<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I would like some peoples opinion's on whether or not my future goals make sense. I will explain why I choice my goals further down. </p>
<p>Goal: Finish Northeastern University w/ Acct Major, graduate with at least a 3.6+, get a MS of Acct and work for a Big 4. Obtain CPA and after 3-5 years at big four switch into industry where audit work was focused on. Hopefully attend a top 20 MBA program and transfer into management position hopefully at a Fortune 500 company. Work more relaxed hours as manager/controller and creep up the corporate ladder hitting CFO and (dreaming big) CEO. </p>
<p>Obviously this all assumes that you're pretty capable in your given field. I would like to know if my career choice makes sense. Currently, I'm a dual concentration in Finance/Accounting at NU. I'm also on my 1st Co-op at State Street Global Advisors working with invoices, A/P, contracts, internal tracking, etc. I don't think I have much of change in the IBanking world given NU's meager ranking below the top 50 (even though we have the top co-op program in the country). I think my exit opps will be much higher with a Big 4 on my resume. Also, I'd rather not land a middle of the line finance job. I understand accounting is stable and job security is there, given that accountants are needed in good/bad times. </p>
<p>If somebody could shed some light on whether or not my plan makes sense, or is too much, or if there are unnecessary steps in there. </p>
<p>If anyone else has followed, or knows of someone who followed a similar path, I'd like to hear your/their experiences.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Your plan makes perfect sense. The career path you described is a very common goal for big4 hopefuls to dream of. If you know you want your MBA I would consider looking in to some of the Transaction Services lines of the Big4. This is probably one of (if not the most) the most prestigious fields the Big4 firms offer and the work looks more substantial than just audit. </p>
<p>Each firm hires differently for this service line. I believe KPMG hires undergrads, while the others look for internal hires with 2+ years experience. </p>
<p>I can promise that it is an urban legend that Big 4 audit is a feeder industry for top 20 MBAs. Yes, it does happen, but it is not common. The idea is that if you work on huge companies, you are somehow glorified for having done their audit…it’s not true. An audit is an audit. So in order to set your audit experience apart you need to be the first one their and last to leave, make senior as soon as possible and hope to get amazing recommendation letters.</p>
<p>One unnecessary step I see is that it appears that you are saying you want to do big4 for 3-5 years and then go to industry and THEN to an MBA? Going industry and then MBA MAY be unnecessary. If you can land a nice corporate position and get THEM to pay for it, then it would may be a good idea. But at that point you may have to go part-time and you might lose a lot of the networking benefits of full-time MBA programs. </p>
<p>One thing you might find interesting is this: Go and google some high-profile CFOs and find the ones who came from big4. MOST of them do not have the MBA. And most left the big4 5+ years in to their career. In otherwords, most were Manager - Partner (of course partners usually go straight to a head of finance job). So, it may not be necessary to get an MBA is my point. </p>
<p>Also considering you are double majoring in Accounting and Finance - what would your MBA concentration be? Finance would be redundant and nothing would be more relevant…just something to consider. </p>
<p>My overall suggestion is to BE PATIENT. It’s good you have plans, but you have laid out a very linear path and being flexible and open-minded early on in your career is VERY important. Personally, I would say that Acct’g+Finance Double + CPA + Manager (5 years usually) at Big 4 would set you up nicely and you may not need the MBA.</p>
<p>From what I understand, life in the big4 is brutal. Really long hours, supposedly most don’t get their CPA because they don’t have time to prepare for the exam. There are direct routes into industry, they have internship programs that, if you succeed, you can enter a rotational program. So, there might be more than one way to get to where you want to go. But don’t count on kicking back on the hours as you move up the ladder- the people I see in my corporate life who succeed are those who work long hours.</p>
<p>I would say the hires at big4 who dont get their CPA are in the minority. We are actually seeing a huge uptick in the number of people coming in with all 4 parts passed and a huge decline in people still testing after their 1st year. </p>
<p>Big4 is the best place to start for a career in industry finance. Ask the people who start in industry. They will tell you people come from the big4 all the time and get the promotion the internal hire wanted. </p>
<p>As for the hours. Yes, during busy season it’s brutal. 60-80 hours. Saturdays, some Sundays. However summer is slow. And fall is usually 55 MAX. Unless a strange deadline comes up, you won’t work 70 hours regularly in industry, even as CFO. OP is correct to assume the hours would be better. But as a CFO, you might be working only 50 hours, but you will be expected to answer calls, emails, etc. around the clock.</p>
<p>@workingATbig4 </p>
<p>Well, I was actually thinking of dropping finance and focusing my efforts on accounting, in order to get a higher GPA so I can fluff it with some easy classes. For MBA, I would either focus on finance or maybe get a CFA to switch into finance? Long-term, I’d like to work in finance position or sr. management. </p>
<p>What do ya’ll think about 4 yr BSBS program and straight into a 1 year Masters of Accounting so you can sit for the CPA? Or would a CPA have precedence over a MS in Acct?</p>
<p>Also, I know people want to be competitive and get their CPA early, but don’t they give you a bonus if you pass all 4 parts while with the company?</p>
<p>Have you ever heard of anyone with a CPA and CFA working in financial services? </p>
<p>@Katytibbs </p>
<p>I’ve read/heard from numerous people that life at the big4 isn’t glamorous, however, I’ve also read/heard, and I agree with the fact that, it’s best to make some sacrifices earlier rather than later. </p>
<p>Lastly, if you could shed some light on what the credentials were of people given an offer to work at big4, like GPA, sports, EC, CPA…so fourth. And if getting a 4-6 month co-op would greatly bolster my chances of getting an offer letter for a full-time hire.</p>