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You just started and think mid tier is trash? Have you reached out to the people you report to for training, or if you can help on anything?
Where does OP say mid-tier is trash or that mid-tier training is trash? OP asked if it was trash, as if no side was taken on the issue.
1. Learn on the job, there is no such thing as good or bad training. They will throw you with bunch of works and you work it out by asking seniors, managers or associates within yr teams how to do things. No training can prepare you on how to do thing.
2. Big4 is good for exit ops but you have to sacrifice yr time, are you able to work 60-80 hrs per week? No over time pay and for how long can you keep it up.
3. No mid tier companies are bad or trash. Depending on what you are looking for and what will satisfy your dream work expectations.
Honestly, public accounting experience is one and the same. It’s a couple years of grind and then jump to industry for better work life balance. The Big4 is just a lot of koolaid drinking. Only the accounting folks will care and can relate to having a big4 or even mid tier name on the resume. Otherwise, when you are working in industry and conducting internal audit/compliance interviews, no one cares how much your degree was or the branding of your “prestigious” big4 or public accounting experience. Funniest experience was when I was setting up a walkthrough interview with an AP person and the dude royally botched up how to pronounce Deloitte.
Like I said, once you are in industry, no one else other than accounting or even finance folks care. All it will probably do is make you more relatable to the accounting office if it’s full of Big4 or public accounting alum. That’s it
Our interns go through 2 weeks of classroom and on their own training. But the most impactful training is from the experience you get from performing the actual work. Reach out to your associate/senior to give you guidance anywhere you’re struggling.
Big4 have better name recognition than mid-tier so yes, it will improve your chance at exit ops in some ways or at least tip things in your favor against a mid tier candidate.
At the end of the day, the work is the same between the two but mid tier has slightly better work life balance. Pick the one that fits your personality more.
Wow, I feel like all I do is take training! I’ve been at Big 4 and BDO. It’s an the same. Major difference is the sophistication of the clients and name recognition of the Big 4.
There is literally no training at EY. It’s sink or swim maybe the other Big 4s actually train but in my experience there is none
Mid tier (been at 2) - we do Q center as well
I came both from big4 and bdo. Since you are starting your career and focusing on training, I suggest go with big4. Their training and resources are more standardized and established. It is a big advantage for me coming from Big 4 then going somewhere else.
I say go Big 4 unless you notice a better office culture at BDO. It’s all about the clients you’re on and people you work with, but if you’re torn between the 2, Big 4 will have better exit ops and is more established
Rising Star
1. Yes, but that doesn't mean mid tier itself is trash. You'll learn what you need to on the job no matter where you are. B4 resources and training are way better though.
2. Yes, starting at B4 is "better" in a generic sense for all the reasons you mentioned. Personally I think doing B4 for 3ish years then going straight to industry is a good path. Spending 1-3 years at mid tier, jumping to B4, then jumping to industry just sounds like a lot of time (but in the grand scheme of things it's not a huge deal). Jumping from B4 to mid tier gives you a huge raise and potential title bump (if you qualify for one). Mid tier firms value B4 experience and love stealing B4 employees.
3. They're all the same brand. No one outside of public accounting has heard of GT/RSM/BDO. Not sure about benefits. WLB would be dependent on office and team but a lot of them work the same hours as B4 without the prestige, if I'm being honest.
Your spot on but I disagree as “people who know, know BDO”
I worked at BDO right out of college for 3 years and then went to industry last year. They were still impressed that i worked at BDO. Got a $30k bump base and additional $10k in bonuses. Big4 is of course better name but BDO rep isn’t bad either :)
I’ve worked at both big 4 and BDO.
BDO has recently swallowed up a ton of really small firms in large metro areas and then rebranded them as BDO with no real integration. These are essentially legacy firms that churn out 1040s and small business returns with none of the infrastructure you’d expect from mid tier firms to support its people.
TLDR Go big 4 without question.
You’re already at mid-size
Personally I think it’s great to start big 4 and then hop to mid tier or industry. Just left EY for a mid tier and I definitely feel like a polished professional coming from the high stress work environment and great training. I’m definitely learning a lot at mid tier that I never got a chance to learn at B4. Very happy with my switch but very grateful for my start at B4.
I started my career at BDO, haven’t worked big 4, but I’ve worked with big 4 auditors at two separate large public companies in industry.
Definitely focus on culture at both and then determine which one fits. I feel at BDO you’ll get exposure to different audit areas faster due to smaller clients vs. focusing on one audit area at larger clients in big 4. There’s benefits to both.
I’m sure covid has impacted training. I’ve on-boarded a couple people virtually and it’s tough. Definitely reach out to your staff/senior/manager if you feel you’re not getting the training you need.
TL;DR -
1) Is training trash at mid-size?
2) Is it much better to start at Big 4 and then go to mid-size after a few years (manager level)?
3) Which mid-size is the best overall (training, brand, benefits, WLB etc.)
2) manager isn’t a few years. Most big 4 you can’t get manager until 4-6 years, which many people quit before reaching that point