14 answers
Chaneria
Student
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
2
Questions
Asked
6216 views
What does a each employee (from associate-partner) at a Big 4 accounting firm do?
I am currently a Junior in college studying accounting. I also have an internship at one of the Big 4 firms. I plan on getting my CPA after I finish 5 years of school (4-bachelors and 1-year of masters). I want help decided if I should stay in public accounting and work my way up or if it will be beneficial to go private after a few years.
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13 answers
Olivia McDonnell
Consulting
29
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Olivia’s Answer
Hi Chaneria,
I'm a manager at a Big 4 accounting and consulting firm, and I wanted to share a different perspective with you. Besides the accounting function in our firm, there are exciting opportunities for accountants in our consulting practice too. For instance, I collaborate with accountants on mergers and acquisitions. They play a key role in helping companies set up their financial statements after a carve-out or conduct valuation analysis on potential acquisitions and other assets. Accounting offers a wide range of career paths, and it's a fantastic field to explore. Best of luck as you begin your journey!
I'm a manager at a Big 4 accounting and consulting firm, and I wanted to share a different perspective with you. Besides the accounting function in our firm, there are exciting opportunities for accountants in our consulting practice too. For instance, I collaborate with accountants on mergers and acquisitions. They play a key role in helping companies set up their financial statements after a carve-out or conduct valuation analysis on potential acquisitions and other assets. Accounting offers a wide range of career paths, and it's a fantastic field to explore. Best of luck as you begin your journey!
Simon Hardman
Financial Planning and Analysis
4
Answers
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Updated
Simon’s Answer
Working at a big 4 firm offers a lot of experiences, mainly focused on accounting. You might help prepare or review financial statements and give tax advice. There's also a chance to offer consulting on business structures and improving efficiency. I spent five years at a big 4 firm early in my career and learned a lot about business. It was a fantastic place to explore different industries, meet new people, and access great learning resources and mentoring.
Daniele Brown
Financials Crimes Associate
20
Answers
Hinesville, Georgia
Updated
Daniele’s Answer
Hi Chaneria,
Great question! You're on the right track. For financial gain and experience, it's a good idea to start working at a Big 4 firm. After 3 to 5 years, consider moving to a private company. During those years, build your network so you can easily return to a Big 4 if you choose. Transitioning from a Big 4 to a private company can also boost your starting salary.
Good luck, and congratulations on reaching this point in your college journey.
Best,
Daniele
Great question! You're on the right track. For financial gain and experience, it's a good idea to start working at a Big 4 firm. After 3 to 5 years, consider moving to a private company. During those years, build your network so you can easily return to a Big 4 if you choose. Transitioning from a Big 4 to a private company can also boost your starting salary.
Good luck, and congratulations on reaching this point in your college journey.
Best,
Daniele
Kelly Bentz
Human Resources Director
9
Answers
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
Congratulations on your internship and your choice to pursue Accounting! I was in a similar position over 21 years ago. I initially planned to stay at a Big 4 firm for a few years to gain experience before moving to the private sector. Although I didn't remain in the accounting space at a Big 4 firm the entire time...I am still here and the opportunities it provided were incredible. I've taken on various roles and have never felt bored! As you work with clients, you'll build relationships and gain insights into corporate accounting, which might inspire you to join them in the field. I'm confident you'll really enjoy your time at a Big 4 firm and gain valuable skills. Congratulations on reaching this milestone, and best of luck!
Echo Jin
Finance
3
Answers
Singapore
Updated
Echo’s Answer
Hi, Chaneria, I used to work in big 4 before, depends on which team you are in, if you are in Audit team, then basically when you first start as a junior, you will work on audit preparation and supporting work, such as testing, help provide information for audit report, etc. basically follow the direction of your senior and managers. Once you become a senior, then you start to lead a small group of teams in charge of one end to end processes or cycles, and you will be responsible for the cycle to the managers. Once you are managers or senior managers then you are leading the team to cover all audit cycles and prepare audit opinions, depends on the significance of the company you are auditing. Once you become a partner, in addition to sign off on the audit report and give your certified opinion on the company being audited, you also need to work on getting new revenue for your firm as each partner would have a revenue target. Some professionals felt that they would rather stay away from the sales work and focus on providing advice and certify the financial statement. This would depend on what would energize you and keep you motivated.
Amber Lee
Tax Associate
84
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hi Chaneria, I'm a little late to the party but I am an associate at a big 4 and can offer some insights.
First, good job on planning ahead and getting that internship! Remember to be proactive and ask questions, and be sure to take this opportunity to complete all the trainings your firm has to offer.
Second, I saw another post had advised against completing a master's for reasons that may be completely valid for a lot of career paths, but I would just point out that for accounting students in the majority of states, 150 credit hours (instead of the traditional 120 credit hours) are required for CPA eligibility, so doing a master's to meet those requirements is not exactly the worst idea and could even be valuable if you are wanting to develop specialized knowledge in areas like taxation. Some of my colleagues chose this route, others continued to take additional undergrad classes to meet the 150-credit hour requirement. A few states also have work experience requirements so you might not be able to be licensed immediately after you graduate from your Bachelor's. I would double check with your school to make sure you're up-to-date on the latest CPA requirements in your state.
But to answer your original question: I'm an associate in the M&A tax group at my firm so I spend a lot of time preparing tax structuring step plans, drafting opinions, reading tax and financial documents, and drafting tax due diligence reports. I don't do compliance work so I don't have "busy seasons" like some other groups do, but there will be days where I would have nothing to do and months where I would have no weekends--that's just the nature of my work. I also sit in on a lot of internal and external meetings to take notes. My group specifically has a good mix of accountants and lawyers so I've had the opportunity to learn from a lot of brilliant people who are very technically skilled, which to me is one of the perks of working at a Big 4.
I'm not sure what your goals are in terms of areas of specialization (I know sometimes you don't get to pick--the firm just assigns you to groups depending on the business needs at the time), but I know it's pretty common for folks to start at a Big 4 (or a mid-size firm) and get a few years under their belt before moving into industry work. Having some experience in public accounting would also give you good exit opportunities for when you do want to go private, so it doesn't hurt to try it if you end up getting a return offer at the end of your internship. You can always explore other opportunities in the future if you do decide public accounting is not for you.
All the best!
First, good job on planning ahead and getting that internship! Remember to be proactive and ask questions, and be sure to take this opportunity to complete all the trainings your firm has to offer.
Second, I saw another post had advised against completing a master's for reasons that may be completely valid for a lot of career paths, but I would just point out that for accounting students in the majority of states, 150 credit hours (instead of the traditional 120 credit hours) are required for CPA eligibility, so doing a master's to meet those requirements is not exactly the worst idea and could even be valuable if you are wanting to develop specialized knowledge in areas like taxation. Some of my colleagues chose this route, others continued to take additional undergrad classes to meet the 150-credit hour requirement. A few states also have work experience requirements so you might not be able to be licensed immediately after you graduate from your Bachelor's. I would double check with your school to make sure you're up-to-date on the latest CPA requirements in your state.
But to answer your original question: I'm an associate in the M&A tax group at my firm so I spend a lot of time preparing tax structuring step plans, drafting opinions, reading tax and financial documents, and drafting tax due diligence reports. I don't do compliance work so I don't have "busy seasons" like some other groups do, but there will be days where I would have nothing to do and months where I would have no weekends--that's just the nature of my work. I also sit in on a lot of internal and external meetings to take notes. My group specifically has a good mix of accountants and lawyers so I've had the opportunity to learn from a lot of brilliant people who are very technically skilled, which to me is one of the perks of working at a Big 4.
I'm not sure what your goals are in terms of areas of specialization (I know sometimes you don't get to pick--the firm just assigns you to groups depending on the business needs at the time), but I know it's pretty common for folks to start at a Big 4 (or a mid-size firm) and get a few years under their belt before moving into industry work. Having some experience in public accounting would also give you good exit opportunities for when you do want to go private, so it doesn't hurt to try it if you end up getting a return offer at the end of your internship. You can always explore other opportunities in the future if you do decide public accounting is not for you.
All the best!
Shelly Shen
Accountant
4
Answers
Livermore, California
Updated
Shelly’s Answer
Hi Chaneria,
I'm an accountant, and I've spent years working in financial analysis, credit analysis, project finance, and basic finance accounting. I've taken some CFA and CPA exams and passed some, though not all. It gets tougher as you get older, but that's okay. I'm confident that getting your CPA will really boost your career. Having a master's degree has been a great opportunity for me, especially since it opened doors in the U.S. education system.
I've worked mostly in industries, but I've always heard that starting in an accounting firm can be a great way to build a strong foundation, even though it can be challenging.
I hope this encourages you!
Shelly
I'm an accountant, and I've spent years working in financial analysis, credit analysis, project finance, and basic finance accounting. I've taken some CFA and CPA exams and passed some, though not all. It gets tougher as you get older, but that's okay. I'm confident that getting your CPA will really boost your career. Having a master's degree has been a great opportunity for me, especially since it opened doors in the U.S. education system.
I've worked mostly in industries, but I've always heard that starting in an accounting firm can be a great way to build a strong foundation, even though it can be challenging.
I hope this encourages you!
Shelly
Carrie Williams
Data Scientist
7
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Carrie’s Answer
Decide what kind of experience you want. If you're looking for a challenging and interesting internship that makes the commute worthwhile, consider a corporate role. To explore different areas with your accounting degree, try balancing both. You could work in a corporate setting during the day and volunteer at a non-profit in your free time, or take a part-time job as a public accountant for a small business. The choice is yours.
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello again, Chaneria !
Since you have an Internship at a corporation already, you are basically shadowing the job duties of what associates, partners and all of the staff do. Absorb it all as that is the best way to learn about the particular company you are interning at.
I highly advise not going for a one year Masters program no matter what you'd be majoring in. A Masters Program usually entails classroom instruction in advanced courses, research, writing a thesis and doing a dissertation. In general, a Masters Degree is not for one year, it's usually for two years. Rushing through a Masters program will eliminate the experience, knowledge and possible opportunities that you can be given in a regular, two year Masters Program. Your deadlines for everything will be shorter and it can be stressful to compress the requirements into one year as opposed to two years. It's just my opinion, but it seems like if a student takes a one year Masters Program, they may be just colleting degrees and really not interested in the academic experience it provides. This is just something to consider for the future.
As for trying to micro-manage the details of your future career now before you've even started, realize that your thoughts about your career are a process and you will make personal discoveries along the way to know exactly what you want to do. Right now is a time to get experience and apply what you've learned. Being open minded about job opportunities is very important and the opportunities come along the journey. You already know now that as an Accountant, you can work for a company or even open your own service or both at the same time. It's good that you already know your options and you will need to make a personal choice based on how things go (which no one can tell you about now). As we do with all careers, take it step by step and see what happens.
Just to clarify, you can obtain your CPA right after you graduate with your Bachelors Degree, which I highly recommend doing. You do not have to wait to get your Masters to take the CPA certification. If you do the CPA after graduating with your Bachelors Degree, you can start working as an Accountant and that could be helpful for covering expenses while you go for your Masters Degree. It's something to reconsider as it would benefit you greatly to get the CPA once you have your Bachelors Degree.
It's okay if you are not sure exactly right now what you want to do as an Accountant for the future. You have a lot of time to discover it. You will also have to see what types of work are available for you once you get your Bachelors and are certified for CPA. No matter where an Accountant works - their own service or for a company, they need to be certified with the CPA. There are many options for CPA's, so let your experiences guide you for how your future unfolds.
Never base what you do on other people's experiences. You are in charge of your own career and with patience, full education and enthusiasm, you will no doubt be able to choose work that you really want to do.I hope this helps and i wish you all the best !
Since you have an Internship at a corporation already, you are basically shadowing the job duties of what associates, partners and all of the staff do. Absorb it all as that is the best way to learn about the particular company you are interning at.
I highly advise not going for a one year Masters program no matter what you'd be majoring in. A Masters Program usually entails classroom instruction in advanced courses, research, writing a thesis and doing a dissertation. In general, a Masters Degree is not for one year, it's usually for two years. Rushing through a Masters program will eliminate the experience, knowledge and possible opportunities that you can be given in a regular, two year Masters Program. Your deadlines for everything will be shorter and it can be stressful to compress the requirements into one year as opposed to two years. It's just my opinion, but it seems like if a student takes a one year Masters Program, they may be just colleting degrees and really not interested in the academic experience it provides. This is just something to consider for the future.
As for trying to micro-manage the details of your future career now before you've even started, realize that your thoughts about your career are a process and you will make personal discoveries along the way to know exactly what you want to do. Right now is a time to get experience and apply what you've learned. Being open minded about job opportunities is very important and the opportunities come along the journey. You already know now that as an Accountant, you can work for a company or even open your own service or both at the same time. It's good that you already know your options and you will need to make a personal choice based on how things go (which no one can tell you about now). As we do with all careers, take it step by step and see what happens.
Just to clarify, you can obtain your CPA right after you graduate with your Bachelors Degree, which I highly recommend doing. You do not have to wait to get your Masters to take the CPA certification. If you do the CPA after graduating with your Bachelors Degree, you can start working as an Accountant and that could be helpful for covering expenses while you go for your Masters Degree. It's something to reconsider as it would benefit you greatly to get the CPA once you have your Bachelors Degree.
It's okay if you are not sure exactly right now what you want to do as an Accountant for the future. You have a lot of time to discover it. You will also have to see what types of work are available for you once you get your Bachelors and are certified for CPA. No matter where an Accountant works - their own service or for a company, they need to be certified with the CPA. There are many options for CPA's, so let your experiences guide you for how your future unfolds.
Never base what you do on other people's experiences. You are in charge of your own career and with patience, full education and enthusiasm, you will no doubt be able to choose work that you really want to do.I hope this helps and i wish you all the best !
Harry Clapeck
Manufacturing
47
Answers
Scottsdale, Arizona
Updated
Harry’s Answer
Hi Chaneria,
A great question, and there is no right answer. You may find that you start on one path and come upon many "Forks-in-the-Road" as your career progresses.
My career has always been in the private sector. I never wanted to be a CPA (too many long hours). That said, I would not trade my career experiences at all. Sure, I made some mistakes, but that is also part of learning. For me, working in the private sector, manufacturing, allowed me to
get an in-depth exposure to the many different disciplines of business. I rubbed shoulders with engineers, marketing, quality control, customer service, VPs and CFO's and CEO's. One of my assets was the ability to sit back and observe, then offer suggestions or improvements. It is a great feeling when, at the end of a meeting, a manager would turn to me and say: So what do you think, Harry?
Chaneria, start with the Big 4 (but any accounting firm will do). As you develop, and if you decide that you like it, then stay. As you go along and you find that the structure is not for you, a career in Finance will always open new opportunities. And, as you network, you will also realize more doors will open to you.
Good luck, Chaneria.
Harry
A great question, and there is no right answer. You may find that you start on one path and come upon many "Forks-in-the-Road" as your career progresses.
My career has always been in the private sector. I never wanted to be a CPA (too many long hours). That said, I would not trade my career experiences at all. Sure, I made some mistakes, but that is also part of learning. For me, working in the private sector, manufacturing, allowed me to
get an in-depth exposure to the many different disciplines of business. I rubbed shoulders with engineers, marketing, quality control, customer service, VPs and CFO's and CEO's. One of my assets was the ability to sit back and observe, then offer suggestions or improvements. It is a great feeling when, at the end of a meeting, a manager would turn to me and say: So what do you think, Harry?
Chaneria, start with the Big 4 (but any accounting firm will do). As you develop, and if you decide that you like it, then stay. As you go along and you find that the structure is not for you, a career in Finance will always open new opportunities. And, as you network, you will also realize more doors will open to you.
Good luck, Chaneria.
Harry
April Flanigan, MPA
Tax Consultant
11
Answers
Lithonia, Georgia
Updated
April’s Answer
Great question, and congratulations on landing the internship!
Here's a simple overview of what each level usually involves at a Big 4 accounting firm:
Associate/Staff
You'll dive into the details, preparing workpapers, conducting tests, documenting support, and sometimes helping with inventory counts. This is where you get hands-on experience and learn how everything works.
Senior Associate
As an assistant manager, you'll review the work of associates, guide your team, and help manage timelines. You'll also start interacting more with clients, answering questions, leading walkthroughs, and taking charge of certain tasks.
Manager
Here, you focus on client interactions. You'll oversee entire projects, ensure the team stays on track, and review work before it moves up. You'll mentor senior associates and staff while juggling different clients.
Senior Manager
You're getting ready to become a partner. You handle complex clients or lead multiple teams, aiming for top-quality results. You'll support business development and manage risks, acting as the final reviewer before things reach the partner.
Partner/Principal/Managing Director (PPMD)
This is where you lead the firm. Your focus is on building relationships, serving clients, and bringing in new business. You'll guide strategy, oversee key clients, represent the firm, and shape future leaders.
As for public vs. private
Many start in public accounting, get licensed, and then move to private sectors like corporate, nonprofit, or government. Others stay in public for a long-term career. Public accounting offers broad exposure, while private can provide more stability and work-life balance, depending on the role.
Hope this helps you see the path ahead more clearly!
Here's a simple overview of what each level usually involves at a Big 4 accounting firm:
Associate/Staff
You'll dive into the details, preparing workpapers, conducting tests, documenting support, and sometimes helping with inventory counts. This is where you get hands-on experience and learn how everything works.
Senior Associate
As an assistant manager, you'll review the work of associates, guide your team, and help manage timelines. You'll also start interacting more with clients, answering questions, leading walkthroughs, and taking charge of certain tasks.
Manager
Here, you focus on client interactions. You'll oversee entire projects, ensure the team stays on track, and review work before it moves up. You'll mentor senior associates and staff while juggling different clients.
Senior Manager
You're getting ready to become a partner. You handle complex clients or lead multiple teams, aiming for top-quality results. You'll support business development and manage risks, acting as the final reviewer before things reach the partner.
Partner/Principal/Managing Director (PPMD)
This is where you lead the firm. Your focus is on building relationships, serving clients, and bringing in new business. You'll guide strategy, oversee key clients, represent the firm, and shape future leaders.
As for public vs. private
Many start in public accounting, get licensed, and then move to private sectors like corporate, nonprofit, or government. Others stay in public for a long-term career. Public accounting offers broad exposure, while private can provide more stability and work-life balance, depending on the role.
Hope this helps you see the path ahead more clearly!
Sophia Nicole Karamichos
Assurance Associate
11
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Sophia Nicole’s Answer
Hi Chaneria, congratulations on your internship! During your internship and when you start working full-time, make sure to connect with your team for their input on this question as well. A Big 4 firm has many roles, and each management level has different responsibilities depending on the group you're in. This includes different busy season responsibilities, coaching, research, and client management.
As an intern or new Associate, your tasks will likely be simple or administrative. Senior Associates will guide you through these tasks, helping you learn. Don't hesitate to ask questions at this stage; it's crucial for building your career foundation.
As you advance to Senior Associate, you'll begin to handle larger tasks and learn how to delegate work to Associates and Interns. You might also start joining client calls and interacting with various stakeholders.
At the Manager level, you'll be in direct contact with partners and clients, managing accounts, and ensuring work is completed on time by coaching junior staff. You'll also handle internal staff feedback, budgeting, and staffing.
When you reach the Director level, your focus will be on client revenue, client relations, and people management, along with coaching junior staff throughout their careers.
Partners concentrate on the overall management of the firm, strategic changes, people matters, promotions, and hiring goals - typically in tandem with other internal staff and stakeholders.
There are also many internal roles to explore, such as recruiting, HR, IT, Payroll, Benefits, Learning & Development, etc!
As an intern or new Associate, your tasks will likely be simple or administrative. Senior Associates will guide you through these tasks, helping you learn. Don't hesitate to ask questions at this stage; it's crucial for building your career foundation.
As you advance to Senior Associate, you'll begin to handle larger tasks and learn how to delegate work to Associates and Interns. You might also start joining client calls and interacting with various stakeholders.
At the Manager level, you'll be in direct contact with partners and clients, managing accounts, and ensuring work is completed on time by coaching junior staff. You'll also handle internal staff feedback, budgeting, and staffing.
When you reach the Director level, your focus will be on client revenue, client relations, and people management, along with coaching junior staff throughout their careers.
Partners concentrate on the overall management of the firm, strategic changes, people matters, promotions, and hiring goals - typically in tandem with other internal staff and stakeholders.
There are also many internal roles to explore, such as recruiting, HR, IT, Payroll, Benefits, Learning & Development, etc!
Brooke Morgenstern
Human Resources
7
Answers
Newtown, Pennsylvania
Updated
Brooke’s Answer
Congratulations on getting an internship at a Big 4 firm! You're off to a great start. Working at a Big 4 firm has many benefits. You'll need to work hard, whether you're in audit, tax, or consulting. There will be busy times, possible travel, and a demanding schedule. However, you'll also gain experience with many different clients, including some of the biggest and most prestigious companies in the world. You'll learn about various sectors and industries. Big 4 experience is highly valued because of the broad exposure and learning opportunities. While the work can be intense, there's also a lot of flexibility as you progress and gain more independence. I encourage you to stay as long as you can because the experience offers significant personal and professional benefits. Research shows that the longer you stay, the bigger the role you might get in the future.