CPAnet Forum: (Audit) Big 4 Recruiting Q&A

Active Topics

Memberlist

Help

Big 4 Talk
CPAnet Forum : Big 4 Talk

Topic: (Audit) Big 4 Recruiting Q&A (

Topic Closed)

Author

Message

<< Prev Topic | Next Topic >>

db729
Major Contributor

Joined: 22 Apr 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 256

Posted: 24 Sep 2011 at 21:43 \| IP Logged

TheCount66 wrote:

hey i was wondering what your opinion on the Macc degree is. I made a post in big 4 talk but nobodys answered it so far. Are most of the people at your particular firm getting their masters nowadays or just 150 hour eligible (or neither). Im looking at Chicago which doesnt have as strict of rules so any help would be appreciated

Hmm...I personally don't think getting a MAcc just to fulfill your 150 units is necessary. Getting 150 units is absolutely important nowadays (all Big 4 push for it), but you can easily take classes at a community college or online accounting class. If you can get into Big 4 out of undergrad, you should just do that, and then have your firm pay for your classes. No point in you spending however much a respectable MAcc program is just to fulfill units. Now if you missed out on recruiting and want another chance at Big 4, definitely get MAcc. Recruiting out of MAcc is a lot easier than out of undergrad.

In my firm, there's a good mix of people from undergrad and people from MAcc. Big 4 has no preference in terms of "education level." All they care is that you can sit in for the test and get your CPA.

WSPcpa
Contributor

Joined: 29 Jun 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 73

Posted: 27 Sep 2011 at 16:55 \| IP Logged

I have an interview coming up and I have a couple
questions.

I started working with a very small firm auditing local
towns and I was wondering if that would have a positive
effect? I don't think it would be considered qualifying
work experience to transfer in as an experience hire even
if I did it for one year, but should I spend time talking
about "how I like it" and that sort of thing?

Would it be wise to ask questions about current events
like UBS, Buffett buy back or, EU/Greece? Do those type
of questions usually seemed canned? Should I go for a
more how is the bar scene in your city type question?

Do you have any recommendations for questions to ask?

Thank you email or letter? Or both?

__________________
If it were easy, everyone would do it
It's the hard that makes it great

1PassChanel
Newbie
Newbie

Joined: 13 Jun 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6

Posted: 28 Sep 2011 at 14:45 \| IP Logged

Hi db 729. Thank you for your great inputs. I really need your help...
I have been working at a small CPA firm for over 2 and a half years. I do mainly taxes, some audit and reviews, bookkeeping, and payroll etc. Basically everything.
I am a career changer and finally satisfied all the required accounting units to sit for a CPA exam in my state in June. I am planning to take my first exam in November and determined to finish all four within a year.
My current employer is known to have a horrible benefit and unestablished organizational system. After I realized my best interest is in tax, I have been thinking about leaving the firm as soon as I get a CPA license.
However, I recently had a miserable experience with my firm's partner and cannot take it any longer. I am a diligent hard worker. But because of what he did to me, I lost all my faith and motivation to work for this company.
I would rather not get into the details, but it was bad.

After going through emotional wreck, I really want to find a new job in tax before the upcoming busy season. In this economy, I know having a CPA license or passing some sections are essential for experienced hires, but I do not have any yet.
So I would like to ask you, honestly, what do you think my chance to get a job at big four or even at a regional firm is? Would you recommend I should suffer with my current employer till I pass at least some of the exams to make my resume better?
I don't know if I can go through the busy season here in this kind of mental stage.
Although this topic is in audit, I would be really appreciated your reply. Thanks.

CPA87
Regular
Regular

Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 153

Posted: 28 Sep 2011 at 20:46 \| IP Logged

if anyone can tell me what the differences between advisory
and assurance are, i would appreciate it. I have a separate
post for this but wherever you post, it's fine by me.
thanks a lot

__________________
FAR 5/28/2010 92
BEC 8/31/2010 84
AUD 10/29/2010 90
REG 11/30/2010 97

Call me a CPA - I'm licensed

db729
Major Contributor

Joined: 22 Apr 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 256

Posted: 29 Sep 2011 at 02:41 \| IP Logged

WSPcpa wrote:

Hmm what do you mean by positive effect? Any related work experience can be helpful, especially if you can talk intelligently about it. I'm not sure what your work history is like, so it's kind of hard to talk too much about it. I honestly don't know what experienced hire interviews are like, I'll try asking around and let you know. Although I'm sure your past work experience will be brought up some way or another. Just make sure you emphasize that you've had a lot of great opportunities at your current firm. But you want to have a broader experience with bigger clients and more complex issues.

I wouldn't ask about UBS/Buffet/sovereign debt/etc. These are more investment banking interview topics and really don't affect the accounting industry nearly as much as banking. While I think you should have a high level understanding of what's going on the economy right now, I wouldn't be the one to bring it up in an interview.

I don't have any specific questions in mind you can ask because it depends on the flow of the conversation. I've personally found it most helpful to learn more about my interviewer by asking about his insight and past. I've built more meaningful connections that way, which is really important for fit interviews. Big 4 is REALLY big on fit, so technical knowledge isn't as emphasized, especially if you really don't have that much experience in the first place.

Thank you email is fine. Keep something that's personal or unique to the conversation in mind and mention it during the email. I guess you can do a letter if you really really made a great connection, but email should suffice. Definitely don't do both.

<< Prev Page of 10 Next >>

Printable version

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum