<p>I was looking up accounting type jobs on websites such as monster and craig's list (before I get yelled at, I'm focused on school right now, just asking a simple question), and it seems as though every job I came across has said "Big 4 experience" or "work experience" necessary, and they seem pretty close to entry level positions. So basically what I'm asking, is if you're not starting at the Big 4, where else do you start as an fresh-out-of-college worker? Basically I'm more into the forensic type accounting, and more interested in getting some work experience for the CPA and to apply for the FBI, which requires some work experience, but obviously its too early for me to rule out a regular accounting career.</p>
<p>I’m not an accountant… Or a college grad… But I’d guess small accounting firms? I’m not sure where you’re from, but in rural areas, there are no major firms. Around here, there are just small, family owned accounting firms.</p>
<p>I go to school in Orlando, but I live in West Palm Beach, FL. Both are relatively large cities, so I figure there may be some moderate sized firms in the area. thanks for the input</p>
<p>Simple. Instead of making $14 an hour after taxes, they make $15 an hour before taxes.</p>
<p>I was told that at the Big Four “forensics” mainly means fraud examination and at lower firms it is mostly for other purposes(anything from divorce settlements to mergers). So if you want to catch crooks or whatever, be careful about choosing a forensic department(often called “Litigation Support”) at a smaller firm. Remember that forensics is not all about crime, it is just things that involve the legal process. </p>
<p>Your campus will probably have other industries recruiting. Big Fortune 100 companies sometimes have decent programs involving rotations between areas(standard accounting stuff, internal audit, tax, finance department). I think they’re tired of having to hire Big Four people who are more one dimensional, particularly now that they feel they’ve got a better handle on SOX/financial reporting type things where the Big Four produces experts.</p>