Recruiting for Big 4 firms?

[artfuldodger23]

Hey everyone,

I was curious on how big 4 accounting firms recruiting works for people that aren't enrolled in a special integrated 5 year Bachelors & Masters program where one can get a bachelors and masters in accounting within 5 years and then be able to sit for the CPA exam their 5th year.


I am currently not in such a program and I am doing the traditional 4 year Bachelors of Business Administration route so I was wondering how recruiting works for people doing the traditional route. Is it the same or is it much different? Would I have to be CPA eligible first or no?

Thanks

 

[Texasmade]

If you're going into audit, you'll need to be CPA eligible by the time you start. If not, then it'll be really difficult to get in unless you have prior audit experience.

 

[NAMOR]

OP, What grade are you in? and why are you doing business administration if you intend on joining a big 4?

from personal experience, I think you may look better to recruiter if you fit either one:

• accounting major
• economics major w/ accounting courses
• quantitative background w/ accounting courses

business administration isnt bad but youre going to need some other qualities or experiences to supplement that degree in order to stand out

edit - Big 4 wants you to thrive and prosper in their system which invariably means, pass the CPA so you can move up in the chain. Studying for the exam itself while working usually is a huge pain especially once you get settled in with a hectic work schedule and travel. Ideally, you'll want to join a Big 4 CPA exam eligible so youre life can continue to suck while you spend the 12 - 30 months studying for the exams.

 

[VinnyMac]

You can get recruited without being in a 5-year program. Why are you majoring in Business Administration instead of Accounting?

 

[artfuldodger23]

To everyone who asked about my degree. I WILL be getting a degree in Accounting. My major isn't business administration. Our school just labels it as a getting a BBA in Accounting as the degree. I am majoring in Accounting and will be receiving a degree in Accounting.

@Namor: I just started my third year

 

[ballmouse]

Get at least one auditing internship between now and the start of senior year (end of junior year summer). And depending on your grades or school, you might want to talk/network with employees from Big 4 companies (alumni, friends of friends, cold email, etc.) so that you have a connection come recruiting time who can potentially make landing an interview much, much easier.

I'm not an accountant, so the above advice is based off consulting/finance experience. But the few accounting people I know seemed to have followed the same path as consultants/financial services employees I know, so I believe it's pretty applicable.

And as far as I know, accountants can be hired during their senior year of college and defer the start date until after receiving their Masters degrees over the summer after graduation. This is what my roommate did, but I am not sure if that is a special hiring process with his college.

 

[Texasmade]



And as far as I know, accountants can be hired during their senior year of college and defer the start date until after receiving their Masters degrees over the summer after graduation. This is what my roommate did, but I am not sure if that is a special hiring process with his college.

This is pretty standard across all the colleges and offices of big 4 firms. They just ask when are you graduating and when will you be CPA eligible. You just tell them I'm graduating 2013 but will be CPA eligible in 2014 and they just mark your start date down in 2014. It's no big deal. If you don't plan on being CPA eligible when you start you better have a plan in place to be eligible. If not your resume gets thrown away.

 

[genteroffer]

great.This is what my roommate did, but I am not sure if that is a special hiring process with his college.

 

[Marshmallow]

My son attended a 4 year school and majored in accounting. His school did not have a 5th year masters program. What he, and all of the other accounting students did was to cram extra credits into their 4 years at college. My son had AP credits from high school that were accepted by his college. He got additional credits by attending summer school, taking distance learning classes (from a regionally accredited school - LSU), and getting credit for CLEP exams passed (his college gave him credit). He graduated with the requisite 150 credits. He was recruited by a big4 that interviewed at his school. He did an internship there between his junior and senior year at college and received an offer after his internship.

My son received a bonus for starting his job with 150 credits and another bonus for passing the CPA exam within his first year of employment. Although I think that accounting is a wonderful career my son found that auditing was not for him. After a year spent in public accounting, my son will be moving on to a job in finance.