Big 4 or Boutique Consulting

<p>So I need to decide between two full-time job offers before October 1st. </p>

<p>Option 1: Audit in the Asset Management Division of Ernst & Young. The Asset Management group deals with hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital firms. Will be on CPA track. Salary in low 50K range. Offer expires Oct. 1</p>

<p>Option 2: Litigation Consulting/Forensic Accounting/Advisory with a boutique consulting firm (Huron Consulting Group). Can also be on the CPA track, although it is not required. Salary is in the high 50Ks with 10K bonus. Offer expires Dec 1.</p>

<p>Option 3: Reject Option 1 and go into full-time recruiting for management consulting or other Big 4 (Advisory or Audit?) I'm trying to be cautious of this option because I hear markets are not doing so well and competition is high. I might just end up with another Big 4 in core audit where I would be auditing a bunch of random firms.</p>

<p>Which do you think will provide better exit opps or be more interesting? Thanks!</p>

<p>I am more curious with how you ended up with so many good offers :) </p>

<p>good luck with your decision making!</p>

<p>Depends on what you want to do. If you want to go into financial services like private equity or venture capital or something, then go with option 1, obviously. The big name will help you a good bit. If you want to go to law school, get a PhD in econ, become a lawyer, that area, then litigation consulting.</p>

<p>I'd personally go with litigation consulting because that's more interesting to me (although probably less travel-for me part of the allure of consulting is the travel-but anyway). Huron's paying you more (which is a plus), and it's by no means a bad consulting firm.</p>

<p>But anyway in this market climate, a big round of congratulations are in order for getting so many good offers!!!</p>

<p>^everything you said made no sense. Not trying to start a fight, but come on.
Are you really sure you know what you're talking about?</p>

<p>Auditing has nothing to do with the actual asset management process. People do not move from auditing to trading or management positions at hedge funds and private equity. People just don't move from back office to front office these days, sadly. Also, auditing does not often lead one to pursue an econ PhD. Again, you're thinking of asset management. </p>

<p>Accounting sucks. Do what you can to do something else, unless you happen to like it. </p>

<p>I think a boutique firm will give you more room to shine and get away from the accounting side and on to the management consulting side, where I'm sure you want to be. Don't get sucked into being a big 4 accountant unless that's what you want.</p>

<p>Care to elaborate?</p>

<p>yeah auditing is really gonna help you get into pe/vc... lol</p>

<p>futureny u have 3000+ posts, i sure hope all of them arent like ur last one</p>

<p>^Sue me. :rolleyes:</p>