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Consultants: advice on switch from Big 4?

post #1 of 13
1/18/10 at 4:22am
Thread Starter 
I've been working in the Big 4 for about a year and a half now, and I've really been contemplating a switch lately. I don't mind the work, and the hours don't bother me at all (in fact, I somewhat like our busy seasons because I feel like I accomplish so much more during my day). My problem is that I don't think I like the eventual job prospects that everyone else in my firm seems to clamor for. External Reporting or SOX manager? NO THANKS!

I would like to get into a more dynamic career where I can use my intellect for something other than just following Big 4 audit methodology, and from what I can tell, I think one of the big consulting firms may be a good next step (after staying with my firm long enough to get the experience I need for my CPA license, of course). I didn't go to an Ivy League University, so I expect I'd be starting out at the bottom (even with 2 years Big 4 experience and a CPA), but even the bottom in consulting pays far better than the Big 4 and the work seems much more interesting than financial audit.

Does anyone here have consulting experience with Mckinsey/Bain/BCG, etc? Would a CPA license and Big 4 experience be relevant and desirable to these firms? I'd really appreciate any other advice I can get about consulting, my situation, life, etc.
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post #2 of 13
1/18/10 at 5:06am
I dunno, big 4 audit to a top tier strat firm seems like kind of a stretch without some intermediate step like an MBA.
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post #3 of 13
1/18/10 at 12:58pm
Thread Starter 
They do hire business analysts straight out of college, right? I know I couldn't get in at any level higher than that with just two years in Big 4 audit. I don't know how many business analysts they hire at each office, or many other details, but I'm in the South Bay, and I have to imagine the offices here are fairly large. I'm sure the work I'd be doing at the business analyst level would be pretty unfulfilling, but Big 4 audit is also terribly unfulfilling, so perhaps it would be the lesser of two evils?
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post #4 of 13
1/18/10 at 1:49pm
Sorry to be a wet blanket but Bain/BCG/McKinsey are not likely to be hiring you. Top tier firms tend to focus on top tier candidates from Ivy League plus a few. I'm sure your experience is worthwhile but that's not going to interest them. If you really want to follow that route then ace your GMAT, get into a top 7 B-school and try from there. I know it seems unfair but that's just the way it is.
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post #5 of 13
1/18/10 at 2:17pm
Bain/McKinsey/BCG isn't going to happen. With your experience you have a better chance going to a place like Accenture, Alvarez & Marsal, Ryan & Company, and other places like those.

You aren't the only person who finds audit unfulfilling and dull. Ask just about any other audit staff and they'll tell you the same thing. Audit life is a little bit better at the senior staff level in terms of being less dull but the responsibilities, stress, and time go up exponentially while the pay goes up linearly.
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post #6 of 13
1/18/10 at 9:32pm
cozy up to your clients and then discreetly start making inquiries about making the jump. you still might get an corporate/internal audit job as a first step, but you can change tracks once your foot is in the door. MBA is also an option but you might not want to be jobless for 2 years
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post #7 of 13
1/18/10 at 9:43pm
IIRC, a majority of Mckinsey/Bain/BCG hires have graduate degrees/MBA. To me it sounds like you are someone who did undergrad + worked right afterwards. I personally think there would be at least a few firms (not M/B/B) who would be willing to take you, especially if you're willing to start from the bottom.
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post #8 of 13
1/18/10 at 9:55pm
I worked at one of M/B/B post MBA. Your best chance would be to go attend a top MBA program and then get in as an associate. If anything, these companies are even more selective when they hire undergrads as Business Analysts when compared to the post-MBA Associate program.
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post #9 of 13
1/19/10 at 12:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Texasmade View Post
You aren't the only person who finds audit unfulfilling and dull. Ask just about any other audit staff and they'll tell you the same thing. Audit life is a little bit better at the senior staff level in terms of being less dull but the responsibilities, stress, and time go up exponentially while the pay goes up linearly.

Quoted for emphasis.

My wife is an auditor with a large regional firm here in metro-Detroit and she despised it through the first two years but once she began to get some more responsibilities, she started to actually enjoy it (which sounded odd to all of my other CPA friends). At first, she was planning to leave her firm for a corporate job somewhere as soon she had her minimum hours and her CPA but has now decided she likes it enough to stick it out for a few years (I'm sure that her being at a company that is always listed among the "Best Places to Work" doesn't hurt any).
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post #10 of 13
1/19/10 at 5:14am
Thread Starter 
Well, thanks for the responses. Obviously not what I was hoping to hear, but pretty much exactly what I expected. Realistically, it probably will be another couple years and an MBA before something else. Also, from what I've seen in my firm, the work doesn't get a whole lot better even at the more senior levels. I know our seniors and managers work more hours than the staff, and even being the Big 4, the number of inept people running around is shocking. Dealing with that many incompetent staff would probably drive me insane.
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post #11 of 13
1/19/10 at 11:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by trentlane669 View Post
Well, thanks for the responses. Obviously not what I was hoping to hear, but pretty much exactly what I expected. Realistically, it probably will be another couple years and an MBA before something else.

Also, from what I've seen in my firm, the work doesn't get a whole lot better even at the more senior levels. I know our seniors and managers work more hours than the staff, and even being the Big 4, the number of inept people running around is shocking. Dealing with that many incompetent staff would probably drive me insane.

Stop whining and work, you aren't the only one dealing with incompetent staff or bosses or whatever. You are still better off than 80% of the workforce, you're getting good experience, and will probably have some nice career/school options in a couple years. Man up.
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post #12 of 13
1/20/10 at 5:08pm
Hi,
Speaking from several years experience as Consultant and Project manager for Accenture, I would say that the switch (to ACN) might not be easy, but possible.

I can imagine that with your current experience you might be a good fit for Reporting/ Performance management projects either in Business consulting or even System integration service lines. You would need to start as analyst (but I would expect A2 in your case, as your previous experience would be definitely considered).

On the other hand, if you feel that you would be better off in corporate world - do the switch. But bear in mind that the incompetency of staff is typically worse there as well...
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post #13 of 13
1/23/10 at 1:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Texasmade View Post
Bain/McKinsey/BCG isn't going to happen. With your experience you have a better chance going to a place like Accenture, Alvarez & Marsal, Ryan & Company, and other places like those. You aren't the only person who finds audit unfulfilling and dull. Ask just about any other audit staff and they'll tell you the same thing. Audit life is a little bit better at the senior staff level in terms of being less dull but the responsibilities, stress, and time go up exponentially while the pay goes up linearly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CBDB View Post
Sorry to be a wet blanket but Bain/BCG/McKinsey are not likely to be hiring you. Top tier firms tend to focus on top tier candidates from Ivy League plus a few. I'm sure your experience is worthwhile but that's not going to interest them. If you really want to follow that route then ace your GMAT, get into a top 7 B-school and try from there. I know it seems unfair but that's just the way it is.
^^^This (and much of the other advice offered). I worked at BCG out of undergrad and don't see your transition into consulting going as smoothly and easily as you'd like. I DO, however, think doing an MBA at a top 10 (ideally) school will give you a very reasonable shot. I'm not sure what the rest of your experience looks like, but assuming you have decent grades/scores and decent recs, a few years of Big 4 experience should give you a decent shot at getting into a good B-school.
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