Big 4 or Middle Tier

[sabre_ac]

Hey Guys... (Those that work or have some knowledge of the accounting proffession)


My question is...What are some of the advantages of working for one of the big 4 opposed to the larger middle tier..and what are some of the disadvantages?
Is it easy to move between the two?

Thanks guys...

 

[w00dy]

i'm still a student, but have done vacation work with a big 4 firm... during my stint i worked on some very big companies, massive companies... later down the track when you've worked on these companies, some of the biggest in the world, it's only going to make you more attractive than someone who has worked on smaller companies at a middle tear firm... that's why a big 4 name on your resume carries alot of weight...

downside of big 4 is the workload, you can do plenty of overtime and not get a thing for it... i believe some middle tear firms offer time in lieu etc. whereas you won't get that at a big 4 firm...

 

[AlwaysCarlton]

I'm in investment banking but have friends in EY, KPMG etc.. basically they're for those who are career orientated, happy to work very very long hours and love money. If you want to play cricket down at your local club, catch up with friends etc.. in other words live a 'balanced life' best to look elsewhere.

 

[heartbroken]

I worked at big 4 for 6.5 years before moving to mid-tier as a senior manager.

Benefits of Big 4 - training, learning the political game, toughing up, reputation, heaps of promotional opportunities

Benefits of Mid tier - better working hours, less politics, wider variety of work (you dont tend to specialise as much as you do in Big 4)

Personally, I would start off at Big 4 for at least 2-3 years before moving accross. Gives you a good base and have better leverage to negotiate salary when moving accross to Mid-Tier

 

[TheBloods]

Personally, I would start off at Big 4 for at least 2-3 years before moving accross. Gives you a good base and have better leverage to negotiate salary when moving accross to Mid-Tier

I worked in one of the big 4 (it was big 6 then) and I'd agree with this. The big 4 look enormously better on your CV. After you've done a few years, then you can consider whether to stay, move to a mid-tier firm or move into something different.


edit: I just realised it was Big 6 when I was in the industry.

 

[Abers]

I am graduating this year and applied to the big 4 and three mid-tier firms, Pitcher Partners, BDO and Horwath. While I would take a job at any of the big 4 or Pitcher's first, if im left with the last two which is the better firm??

 

[sabre_ac]

I am graduating this year and applied to the big 4 and three mid-tier firms, Pitcher Partners, BDO and Horwath. While I would take a job at any of the big 4 or Pitcher's first, if im left with the last two which is the better firm??

BDO is the fifth biggest internationally just outside the big 4.

 

[Reveler]

out of curiosity of someone who isn't in the accounting game, what are the big four?

 

[Abers]

The firms considered the big 4, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Ernst & Young, KMPG & Delloittes are the biggest four accounting firms internationally and deal with the worlds biggest companies, making them the most respected and thus expensive. They hold a major market share. It used to be the big 5 until the collapse of Aruther Andersons.