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Bubzeebub192
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Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Location: United States
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Posts: 1719
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| Posted: 07 Dec 2005 at 21:20 | IP Logged
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DCGRRL...TYLER....take a look at the post on this page about the WORK
HOURS AT THE BIG 4. What's your take on that? As you can
see from the thread, it's more my style to work at a government-type
setting. What do you know about the Big 4? Have either of you
worked there? Would you go that route now if you had the chance?
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dcgrrrl
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Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Location: United States
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| Posted: 07 Dec 2005 at 23:12 | IP Logged
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Why yes, I have worked for the Big 4. My experience there was... interesting.
I'd worked at my first government job for three years, and I was ready
for a change and a challenge. I went to a defense job fair and by
pure chance bumped into a big 4 recruiter, who told me all about the
federal government practice at the firm.
Remember my post on page 1 about how Department of Defense (DoD)
doesn't have auditable financial statements? Well, they're trying
to get auditable, and the process of getting there and then (knock on
wood) doing the first audit is going to take many, many auditors -
we're talking about an organization that has a $400 billion budget,
hundreds of accounting systems, PP&E around the world (and the
documentation for the cost of that PP&E is fuzzy), and a million or
so employees. When the Big 4 looks at DoD, they see a $$$lot$$$
of opportunity.
So anyway, this big 4 firm was building up their federal government
practice, and I was pretty much what they were looking for in their
experienced staff in assurance. I interviewed, got a job offer,
and took it. I figured after 2 years at the Big 4, I'd be a
better auditor, and I'd have a lot more options than I would after
another 2 years with the government.
The first 6 months were... interesting. I mostly worked on
proposals for DoD work that the firm was bidding on. The work was
interesting - I learned a lot about how the firm operated - but it
wasn't really what I had signed up for. Then I was assigned to a
new job with a government client, and it was a hellacious mess.
The partner only cared about money, the manager was clueless, and the
senior thought the manager walked on water. Not to mention, the
client was dysfunctional, and they kept changing their minds about what
they wanted from us. The clash between the culture of that agency
and the culture of the firm was too big, and neither was going to give
an inch. At that point, I felt the only way to go was out.
Luckily, a great offer fell on my lap at just the right time. One
of my former managers had moved to a different government agency, and
she noticed my resume in their files. Her boss called me and
talked to me about the job, and I had an offer from HR the next day
(which is ridiculously fast for government... it took me another 2
months before they could give me a start date). I'm happy where I
am now, which is a great change.
My experience was pretty atypical, since the practice I worked for ran
differently than the firm's other practices. I worked 3 weekends
over the year I was there. There were maybe 4 weeks over the year
where I worked more than 40 hours a week, and those weeks were all when
we had proposal deadlines... proposals are their own special kind of
hell.
What did I get out of it? A lot more than I realize. Three
professional certifications (Certified Defense Financial Manager,
Certified Government Financial Manager, and CPA). I learned how
to flowchart, which really comes in handy anywhere you go. And, I
learned what it's like on the other side. Do I regret
going? No. There were a lot of things I could've and
should've done differently when I was at the firm, and I wish I'd
gotten more experience in the firm's core areas (financial statement
audits, 404 work, etc). However, I was in a rut at my first job,
and I know I wouldn't have done the CPA if I had stayed there.
Would I go back? Maybe sometime - never say never! I'd like
to think that I'm older and wiser, and that I'd do a better job of
knowing what I was getting into, and whether the firm knew where they
were going and what they were doing in my area.
Bubzeebub, that's probably a lot more than you bargained for.
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lovac1
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| Posted: 08 Dec 2005 at 09:13 | IP Logged
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The beauty of a governmental job... I work for government, and I do financial statements audit - it does not get better than that. No hurry up environment, just take your time and make sure you get it right. I have a friend who works for the state government, and I think they even have better perks. Anyway, when I hear my other friends talking about 50, 60 hour weeks for a few bucks more, I realize how good I have it. Wouldn't trade it for anything. By the way, I heard that GAO has many accounting positions to fill, so if you are qualified you can try...
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Virginia
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Bubzeebub192
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Joined: 28 Aug 2005
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Posts: 1719
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| Posted: 08 Dec 2005 at 17:47 | IP Logged
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Obviously there are intelligent, motivated, hard-working people who
work in government. I just hate to hear people suggest that
because you don't work 60+hr weeks that you're not willing to work
hard. All the best you DCGRRL and LOVAC1. You both have
been an inspiration to me.
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magneto49
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| Posted: 09 Dec 2005 at 10:03 | IP Logged
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Edited by magneto49 on 07 Jan 2006 at 22:42
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Topic: Working for The Man - Government Careers
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