Has anyone here gone from a Big 4 (or similar large firm) to a small local accounting firm, or vice versa? I just started my job search a few weeks ago, and all my interviews so far have been with large companies, but I'm seeing some interesting jobs from small firms. What's the culture and workload like at the smaller places?

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Yes, I was part of EY’s August 2025 reduction in force and joined a small firm of around 25-employees including myself. Every smaller firm varies, but my firm specializes in audits, has no busy seasons, I only have to be in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I only have to work 40 hours a week (still have to make it up in the event of travel or such though unlike most other employers) despite a few deadlines. It’s definitely an upgrade from EY in most respects or is at least EY on a smaller, more manageable scale like going from a BMW X5 to a MINI Cooper Countryman. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself being one of the many people who want to get out of public accounting altogether sooner or later and want to go into industry/corporate, government, forensic, or some other form of Accounting and Finance.

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You’re going to be just as hard-worked at a smaller firm as you are at one of the big 4 as they generally under hire people. I’ve found that the sweet spot is a middle sized firm if you can find a job there

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Yes, and it didn’t end well. You take for granted the resources you have in Big Four until you leave for an independent with no resources. Hours were terrible, clients were terrible, partners were terrible, it was a shit show through and through until I boomeranged back to EY

I think it depends what you are looking for in your next role and what your long term goals are

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