How was your experience going from a mid size firm to big 4 or vice versa?

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Going to Big 4 (13 years ago): less interaction with partners at lower levels, less generous bonus structure, more impersonal, more expectations to work longer hours, better training, better resources, broader knowledge base, larger clients

Going to middle firm (now): slightly better wlb, same pay as Big 4, less structural rigidity, fewer developed processes, smaller clients, knowledge base growing on the go as necessary. I’m still new but people seem much more laid back.

Overall there can be positives and negatives on both sides. I’ve had good and bad bosses on both sides (slightly more bad bosses in big 4 but you’re also exposed to more people).

Depends where you are in your life and what you’re willing to put up with and for how long.

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Perhaps this was just a Grant Thornton issue but my life got so much better when I switched to a Big 4 four years ago. Better pay/bonuses, ironically better hours, leadership actually seems to care about what clients I want (I may have just gotten lucky to get a good coach/DL), and better technology and resources.

All facts

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