2 years in Big4 w/ MBA - where to go now?

Originally Posted by AChekhovGun

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Thanks for the advice guys..I'm still just shocked that the assumption is that everyone who starts in accounting never leaves it, or can't be good at anything else.

When you say advisory, what do you mean? Are you referring to the transaction advisory services (TAS) and/or valuation services provided by the big 4?

The first thing that seems wrong is you have no idea what you want to do or any sort of plan. Do you ultimately want to end up working in the corporate world? Private equity? Etc.

Originally Posted by AChekhovGun

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Thanks for the advice guys..I'm still just shocked that the assumption is that everyone who starts in accounting never leaves it, or can't be good at anything else.

As an accountant with 13 years of experience, I can't stress how prevalent that thinking is....even worse, once you spend a few years in one area of accounting, people assume you are completely useless in another....even within a wall street firm....

with all due respect, you guys who are saying he's pigeonholed now into accounting are full of it. Hell, I am 45 and have changed careers so many times I can't count. At various times I have been an ESL teacher, foreign wire service correspondent, newspaper executive editor, public relations and marketing executive and media syndicate general manager/salesman. Last year I got into equity research, where I will likely stay. I have nothing but a BA in a liberal arts degree. It is all about busting your balls, networking and doing anything you can to get where you want to go.

Thanks Stu - that's more in line with how I think - I don't think 2 years of experience ties me down to accounting. Now I just need to figure out what I want to do..I've got to be able to leverage some of the skills I've gained into a non-accounting business job.

Line up 50 interviews and see what bites. Seriously. Everything else is just idle speculation.

Originally Posted by AChekhovGun

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Thanks Stu - that's more in line with how I think - I don't think 2 years of experience ties me down to accounting. Now I just need to figure out what I want to do..I've got to be able to leverage some of the skills I've gained into a non-accounting business job.

The bolded text is your priority right now. Stick with what you are doing now, while getting promoted later this year. If you can get into Management, that will help tremendously regardless of which department. Management experience, plus an MBA, plus Accounting makes for a fairly versatile combination. Controllers for Auto Dealerships are a crucial aspect of the business and having all of the prior qualities would be on my list when hiring one.

This is just an example of some other opportunities that aren't strictly Accounting, but Finance related. Every industry needs someone to manage there revenue, and you have a good start with your education and work history. You can still make a good living doing this type of work for small to medium businesses where you would most likely start under a Controller getting ready to retire in a few years.

Figure out what you want to do, network with people who can get you into that field, start working those contacts until something presents itself.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Stu

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with all due respect, you guys who are saying he's pigeonholed now into accounting are full of it. Hell, I am 45 and have changed careers so many times I can't count. At various times I have been an ESL teacher, foreign wire service correspondent, newspaper executive editor, public relations and marketing executive and media syndicate general manager/salesman. Last year I got into equity research, where I will likely stay. I have nothing but a BA in a liberal arts degree. It is all about busting your balls, networking and doing anything you can to get where you want to go.

Although part of is busting it your balls and networking, there is a certain stigma at the Big 4 that is very hard to avoid. For instance, I have an MD contact at a very reputable MM bank (Baird, William Harris, Stephens, etc.) who worked M&A transaction advisory at a big 4 during good economic times. Naturally you'd think he could make the jump over to an investment bank with that could of experience but he couldn't and he needed an MBA from a good school to make the jump.

Not to discourage OP though but things are going to be a lot harder if you don't have a story nailed down about why you want to switch jobs and your ultimate job goals. You want to get out of the accounting firms ASAP and know where you want to go. Simply saying you want to use the full-range of your skill set takes you no where.

Originally Posted by bwonger06

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Although part of is busting it your balls and networking, there is a certain stigma at the Big 4 that is very hard to avoid. For instance, I have an MD contact at a very reputable MM bank (Baird, William Harris, Stephens, etc.) who worked M&A transaction advisory at a big 4 during good economic times. Naturally you'd think he could make the jump over to an investment bank with that could of experience but he couldn't and he needed an MBA from a good school to make the jump.

Not to discourage OP though but things are going to be a lot harder if you don't have a story nailed down about why you want to switch jobs and your ultimate job goals. You want to get out of the accounting firms ASAP and know where you want to go. Simply saying you want to use the full-range of your skill set takes you no where.

Understood, but that just means he has to work that much harder. I am sure he has it in him from the sounds of his post.

Originally Posted by bwonger06

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Although part of is busting it your balls and networking, there is a certain stigma at the Big 4 that is very hard to avoid. For instance, I have an MD contact at a very reputable MM bank (Baird, William Harris, Stephens, etc.) who worked M&A transaction advisory at a big 4 during good economic times. Naturally you'd think he could make the jump over to an investment bank with that could of experience but he couldn't and he needed an MBA from a good school to make the jump.

Not to discourage OP though but things are going to be a lot harder if you don't have a story nailed down about why you want to switch jobs and your ultimate job goals. You want to get out of the accounting firms ASAP and know where you want to go. Simply saying you want to use the full-range of your skill set takes you no where.

Just curious - what is the stigma?

Originally Posted by micbain

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Just curious - what is the stigma?

The Big 4 got caught groping one of its younger female cousins a few years back at a Christmas party. I really shouldn't be bringing it up, actually.

Originally Posted by micbain

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Just curious - what is the stigma?

http://goingconcern.com/2010/06/be-s...wc-happy-hour/

Originally Posted by Texasmade

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http://goingconcern.com/2010/06/be-s...wc-happy-hour/



Anything else?

Originally Posted by micbain

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Anything else?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8Yry...layer_embedded

ChekhovGun,

By no means is anyone saying that you're locked into accounting after two years of experience. What everyone is saying is this - if you're looking to transition to a highly competitive job in the finance or consulting industry from your background, it's going to be quite an uphill climb.

Your lack of non-accounting experience and "middle-of-the-rankings MBA" is going to hurt you as you'll be fighting for spots against post-mbas with much more or much more relevant experience. With that said, a clear goal, enough persistence, and networking will definitely give you a shot.

Originally Posted by Texasmade

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8Yry...layer_embedded

lol moar!