6 answers
Chaneria
Student
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
2
Questions
Asked
5059 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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5 answers
Shelly Shen
Accountant
2
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
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!
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.
Michelle M.
Actress
2660
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
40
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