Is PwC the only firm that generally promotes to senior after 3 years? If that’s the case, is S1 pay at PwC higher than S1 pay at another firm for the same job?

There is not a right or wrong answer to this. Each firm has its own philosophy. Consistent with my opinion, and similar to many firms, we transitioned to a philosophy where we promote when a person demonstrates the ability to take on the additional responsibility. We push our high performers. We find this enables our people to truly excel and thrive. I believe promotions should be merit based more than time based. In our profession, wisdom and experience supports judgment and the ability to perform at higher levels, but people gain these abilities at differing times. In the case of a senior, some may excel at two years and others at three (or in less common cases, earlier or later). The same goes for promotion to manager. But some still subscribe to a more rigid time based structure. I recommend everyone simply make sure they understand their firms philosophy on this (and a million other things for that matter) and make sure you are aligned and comfortable in such an organization. Just because a firm has a time based promotion structure doesn't make it a bad firm, but you must determine if you can learn, grow, advance and have a great career there.

Yeah we are and it’s horseshit

It is possible to be promoted after 2 years at PwC. It’s just rare and you have a have a great year.

I wasn’t talking about manager level. I was talking about S1 pay compared to S2 pay since our S1 have the same amount of experience as other firms S2. S1 pay at pwc = S1 pay at other big 4. Royally sucks

According to what a Grant Thornton A1 said in another post, Our firms promotion structure is a lot different from others? I’m really curious too, because I honestly don’t think it’s crazy to be promoted to a S1 after a year and a half if that person is ready. I’ve also learnt that our firm would promote a tier 3 3rd year over a tier 2 2nd year, because we don’t have 4th year assocs in general. Good question though OP, I’m curious too.

1 year means nothing in the grand scheme of things...

Deloitte promotes after a full 2 years. It might make exceptions for people that started in busy season, they may even hold back people that are not ready (like 0-2 per office).

And no, pay is not any higher.

PWC 3 you are incorrect. Pay is similar. You compare a M1 at pwc the other firms you will see M1 at pwc make equivalent of M2s at other firms. Pay per years of experience is pretty close.

You’d hope. But no, my point is that we’re paid the same as other big 4 S1 even though they make Senior a year earlier. We don’t get compensated for the extra year as associate

My pay as S1 was similar or higher to S2 at other big4 in the market. Side note, promotion to senior felt more like graduation than promotion. I checked the box on three years of service and got promoted. No different than four years of high school. I felt ready for senior well before promotion occurred, for better or worse

I highly doubt the PWC comment to be right about pwc S1 making more or equivalent to S2 at other Big 4. Keep drinking the cool-aid. If there is one person who makes more that does not represent the majority. I am S2 and I make considerably more than other S2 in same (tax) practice in my office. If I compare my salary with my pwc friends who are S2, I make more than them with one less year of work.

Exactly.^ you’re an idiot if you think they’re paying pwc S1 same as any other big 4 S2

EY SDC promotes after 3 years

^seems like you’re contradicting yourself there. Wouldn’t S1 at PwC make the same as S2 at another B4?

PwC 4 is correct. Pay is more linked to years of service in this regard rather than title.

An S1 at PwC makes what an S2 at other firms make. Confirmed with MANY conversations with my peers across firms. At PwC more and more people are getting promoted after 2-2.5 years as the standards for promotion are changing. Ultimately title doesn’t matter at all, look at any job posting, they list # of years not level.

Agreed for exit opps but at least in my area that’s not how is it for S1. We get screwed

Kpmg1 how is your experience more representative of the majority? Both are based on empirical evidence. Also not sure how comparing specific numbers between firms is drinking kool aid. Saying my S1 70k is bigger than an S2 I know at another big4 in my market at 68k is not kool aid. I’m Not sure how you make more than anyone in your year or above with logic and lack of basic thought process like that.