Looking to exit from a big4 Audit, SM in Canada. Considering options in a small boutique firm as a principal $200+ or a credit union as VP $180+. Both aren’t flashy, so kind of worried that I might be shooting my career. Any insights from people who’ve made similar moves?

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I’ve been interviewing lots of boutique firm leaders for a podcast and feel like it seems truly truly underrated.

It’ll often be a more straightforward path to partner if that’s something you want to pursue, and being a partner at the good boutiques can be very very different than in the Big 4 - much better WLB, lower but still really strong comp ($300-$400k pretty common).

A lot of these people I speak with are incredibly happy in their careers.

Credit union I don’t know too much about, could also be great

I mean not gonna name names of the partners and their earnings, some maybe more regional-ish around the 100 employee mark

In the states I do know of some true boutique like 20 person firms where the partners are taking down $400k+

What will you be doing in the boutique firm?

What service line?

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