Just finished up my first year at PwC but want to start looking for opportunities at smaller PA firms. how strict is the 3 year experience to be hired as a senior? could you have two full years at PwC and be considered? Firm i’m looking at specifically has less than 100 people

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Most firms in public accounting only require 2 years of experience for senior and don’t ask that many or complicated technical questions. I think 2 yoe at big4 is very reasonable to get a senior position at another smaller firm.

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I agree with BDO1. I came from pwc and CR kept me as an experienced associate for a year because there's a decent learning curve going from big4 to a smaller firm. They also require 3 busy seasons before promoting to senior. Youre learning new software, juggling multiple clients, and seeing a lot more areas. Contrary to what AM1 said, my team at pwc split all the FSLIs between associates and seniors, and my client didn't have inventory or PPE. So there was a lot I didn't get exposure to. This is common for large F500 clients with big engagement teams. I've also found that support from smaller clients is a lot scrappier. You have to get good at making things work with what you have. As long as they're paying you fairly don't worry about title. I was initially bummed to be an associate for a third busy season, but I proved everyone wrong and did great. Had I been promoted to a senior, I may have struggled.

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The question is will you be able to pass the interview if they start asking you technical questions? YOE doesn’t mean much if you have no idea what you’re looking at. Might also be hard to get a senior position with just two years

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Experience definitely counts. When I conduct interviews for staff looking to become senior through promotion I definitely ask questions to see what exposure you’ve had to show you’re ready. Definitely not as grueling when interviewing seniors to manager but still. Like others have said, you ability to lead meetings, interact with and answer client questions. Giving guidance to newer staff etc. Also, with a small firm you’ll need to consider there may be more expectations placed on you with less resources and less people you can bounce questions off of. Not impossible by any stretch but these are things to consider/think about as you prepare for interviews.

I spent 14 years at a <100 person firm. Was a partner there and now a partner at a much larger firm. In my experience as someone who would hire out of Big 4, the experience at the Big 4 would not translate to smaller firm. I am not trying to say this as a blanket statement for all who work there, but most coming out of Big 4 were an inch wide but a mile deep in experience. When at a smaller firm you would be needing to be a master generalist. I am not saying anyone coming from Big 4 cannot get there. But if smaller firm is looking for immediate help they need someone who has not been siloed.

I would agree (I’m at a BT affiliate btw) to an extent. I don’t think it makes much difference as a first year such as OP. Give me a smart warm body at that level and I’m good. Now for experienced senior or manager I totally agree with you.

You could probably get a senior role with one year of experience and have your cpa. Not joking.

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