top of that depends on how generous you're employer is.
It just seems like Americans are always working/hustling and like they're afraid to take time off. Obviously that's just generalising, but from just watching films and videos like this, it seems like that's the culture...that you've always got to be switched on if you want the 'American dream'.
@Lilman Yellow you get 3 or 4 weeks on paper, but its frown upon if you take more than two weeks. 7 bank holidays, can’t chose when to use them.
Adopt me. Jk 😂
this has given me a better idea of how to approach the accounting career im pursuing. Thank you for the insight!
Thank you for this video. I think it was very realistic, well explained and exactly what I was looking for. You are great.
Im glad ppl are sharing this information!!
Hope it’s helpful! Thanks for watching
Thank you for telling me what that meant to you! Salary expectations were lower than I thought.
Amazing video thanks for sharing it. Agreed in every single thing you said.
I’m starting Becker right now. I have all summer to study so I feel like I should be able to get one or two sections done. I just finished up a busy season with a local CPA firm.
Yes, definitely utilize your summers- Good luck!!
Having a few years experience from big4 environment this video is on point.
Good benefits for first paying job.
Proceed with realistic expectations…
Performance based companies, much less opportunities than those being marketed.
Highly skewed salaries time/reward.
Not clear criteria for promotions…
Thanks for this video, where did you end up going after big 4 what is your compensation/work life balance now?
I’m taking the entrance exam to my university for accounting this month! Woohoo!
Wow, that’s great-Good luck!
Well I also did 75hr to 80 hrs job in a week in PwC(cybersecurity).... its really hectic.....only thing I have learned in PwC before leaving is handling enormous pressure, stress , continuous working without taking breaks.
Sounds like a heart attack waiting to happen
Thanks for sharing, what was ur position at the company?
Yeah that's right you like work for 70 hrs a week and they only give around 300$ a month I'm at the position of analyst in KPMG and it gives you so headache and sleepless nights and no work life balance i just want to leave but the fact that no other company wants to hire me but I will still try. I am from India working in KPMG it is so hectic work.
Thanks for sharing this. I made senior manager in big 4 tax and still going, your story is a common one that I see continuously and experienced parts of myself. Unfortunately the nature of the industry drives some of the cons you mentioned, not sure I’m too optimistic about any of that changing anytime soon.
There are ways to mitigate some of this though and I’ve found that the most effective way is to quickly network and align yourself with a team you enjoy working with. This way you reduce the randomness of the teams you are placed on and build stronger relationships with a close knit group. Sounds obvious but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this save or at least help disgruntled team members.
bro i would never trust a coworker. most are competition and will be reporting on you to the boss for the smallest thing.
@@asadb1990 in big4 everyone is out for themselves, unlike a small local firm where a supportive environment actually exist to cultivate learning.
In big4 no one gives a shit about you, which adds exhaustion and frustration when you see things are just done in the most stupidest way.
That's why burnout is so frequent and high in big4.
@@441meatloaf its the same everywhere you go. small companies are actually worse because they hire you expecting you know everything. they will never train you and get annoyed whenever you ask for anything. spending on basic expenses will be a chore. in contrast bigger companies at least set realistic expectations from new hires. i have worked for both and have to say the bigger companies were more realistic about the relationship. any company that says "we are like family", run. smaller companies expect you to be more invested as an employee.
in either case, if you try to be ambitious and change things to work a new ways that will become your new duty on top of your existing tasks. do the bare min to keep your job.
@@asadb1990 not particularly true in small companies. I worked in a small public and the environment was much better. The only difference is the experience cap due to less degree of clients.
@@441meatloaf maybe you got lucky. the issue is 99.9% of small business owners are super cheap. they want the most amount of work for the least pay. and finally they want you to work like you own the business. and the biggest scam in small businesses is "wearing multiple hats". which is code for multiple positions, single pay.
Thank you for the insight
Thank you so much!
I had applied in big 4 my resume didn't got shortlisted, Please make a video how to make resume to pass the applicant tracking system.
What state are you located in if you don’t mind asking ? Here in LA a lot of my classmates are getting offers for $72,000 -$75,000 starting, what did you end up doing after you left the big four ? Are you still in the accounting field
Hey Jess. I’m thinking about applying for a big 4. I just got my masters in accounting and going to take my CPA early next year. What are some things a big 4 look for in a candidate?
I feel like at our age we should be job hopping. Staying for 1-2 years is ideal at these firms. Youre very right for leaving!
True. If you become a competitive candidate, the job hopping on your resume won't even 'look bad'
100%. Stop encouraging the youth to stay with one company for a decade!
Great perspective, you did well to achieve the goals you did. I have no doubt you'll continue to do great things 😊
Thank you so much!
It seems that the condition vary significantly accross different countries. In my country the conditions are way worse.
Check the working conditions in your specific country.
Good content! Do you familiar with the field of IT audit/ risk by any chance?
First time on your channel and I learned a lot from watching your content!
Thank you!!
thank you!
That sounds like Deloitte. I see a lot of expense reports with work boots and Uber trips
Great video!
What did you end up doing after leaving? I’m currently in tax at a big 4 and debating if I should go industry or mid tier.
I’m in Internal Audit currently
Hated my time at the big 4. Terrible work life balance. People glorify working long hours till midnight and later. Life is short - spend it with your friends and family. My private life is worth so much more than the money they could pay!
Seeing her at the company I couldn't think about any accounting & audit :) I would say: let's get out and establish together a modelling agency.
Lmaoo thank you!
She is like a doll
Thank you so much!
Wow didn’t know the salaries weren’t so good
That's an interesting conclusion you make, "If you get an offer, definitely take it," especially given the content of the rest of your video. It doesn't sound like you had much of a professional, fair, or reasonable experience given the lack of mentoring, the below average to average audit teams, and the unfair evaluations. It sure seems like a lot of time and money that you would have spent becoming CPA eligible only to stay for a year and a half. That's a large price to pay to have Big 4 on your resume.
Yep, that’s true- but my experience may not be everyone else’s experience so I more wanted to create awareness so people could manage their expectations than discourage people
Did u get your cpa license during working for the big 4 or after. Im currently in my last semester for my bachelors in accounting and will start prepping for the cpa
I started when I was there but finished it after I left
Great video! $50K sounds like a great starting salary for a graduate!
Thanks for watching!
No it isn't given you will be making less than minimum wage when you consider busy seasons
They don't pay any overtime for all those damn hours she was talking about.
A 50K base is adequate in that it is enough to afford housing and basic needs at least.
Which big 4 did u work at?
The big 4 are a decent place to kickstart a career. You learn a lot in a short time and get exposed to many industries at once but that comes with a lot of stress and physical pressure. Unless you REALLY love consulting, I'd suggest working for a year or two at most then switch
I had thought so too 10 years ago...
Looking back my Big Four experience lasting two years is USELESS today
working as MORTICIAN at a public hospital has a richer learning experience than at the Big Four, period
Did you get overtime pay or you were salary?
If you’re not vibing with your mentor, are you able to request being matched with another mentor?
Do they just randomly match you with a mentor ?
You can request for a mentor!
Being that I worked so much around the clock while Deloitte and then having a MASSIVE HEART ATTACK .... ummmm ye-ah I just wanted to hear your take on Deloitte
I worked there for 6 years and while in ICU Deloitte tried to fire me; to get my family to help me find a “heavy-hitter” attorney and SUCCESSFULLY won a lawsuit against them!
I’m still traumatized because of them, I no longer trust coworkers, stay to myself and go straight home
I had a similar circumstances, I use to work as a helpdesk IT technician for this company. I wasn’t even a year in this company and like you I was having medical problems to where I went to the hospital for it. I was laid off, because of the so called “reduction cycle”. But w/e I can’t believe companies can fire you for anything that you have no control over. I hated my occupation as well, dealing with these stressful clients, and rude ass co-workers on the daily basis ruined my mental health. Now I’m actually going back to school to study accounting.
Wow, that is so terrible! I can’t personally speak to Deloitte, but I’ve heard negative experiences from each of the Big 4 firms honestly
Great video I like that you're super succinct and articulate, ..it makes it more reverting to watch. The honesty of your views is so adorable as well. ..and of course you're so so pretty.
Thank you so much!!
why didnt you go to MBB? At least they pay very well for the effort put in.
I clicked on your video to say that you are beautiful :)
Thank you so much! 💕
What are you doing now?
These jobs are only worth it if you went to school free. The ones I saw stay didn't have high debt and any salary would've been food.
87 hour weeeeek ?! on salary?
Yes ma’am, busy season is no joke 😐
No one in my league. I did 100 hours.
Expectations at a public accounting firm are pretty high. You can’t be somebody who is not a fast learner. I worked at an accounting firm. I was fired after 6 months for poor performance. I came into that job with zero experience. They expect you to hit the ground running even if you have no experience.
Good lord that salary is low for such well known firms and the amount of work!
Shitty environment
Why do these four major audit firms classify themselves as Public Industry,
when they are so capitalistically private that they are an essential notion of private capitalism and private property ??
What does this have to do with the PUBLIC ???
The only interest they have is the private interest of the owners of tig auditing companies !!
There is nothing general and public interest there!
How hard was the CPA?
I have an entire video on my CPA experience- you should check it out! But overall it makes the list of hardest exam/processes I’ve ever done so far😕
Hi,
The Big 4 work environment is from the LAST Century closer to the 1950s work culture
Their top management are STILL STUCK in the 1950s and behaved like dinosaurs
AUDITING stands for (A)lways (U)nderpaid, (D)eadlines (i)nfinite, (T)raining (I)s (N)othing (G)reat
wait, that salary doesn't sound right... where were you located?
Houston, TX
@@JessETV oh wow… I didn’t know TX’s salary was that low… even without state tax
How long did you stay before leaving?
A year and half
Are you overtime for those hours you did over 40??
No, they are normal and part of the job. You get a paltry bonus at the end of season though.
50? 🙃
Who the hell is going to work 80 hrs a week? You are on salary pay as well, and they probably won't paying any overtime?
Yea they don’t pay over time, it’s salary
U look like a model
Yeah no idc not going to big 4. I just want a comfortable, fair job with room for growth. Not gonna let some selfish higher ups take advantage of me.
The big four sound like fresh-meat graduate mills. Churning all the time from what I'm seeing.
Feels the same...-_-
For high school students trust me, don't so accounting.
And why is that?
@@Weathersohot ur gonna be working 50-60 hours a week.
Go into risk advisory/risk assurance instead. Yes, it’s a cop out but it’s better than tax/audit. There is no busy season. The work load is more spread out.
@@nordythenorthman Is that what you are doing now? What are the education requirements for this line of work?
@@nicklancer3923 I work at a CPA firm doing risk advisory work.
As far as education requirements, it depends on your academic/career goals. A master’s degree in either Accounting (preferably in an internal audit concentration) or a computer/IT major such as MIS or Cybersecurity would be preferred. I have two master’s degrees in accounting and MIS. It only took me an additional year to get my second master’s degree because of the overlap of courses between the two degree programs. You don’t need two master’s degrees. I went after the MIS degree to learn a little bit about the technical side of accounting/audit.
So u get drug tested?
What do you mean?
@@JessETV Leeegalize it!
you know what you sign up for. we all did and if EY os the worst but you got other options.
Knowing what you signed up for is no excuse for being unappreciated and mistreated in the workplace but yeah sure whatever you say 😂🤦🏾♀️
No union>>exploitation. Of course, America has the lowest union membership of any industrialized country.
Hi, please can you share your LinkedIn profile?
Why? So you and your company can monitor her for talking about your company?