Hi Bill, As always, every video is super informative. This is my last semester of college. I applied for an internship at Deloitte, but I missed the deadline in October. I then received an invitation to apply for a permanent position in the audit and assurance dept. I received a verbal job offer last Friday from the partner who interviewed me. :) I heard a lot of negative reviews about the working environment in the big 4s, and thanks to your video, I know now what to expect and to focus on the positive. I want to become a controller one day. Have a wonderful life. Thank you!
I'm italian and currently i am writing my thesis on Corporate Frauds. You have NO IDEA how much you're helping me. I would love to work in this field, but everything is just blurry, so thank you for clarifing some things.
I started my accounting career as a bookkeeper for a manufacturingcompany. Im in the process of getting an account degree with a focus in administration and become a cpa. I have way more responsibility as a finance manager. I eventually would like to be a cfo for a large company. Would going into public accounting be beneficial for me, or should I stay in the industry and build my knowledge and experience?
hey tejas, I don't think going into public is great if your goal is to be come a CFO. Less than 10% of CFOs are CPAs, but rather they have more operational and analytical experience (ie. finance manager track is good for that)
Great video, thank you! Can you please give me some advice? I passed my CPA exams, currently working as an Audit Associate at mid-size firm doing Employee Benefit and 401 k audits. My goal is to become a controller and someday CFO. Should I stay at my firm or switch to BIG 4? In my firm, I have a good work-life balance and can find ways to make extra income.
going to Big 4 will help accelerate this goal. But also can be done with regional, though I'd say get out of benefit and into financial statement audits.
@@TheFinancialController Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate it! I’m in financial statement audit it’s just for employee benefit plans, I audit investment accounts, cash, fixed assets and income/expenses. Should I still change the firm?
Thank you for this helpful video! One question: How much work or internship experience did you have before applying to the Big 4 companies in your last year of college?
Hello Bill, I really enjoy your content! Question: I am a sophomore in college and I will be earning my bachelors degree in accounting, should I apply to internships at the big 4 now? Or should I wait until my senior year? Is it too early as a sophomore? Thank you!
This is great advice. I'm a non traditional student and appreciate your perspective. I don't plan on working at the big 4 and wondered if that would hurt me in the long run.
Hey there! Great video :) I don't know if I missed it, but I'm currently signed at a big four, and will be pursuing the CPA designation shortly. I'm a little scared with regards to the salaries we can expect from BIG FOURs, and I'm from Mtl, which is one of the places where BIG 4's pay lower salaries from the get go. Is there any financial advantage to taking a job at one of these companies, or is it just a mass of students who all follow each other and never end up with a great pay? ( I am also considering pursuing a Master's in Finance at the moment, I would really appreciate your input on this as well)
The advantage to working in big 4 will be gained gradually and steadily over your career. A reporting manager is worth 10-20% more if they have some big 4 experience from what I’ve seen. As to master in finance, my view has always favored real world experience than academic.
Hi, typically you'd need a GPA (Great Point Average) of 3.5 or your local equivalent, a bachelor degree in Accounting, pass all or parts of the CPA exam. Then you need to start reaching our to big 4 recruiters on LinkedIn. Good luck.
Thank you for this video! I’ve worked in tax at big 4 for about a year and a half, and I’m currently pursuing a CPA. Would working in tax help me become a controller? Or would I have to switch to audit or the financial analyst field?
I'm 30 years old with multiple years of experience servicing Financial Services, Governmental, NFP. I'm working on my CPA at the moment. I'm considering going public next to open up doors and get a better idea of which industry I'd like to work in, but my main concern is work-life balance. I don't mind going public, but I also plan on running a business on the side. Any suggestions? Should I go mid-sized instead of Big 4 for this?
Whether mid sized firm or big 4, you can spare maybe 5-10 hours weekly tops for that side business. And even that will be hustling. I don’t think either choice is more demanding than the other, so pick your poison ;)
@@TheFinancialController Gotchya.....Yeh, I was always iffy about public because of the hours, but the benefits would truly help my career and a few years to Senior & Manager don't seem too bad and the doors open to different industries would be nice too. Going to continue on my CPA journey, but Public may be the next move for me regardless. Another concern of mine is that I'm 30 and feel this may be a bit too late in my life to go Public. I guess I'll have to make the decision when I get there and also whether I want to do Audit or Tax.
Is it true that working at a public accounting firm there is long working hours like 10 hour shifts and the reason why I’m asking is because a goal of mine is to work where I can have a work life balance
It's true but for 3 months of the year (busy season). But it will benefit you career to work there 1-2 years (I have vid on the benefits). But you can still have a great career without it.
Hi there, could i ask few questions? I am currently 29 looking to do a career change to become either a CPA or Physio. Would you say starting a degree of accounting at the age of 29 to become a CPA be too late? Would I still have chance of getting a graduate job at a big 4 and have potential to work up the ladder? Also, as your other videos mentioned, AI is definitely changing the field of Accounting. Would you still suggest being an accountant? Will it still be well paid and be high in demand? Or shall i go for physio, which is not well paid but aI proof. Thank you so much :)
@@TheFinancialController Similiar question, I am 41, graduating in the fall, I'm a hardworker, can learn if you give me time and only a 3.0 GPA. I still managed offers from the a BiG 4, a Top 10, and a small regional firm. Honestly I am afraid. I don't want to crash and burn, but is it better to crash and burn at a Big 4 and land at a regional? At my age would you do it differently? My friends and accounting professor are pushing Big 4, my Accounting Manager who went back to school like me is pushing work-life balance. Any additional advice? i don't know what to do. Thank You, Love the content!
Thank you for this super helpful video. I m going to start an audit internship incoming busy session in one of big four . How much chance I am able to get a return offer being a new hire after graduation. Thanks.
May I ask, I've seen people talk about cpa a lot in the comment section. Would this be like establishing accountancy firm? Also I found myself here cause someone suggested working for big 4 to me. I'm currently working for my dad, he has his Firm (acca qualified). I'm currently studying AAT, moving onto Acca after and I'd like to advance my knowledge and skills in accountancy. I'd also like to establish my own accountancy firm. But I'm still deliberating on whether working for one of big 4 will be beneficial for me? Thanksss.
I have an experience of 5 year in Assurance in Big 4 in India. However now I am trying to get finance analyst role in United States but I am unable to get a job. Can you guide me on the same.
Try to find a Accounting role, not a Financial analyst role. Once there, begin asking your boss to get involved in budget, forecast, cashflow management. Spend a couple of years doing that the. Look for a financial analyst role.
Hi Bill,
As always, every video is super informative. This is my last semester of college. I applied for an internship at Deloitte, but I missed the deadline in October. I then received an invitation to apply for a permanent position in the audit and assurance dept. I received a verbal job offer last Friday from the partner who interviewed me. :) I heard a lot of negative reviews about the working environment in the big 4s, and thanks to your video, I know now what to expect and to focus on the positive. I want to become a controller one day.
Have a wonderful life. Thank you!
Congratulations 🎉 Karla, you will do great things!!
Your recommendations to get hired are on point. High Gpa, apply through school, pass a section of the cpa, do an internship.
Thanks
I'm italian and currently i am writing my thesis on Corporate Frauds. You have NO IDEA how much you're helping me. I would love to work in this field, but everything is just blurry, so thank you for clarifing some things.
Glad it’s helpful Laura!
Work for the irs
This is really a huge help! I'm so glad I found your channel, I've already watched a bunch of your videos and they really helped me a lot. Thank you 😊
Trisha thank you, happy to help :)
Really glad I found this channel, really looking to get into thr big 4 realm. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Evan
I started my accounting career as a bookkeeper for a manufacturingcompany. Im in the process of getting an account degree with a focus in administration and become a cpa. I have way more responsibility as a finance manager. I eventually would like to be a cfo for a large company. Would going into public accounting be beneficial for me, or should I stay in the industry and build my knowledge and experience?
hey tejas, I don't think going into public is great if your goal is to be come a CFO. Less than 10% of CFOs are CPAs, but rather they have more operational and analytical experience (ie. finance manager track is good for that)
Great video, thank you! Can you please give me some advice? I passed my CPA exams, currently working as an Audit Associate at mid-size firm doing Employee Benefit and 401 k audits. My goal is to become a controller and someday CFO. Should I stay at my firm or switch to BIG 4? In my firm, I have a good work-life balance and can find ways to make extra income.
going to Big 4 will help accelerate this goal. But also can be done with regional, though I'd say get out of benefit and into financial statement audits.
@@TheFinancialController Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate it! I’m in financial statement audit it’s just for employee benefit plans, I audit investment accounts, cash, fixed assets and income/expenses. Should I still change the firm?
Thank you for this helpful video! One question: How much work or internship experience did you have before applying to the Big 4 companies in your last year of college?
I worked 30 hour per week (so part time) at a local CPA firm, for 6 months.
Sry that I heard anSgz
Update: I just accepted my offer at Deloitte as an audit associate!
@@miotaka210 Congratulations!
Real good stuff, thank you!
Hello Bill, I really enjoy your content! Question: I am a sophomore in college and I will be earning my bachelors degree in accounting, should I apply to internships at the big 4 now? Or should I wait until my senior year? Is it too early as a sophomore? Thank you!
I would say the sooner the better. I got my internship offer at EY in my sophomore year and applied for an internship my freshman year.
I appreciate your effort making this video! Very informative!
Thanks Tyler
It is very useful thanks for the upload - Support from India.
Thanks for watching Abraham
Sir CPA + CFA are good combination for a awesome career 😕😕😕
Yes 👌
@@TheFinancialController thanks sir 🥰🥰🥰🤗
Subscribed and like. Should i go straight to big 4 after undergrad or get my masters and cpa then apply for big 4?
I would go straight to big 4 and gather that experience early if possible
This is great advice. I'm a non traditional student and appreciate your perspective. I don't plan on working at the big 4 and wondered if that would hurt me in the long run.
Thanks. I think Big 4 or not, if you give it a good effort and keep learning you can do great things
I am a non traditional student as well but it turns out KPMG needed a consultant with the exact experience I had..
Do you have a masters? Or how did you get those extra 30 units for the CPA?
No master. Just too extra courses
Hey there! Great video :) I don't know if I missed it, but I'm currently signed at a big four, and will be pursuing the CPA designation shortly. I'm a little scared with regards to the salaries we can expect from BIG FOURs, and I'm from Mtl, which is one of the places where BIG 4's pay lower salaries from the get go. Is there any financial advantage to taking a job at one of these companies, or is it just a mass of students who all follow each other and never end up with a great pay? ( I am also considering pursuing a Master's in Finance at the moment, I would really appreciate your input on this as well)
The advantage to working in big 4 will be gained gradually and steadily over your career. A reporting manager is worth 10-20% more if they have some big 4 experience from what I’ve seen. As to master in finance, my view has always favored real world experience than academic.
@@TheFinancialController Thanks a lot for the input sir :) it's very appreciated
Great video, thank you so much
Thanks!
what do I need to work there?
do you think it is hard to work there as people say?
thanks in advance
Hi, typically you'd need a GPA (Great Point Average) of 3.5 or your local equivalent, a bachelor degree in Accounting, pass all or parts of the CPA exam. Then you need to start reaching our to big 4 recruiters on LinkedIn. Good luck.
Thank you for this video! I’ve worked in tax at big 4 for about a year and a half, and I’m currently pursuing a CPA. Would working in tax help me become a controller? Or would I have to switch to audit or the financial analyst field?
It's rare. I'd say switching to audit is best bet. Or stay in tax and exit to a Tax Director or similar hight level tax role.
Thanks!
I'm 30 years old with multiple years of experience servicing Financial Services, Governmental, NFP. I'm working on my CPA at the moment. I'm considering going public next to open up doors and get a better idea of which industry I'd like to work in, but my main concern is work-life balance. I don't mind going public, but I also plan on running a business on the side. Any suggestions? Should I go mid-sized instead of Big 4 for this?
Whether mid sized firm or big 4, you can spare maybe 5-10 hours weekly tops for that side business. And even that will be hustling. I don’t think either choice is more demanding than the other, so pick your poison ;)
@@TheFinancialController Gotchya.....Yeh, I was always iffy about public because of the hours, but the benefits would truly help my career and a few years to Senior & Manager don't seem too bad and the doors open to different industries would be nice too. Going to continue on my CPA journey, but Public may be the next move for me regardless. Another concern of mine is that I'm 30 and feel this may be a bit too late in my life to go Public. I guess I'll have to make the decision when I get there and also whether I want to do Audit or Tax.
I see folks entering controllership at 50 years old, so I don’t think age matters. Only the mindset matter ;)
@@TheFinancialController THANK YOU FOR THE PERSPECTIVE!
Is Deloitte similar to PWC? And do you have the CPA?
Yes I have a CPA. I didn’t work at Deloitte. But I hear it’s very similar to pwc
@@TheFinancialController the CPA is more important than master degree, right?
And any big four will arrange the transport for the person?
Is it true that working at a public accounting firm there is long working hours like 10 hour shifts and the reason why I’m asking is because a goal of mine is to work where I can have a work life balance
It's true but for 3 months of the year (busy season). But it will benefit you career to work there 1-2 years (I have vid on the benefits). But you can still have a great career without it.
Mr : i working manger at petroleum company.
i have 43
i wish to join big 4 accounting firm
what your opinion ?
Hi there, could i ask few questions? I am currently 29 looking to do a career change to become either a CPA or Physio. Would you say starting a degree of accounting at the age of 29 to become a CPA be too late? Would I still have chance of getting a graduate job at a big 4 and have potential to work up the ladder? Also, as your other videos mentioned, AI is definitely changing the field of Accounting. Would you still suggest being an accountant? Will it still be well paid and be high in demand? Or shall i go for physio, which is not well paid but aI proof. Thank you so much :)
Both are good routes. 29 is still great for both. AI will not be a big factor for this generation at least
@@TheFinancialController Similiar question, I am 41, graduating in the fall, I'm a hardworker, can learn if you give me time and only a 3.0 GPA. I still managed offers from the a BiG 4, a Top 10, and a small regional firm. Honestly I am afraid. I don't want to crash and burn, but is it better to crash and burn at a Big 4 and land at a regional? At my age would you do it differently? My friends and accounting professor are pushing Big 4, my Accounting Manager who went back to school like me is pushing work-life balance. Any additional advice? i don't know what to do. Thank You, Love the content!
@@smartparts000what did you choose and how is it going?
Thank you for this super helpful video. I m going to start an audit internship incoming busy session in one of big four . How much chance I am able to get a return offer being a new hire after graduation. Thanks.
Very high chance, but make sure you do a great job and be super friendly
Obrigado pelo conteúdo!
Bill very good information 👍
Thanks
May I ask, I've seen people talk about cpa a lot in the comment section. Would this be like establishing accountancy firm?
Also I found myself here cause someone suggested working for big 4 to me. I'm currently working for my dad, he has his Firm (acca qualified). I'm currently studying AAT, moving onto Acca after and I'd like to advance my knowledge and skills in accountancy. I'd also like to establish my own accountancy firm. But I'm still deliberating on whether working for one of big 4 will be beneficial for me?
Thanksss.
This is very informative!
Thank you very much 👍
Please I would like to have the link to the financial statements template.
why do you think you failed with Becker and passed with Roger?
Roger engaged me during the course. Becker bored me. It’s simple.
@@TheFinancialController Fair enough
I have an experience of 5 year in Assurance in Big 4 in India. However now I am trying to get finance analyst role in United States but I am unable to get a job. Can you guide me on the same.
Try to find a Accounting role, not a Financial analyst role. Once there, begin asking your boss to get involved in budget, forecast, cashflow management. Spend a couple of years doing that the. Look for a financial analyst role.
Ernest and young 😅😅😅