My first busy season is coming soon. my goal is max 55hrs/wk. Is it possible? B4

funnyhelpful
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

Yes but it’s not up to you. You’ll work what your team works and if you try and draw a line at 55 when your team is working 60, people will notice and you will not be rated favorably.

like

I was on a chill client for 4 years, never rotated off during the summer, never worked more than 60, and was at 55 most of busy season except maybe the week or two before filing.

We were able to do this because I was the senior for three of those years, i knew the client forwards and backwards, and could plan the summer and fall work so that busy season wasn’t terrible.

Most clients you will work on will not have a senior or staff memeber with more than 2 years on the client, so my case is not applicable

like

Yes just eat the other 25.

likefunny

Lol. Honestly it depends on your team, but it is difficult especially getting close to a deadline.

Probably billable hours at 55 plus admin/not billable - like logging time, trainings, meetings not related to clients, random emails effing around, you will probably be closer to 60 - 65. Unless you are waiting for client to deliver you support, then you will be 45 for a couple of weeks then 85+ the last week because no matter what, everything has to be done by a specific date.
My helpful tips:
1) Keep up on your client support early on, don't wait for anyone else to tell you what you need.
2) If it is slow, try to do as much up front work as you can.
3) There are a preallocated amount of hours per audit, if you are not working on something, you will have to adjust those hours to a different time of the audit, they don't disappear if you don't use them so let your senior/manager know if you are not busy. They cannot remember everything so you have to communicate.

likesmart

Agree with all of this! Great advice

Depends your office

Good luck

I'm able to do this a lot. But promotions in my group are also slower the normal. So there are tradeoffs.

It's up to you and your team. I wouldn't work a staff 1 on any of my jobs more than 55 hours a week.

I am usually good at keeping boundaries. However, there are many clients I’m willing to bend over backwards for and will do what is needed for those clients.

It was until you said B4. But I've heard some offices are better than others, so maybe? Also depends on your efficiency

This is true. When we would have national trainings and meet staff from other offices, it was always the offices like Buffalo that didn’t have super crazy hours. But if you are in a major city, this is probably not feasible.

Many years I worked 55s in three different offices and never opened my laptop on a weekend. Many years I have also had 80 hour weeks. It kind of depends on your client and the firm staffing levels. Firm has enough people right now, so it might be possible.

Is it a big team or small team? Chances are if it’s a small team you definitely will be working more than 55 hours.

Related Posts

Has anyone been able to start their own consulting biz on the side? I am a PM with 9 YOE/MBA/PMP and a Big 4 consulting background in the healthcare space. Did a lot of systems implementation, integration, training, adoption in the past. Appreciate all input :)

like

How easy is it to be hired in MCK / BCG as a principal, when you have been a top level Director at B4? Can someone refer?

like

would you make a switch from a big 4 to Simplus? expecting to get an offer from them and any info about them would be appreciated. I've seen a bunch of reviews on Glassdoor etc. - pretty decent

Any advice on joining M&A tax groups? Current experience is (mainly Fed) compliance related. Do big 4 take outside hires or should I get my foot in the door first and transfer depts?

Would anyone in the climate change/ sustainability practice at a big 4 or other form be willing to chat? I would love to learn more about the work!

like

Deloitte GPS Business Analyst vs Mercer Health Consulting Analyst?

Deloitte's offer is 7K more and in a cheaper area. Equal interest in both jobs, slight preference for Mercer for people + culture. Leaning towards Mercer because I graduate in Dec and can start in Jan vs having to wait until next summer for Deloitte + location (although higher COL)

Concerns:

Exit opportunities
Pigeonhole-ing myself into health consulting / How hard would it be to join Big 4 in a year or two if I don't like it

like

Best consulting firms for strategy in the US besides the big 4 and MBB?

like

What are some of the more desirable industry exit opps coming out with Big 4 fraud experience?

likehelpful
like

Anyone here made the move from technology risk (it audit) to technology in m&a in the big 4?

likefunny

What careers within Big 4 involve a lot of traveling( consulting m-th type)?

like
like

Tax manger in AWM (salt) at big 4. I want to do something different, what jobs would I be qualified for? Mainly looking for something with more WLB.

funny

Best Oracle practice among Big 4? From the perspective of comp (salary, bonus, benefits) and WLB

like

Barring making it to partner, what's the salary ceiling in big 4 in NYC?

like

Is there any ongoing hiring freeze in B4?

like

I’m a technical consultant but sick of the low pay and bad benefits at SI firms. I have some opportunities at Big 4 with better pay & benefits. Will it derail my career to move to Big 4?

like

Big 4 is about a popularity contest. I have new hires getting better snapshot than me because they kiss ass to SM/ director and Im like I literally am hated here let me leave

like

Hi 🐡’s,

Recently applied to McKinsey/BCG/Bain. Anyone willing to refer? Currently at B4 Strategy with almost 1 YOE, focused on financial services

likefunny

I work at a b4, I got a job offer from amidsize Promotion and going from 120-140. Should I take it? It would be a new start, and they mentioned less hours. The only issue I am thinking about is not having July and December weeks off. Otherwise the benefits are the same.

like

More Posts

How would you leverage an existing rsu grant of a company that recently IPO-ed when negotiating a new grant in a new place (Series B tech firm).

Assume I have a grant worth of 300 that vests quarterly for the next 18months (in a current place that is already publicly traded)

Would kind of offer grant would you expect from high conviction Series B tech company if you wanted to switch? Would you be good with 1:1 match? would you be ok to get less because potential upside is higher?

like

Do you think a masters is necessary to progress in-house as a brand/account manager?

like

Anyone taken the CFF? Looking for advice on the first exam

Can anyone provide me the solution for Dev school training modules?

Where can I get the best latte in the city

like

Moving from cpg marketing into tech product marketing. Looking for news outlets or channels to follow for trends and developments in the industry- thanks!

like

I work Within tax group at KPMG and want to change my career on to the paths of project management. I have some knowledge and experience that would transfer . Any tips on where can I start from? What would be some good companies I can apply to?

like

Anyone here interested in a full-time remote role as a Sourcing Specialist at On Deck? I'll be looking to add one more person to my team by May 2022.

If you understand sourcing as a concept and you want to really improve your craft, please let me know. I enjoy doing sourcing and I believe I can help you level-up. I'm open to people in North/South America, Europe, Africa.

like

Hi Guys!!
I am holding same kind of LPA offers from LTI , Mphasis and Expleo group as a senior test engineer.
Can anyone help me to decide which company is best to work with? No idea whom to join.

like

Has anyone taken one of those online executive courses, like the Harvard Extension School offers? Looking to use my $5k of tuition reimbursement and already have an MBA. Worth it? Best programs?

like

Can anyone recommend a career coach?

like

Up by 11 points and he has J. Howard and I have Burton tomorrow night 🤞

like

B4 peeps, had anyone heard about % salary increases this year? We are always told they benchmark against other B4s, but that’s surely BS.

like

Anyone care to share their experience working at Baylor University medical center L&D?

like

Holy shit! That was scary!!!

like

What is the salary range for level 11 Security Analyst in Accenture?

like

Since becoming a CD, I feel like my time is purely administrative and managerial work. I don’t have any creative projects and only give feedback to my ADs/designers. Because of this I’m feeling really insecure about looking for a new job because I feel my skills have been lost. Any advice? Do you as CDs do a lot of creative work day to day?

like

Opinions on MediaMonks Toronto?

like

This is for all the mates here who are living with their elderly parents with their siblings stationed abroad. How do you manage your elderly parent's health and how much support do you receive from your siblings who are abroad and don't wish to return either.

like

Has anyone figured out how many likes are needed to unlock DMs? 🥲

like

Additional Posts in Accounting

As a senior, I am dealing with trying to get answers from management but those above me want to be the filter and asker of all questions with the client. That is fine, each team has a preference.

But the questions do not seem to get asked or when they do the answer isn't right. How do others deal with this issue?

like

Whose spending their last days of the year counting?

like

How do you calculate your utilization and what % threshold is the goal for each level (audit) ?

like

I just received an industry job offer w/ a huge raise, good company, etc. but part of me wants to turn it down bc I’ll miss Moss Adams! What’s wrong with me?!

likesmart

Redoing selections <<<<

like

Is having a CIA and CFE with no CPA worth it?
Is this looked down upon? Planning to just stay in forensics or hop back to IA down the line

like

EY home page: Another year of strong growth EY salary discussions: This year was average to a down year

like

I’m in real estate tax group and looking for good books about RE fund/investments/accounting during non busy season. Any recommendations? Thanks!

Has anyone on here done accounting work with Beech Valley as an independent contractor? Im curious as to how steady the work is and how it might look on a resume.

likesmart

Partners or whomever can help me understand about billing and hours. To keep things simple, let’s say you only have one staff to work 1,700 billable hours a year on a $60k salary and you have only one job that and the rate charged to the client is $300/hour and an projected hours budget of 1,700 hours. So ideally you would have revenue of $510k. If the staff takes less time partners make less money and if they take more time partners make more money while the staff keeps the same salary?

like

Anyone else Captaining their Career away from GT this summer too? I mean besides the 4 seniors who have already left my office.

likefunny

Can’t wait to get CISA application sent for approval🔜🔜🔜

like

Have virtual interviews tomorrow and Friday (both with same company) - I know 150% if I got an offer, I would not accept. Had a ton of coaching meetings this week regarding a different offer I’ve been considering and I don’t want to leave my current place of work. Cancel tomorrow and Friday interviews or no cancel and potentially get an offer and decline? (I am fairly busy so biggest opportunity cost is my time and having to wfh to do video interviews during the workday)

like

Do new audit staff at PwC have access to Independence Checkpoint? I want to preclear an investment but I can't seem to log into the tool.

like

Can anyone at RSM tell me what your holiday schedule is for this year/do you close down at YE? Received an offer and says there are ten total holidays; but BDO offers 12 (YE closure included in the #)

like

If you are starting as an Audit Associate some time from now with Deloitte or any of the big 4, do they expect you to have passed/completed all 4 parts by the time you start? Received the Becker Reimbursement email from the recruiter not too long ago but have yet to start. I’ve seen plenty of people get to Senior at a big 4 firm without the CPA so I am a bit confused in that aspect. Any helpful feedback will be very much appreciated.

likehelpful

I have to travel to my client every week and the client’s office is attached to a very nice hotel that’s $250 per night. There’s a hotel right across the street that’s $150 per night.. it’s alright, but not as great. Should I be mindful about how much I’m spending or should I blow up the budget until someone says something?

likefunnysmart

Riding home from the office only to do some more work when I get home. Ehhh...

like

Does anyone here use Avalara or Vertex? Interested in hearing any likes/dislikes and how the user experience is.

like

It's sad that public accounting is used as a stepping stone. It's a great job, but working 60-70 hours a week is not acceptable. Just because you did it (management) doesn't make it justifiable.

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Send download link to your phone

OR

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Messaging rates may apply

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal