Currently about to go into my second busy season as a senior associate at a top 20 firm and considering on jumping to Big 4. Due to my lack of PCAOB experience, was offered an experience associate position with a possibility of promotion to senior next year. Looking to hear from people who had similar experiences/offers and curious on your decision making process. Thanks!

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Big 4 Assurance partner here. In my observation, people in your type of situation are much more likely to have long term success when they step down a level (rather than negotiating to stay at the same level). If you stay at senior, you will be rated against peers with much more pcaob experience and overall experience working within your new firm’s framework. Dropping down a level makes long term success much more likely as you’ll have a bit of time to catch up without finding yourself rated behind your peers (and losing confidence, etc).

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That pay cut will be made up quickly in the senior promotion and you’ll be a lot more marketable (worth more) on exit with pcaob experience.

likehelpful

This sounds like PWC. They don’t bring people in at an equal level from what they are at their current firm. They lean toward bringing people in at a level below. The line of thinking is that they rank and compare people at each level and it wouldn’t be fair to compare you to a senior with all the PWC specific knowledge they have. I wouldn’t compare titles. I’d compare benefits, compensation, and growth potential and go from there.

likesmart

Uncle D just laid people off. Tbh I'd be wary. If your firm is stable enough, id stay there

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That sounds normal. We also tend to bring people in that way (etc. If u were just promoed to senior at your old firm you'd come in as a exp associate

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What are your reasons for switching?

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Are you looking to go partner or MD track? Are you wanting to expand your public audit experience? I view going down a level as a "career delay" but I never planned on being a lifer so that makes a difference. A year is a long time in public imo.

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