Careers with an Accounting Major

^ yea, my managers and co-workers were amazing when I interned at PwC, but EVERYONE was looking to get out, no one was happy.

I work for an insurance brokerage and risk management company, so we're in the insurance industry, but not as a seller. We represent companies who need commercial general liability, property, marine, umbrella, workers compensation insurance coverage.

 

Yea, PwC on my resume got into every interview I applied for. It's a great tool, and many executives in I-banks came from Big 4s.

 

I don't disagree with you about toughing it out if you were able to land with a big 4. If you can do that then go for it. But I knew personally that wasn't a route I wanted to take. At least where I did my internship at it was pretty political and I just wasn't interested in playing that game.

And while I was looking for jobs back in April-October of 2009 I didn't notice a lot if any of the jobs requiring big 4 experience for the smaller firms. There may have been some, but I didn't notice any. Maybe that's more of a thing on the East and West coasts? Because my search was more in the Mid West....interesting

 

My uncle actually does environmental insurance coverage for some of the bigger companies. Not sure what exactly that official title is but it sounds somewhat similar to what you do.

 

Yes, I'm talking about corporate accounting/finance positions on the west coast (cities). For those jobs (controllers, VP acct/finance, accounting managers,etc) - most of them at a minimum will state Big 4 preferred, and a lot of those will say required. Even with all my experience and background, I won't even get an interview... If I had Big 4 experience, they knock on your door. Not to mention the exposure you get to a lot of clients during your audits... you get to see what a lot of different companies are like. It's a tough road for sure, but if you can stick it out for 5 years, the next 30 years of your career will be much better for it....

 

Yea on a day to day basis my specialist and i get to sit in on phone conferences with CFOs of companies such as HP, Google, Redbull, im currently working on harbor freight and Belkin, so being in insurance lets you get familiarized with risks and exposures in all industries, not just their financials, although their financials play a big part.

 

I have a friend who earned a degree from Cal State Long Beach in Accounting and a minor in Finance. My friend's a bit weird and anti-social and she is NOT ambitious. She told me she is content working for a small mom and pop place and would NEVER work for a big Four because she doesn't like dealing with people, she likes to stay "hidden", very much like me. She has a lot of admin experience and I know that a few months before graduation, she was already earning in the mid 40k's (she worked f/t while getting her degree).

Even if she can get in a big 4, she truly is not ambitious and cannot deal with people, having to interact with them, dealing with office politics. She is content with just a job enough for her to live on. There are a lot of smart people who are not ambitious though and not extroverted enough to deal handling working at a big four type biz. Some people like to "hide out".

 

I have a BS in Accounting and am currently working at a small public firm in birmingham, AL.. I have been out of school for 3 and a half years and still havent passed the exam.. DONT get a job until you pass it. treat studying as your job.. i.e. wake up study for 6-8 hours everyday and you will pass no problem.

as for the argument of big firm vs small firm. I am getting much more diverse experience working at a firm with 8 people than with a big four. I am a tax accountant and have done every single type of return, whereas a person working at a big 4 firm will only do a certain type or return. i.e. only S-Corp or C-Corp.

No matter what, if you think you might want to become a CPA, hold off getting a job (if you can afford it) and pass the test first. not only will your pay be higher, you can get a job faster and anywhere you want.

also, dont worry with a masters. just get the 150 hours so that you can sit for the exam.. the CPA certificate is better than a masters degree.

just my opinion.

 

I have worked in public accounting for three years and am working on passing the CPA exam as well. I am a tax senior at a top 50 firm and have gotten 8 percent raises each year. It's a great field and not boring in any way. Money is great and hours are long at times but that's it. Go for it. Pm me if you have questions

 

I have a BS in accounting. I on the other hand had no interest in public accounting whatsoever. First job out of college was for a small manufacturing company where I was the only accountant outside of our treasurer. Currently working in project development accounting for one of the largest gaming companies in the country. Definitely was always more interested in the corporate side of things rather than public. Do wish I had a CPA solely for the added resume benefits.

 

I know this is an old thread but I'm sub'd in case I ever have any questions lol. I'm in my 4th year at the University of South Alabama and I'm also majoring in accounting. And as mentioned above, I'm currently looking for an internship/co-op and can't wait until I get my BS degree and finish my 150 hours so I get to STUDY MY ASS OFF LIKE NEVER BEFORE so I can sit for the CPA exam