<p>I'm a freshman in college, and I'm trying to decide between majoring in finance and accounting. If I go accounting I want to go into forensic accounting, but I also want the starting salary that a big 4 firm has to offer. Do they offer any forensic accounting jobs, or would I have to get a job at a firm that focuses specifically on it?</p>
<p>Yes, they do offer it.</p>
<p>What’s the likelihood of somebody right out of college being able to get one of those jobs? If all goes to plan I’ll be graduating with my masters in accounting from UIUC, and I’ll be a CPA.</p>
<p>schools that are visited by big 4 or even smaller private firms start offering internships by your junior / senior year.</p>
<p>you will most likely have a “job” or at least a few interviews by the time you graduate college. (at least from the accounting teachers / accountants i’ve talked with)</p>
<p>starting salary is relatively high(er) than most college majors.</p>
<p>(i cant get a accurate number cause nobody really wants to give their salary information, but just know you’ll be making big bucks)</p>
<p>this is my friends brothers path to becoming an accountant:</p>
<p>undergrad college
senior year - internship (for few months) // full-time job after his internship
graduation
work
work
took one year off to study for his CPA exams.
passed all exams on his first try.</p>
<p>he is now a head accountant of a team at a private firm.
(he did not work for big4, but just know he is making very good $$$ still)</p>
<p>ignore psmko, he doesn’t really know what he is talking about. Anyways back to your question about Big 4 Advisory. That is what forensics is under, not audit or tax. it’s way more competitive. Anyways without a MSA from UIUC and a CPA, your chances are pretty low unless, you are undergrad UIUC which I assume you may be. If that is the case, then you have a good shot they will recruit for that position directly from undergrad. Any top 10 undergrad accounting program will most likely get recruited straight out of undergrad for Big 4 advisory positions. For example schools like BYU UT Austin UIUC USC. </p>
<p>Psmko was just throwing out nonsense that really had nothing to do with Big 4 advisory. He thinks passing CPA on the first try is a feat. It’s a joke I owned that **** in about 2 months study time tops on the first try while working. He is making big bucks but who cares he is probably bored as hell. Big 4 Advisory gets paid more than audit or tax. Expect at least 60-70k (Depending on your location) total your first year including bonuses.</p>
<p>Yea, I’m undergrad here, and I’m planning on doing the 5 year masters program. Thanks for all the info.</p>
<p>Hey Dawgie, we had a KPMG guy from Advisory(along with people from other areas) talk to us and their presentation seemed to indicate that advisory doesn’t make that more money than the others but requires more intellect, more travel, and more work. A lot more travel and work actually. Do they make more at your firm? More work for the same pay isn’t exactly high on my list of things to pursue. </p>
<p>From what I recall his work was related to helping companies in M&A’s determine a fair value for the firm being acquired. At least that was a part of that, I don’t think they are inclined to let people get into advisory at the entry level.</p>
<p>Let me tell you what I know from talking to Senior associates. It doesn’t pay a ridicuous larger amount but it’s atleast 5k more minimum. The hours were longer what I was told, but the travel is a lot less. Advisory many different functions in it including what you mentioned in the 2nd paragraph. They are not inclined to hire advisory for fresh grads hence why it pays more and its more “prestigious” and difficult. They typically recruit from top ranked accounting schools, like UT Austin, BYU, UIUC.</p>
<p>Funny, I had a friend interested in Forensic Accounting. Generally, I know of no accounting program that offers it for undergraduate studies as a major. It might exist. I just don’t know of any program.</p>
<p>However, in the masters level, there are a few programs that do offer forensic accounting such as Stevenson University et. al. It is a great area today,but it can be VERY tedious. Forensic work isn’t as glamorous as the media make it seem.</p>