Would you leave a Top 10 firm to work at a big 4 but take a demotion? I.e senior to experienced associate position. Is it worth it?

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at
Highlighted IconHIGHLIGHTED

No dont take the demotion, trust in what you bring to table. You could argue that they could evaluate your path to manager instead.

like

I've seen people come from smaller firms and truth is they are not as good as a good homegrown people. Its natural. There is a lot to learn. Coming in as a senior might just be too hard if you not excellent.

like

Agree with this, but would also say it depends whether you want to be there long term. If long term, would say go for experienced associate. If not, push for senior.

likefunny
Recent IconRecent

Maybe, maybe not. You’ll get a strong technical background, but the quality of life is pretty much guaranteed to be bad.

There are plenty of folks who do quite well in life without Big 4 experience.

If you do make the jump, I would not take a pay cut. That’s a tough pill to swallow. Pay isn’t that great at Big 4. It’s a lot worse once you consider the hours you’ll work.

like

KPMG3 - you hit the nail on the head. I worked at a regional for four years. Hours were fantastic, but pay sucked. Did PwC for four years. It was typical B4 experience. Now work at a Goldilocks regional- it’s absolutely fantastic and I may stay here here forever.

like

Coming from a top 10 firm? Don’t let them do that to you. No way it’s worth it if you’re already at top 10. I’ve seen seniors come in from even smaller firms and keep their rank (though maybe they had to accept a reduction from S2 to S1 or whatever, not sure).

likesmart

I mean obviously it’s just fun to make fun of KPMG at every opportunity

likefunny

Hell no. You learn just as much (maybe more) at a smaller firm and they value you more. Especially in tax (my expertise).

like

I agree with this 100%!!

PwC almost always demotes and I think it makes sense. There is a lot of firm specific stuff that I see experienced hires struggle with. Even if you don’t get a demotion you’ll probably be hurt in the review process and your next promotion will take longer. There’s no denying it’s a big step between mid tier firms and big 4 and that’s to account for that. If you’re moving because you want big 4 on your resume it’s definitely worth it. Will lead to more open doors down the road, just make sure you stick it out to get the promotion.

like

Odds are you’ll be way ahead of peers and doing senior work. They just want to give you some time to learn firm particulars around documentation, tools, etc. I’d do it if the B4 name was important enough to you

like

That depends. Are you switching service lines? If you’re going from specializing from individuals taxes to ITS or state&local or M&A - Then yes you should do experienced associate cause you’ll drown in that senior position. Because if you go from doing 1040s at Bdo or rsm and jumping to Ey - from a compliance perspective there’s not much differences except maybe clients, culture and tools. But if you going from 1040s to let’s say a partnership heavy practice then I’d go ahead and come in as an experienced staff. But if you’re doing the same work then ask for the same rank you were in.

like

Great point. This is the only reasonable exception.

Concur with everyone else, don’t take a demotion

like

Absolutely not

like

Disregard Covid, you get an automatic salary raise each year, but you need to kiss a lot of ass to get promoted. Don’t take the demotion.

like

No... don’t think it’s worth the demotions, and maybe lower pay. It’ll take time for you to reach senior again... unless you really want the big 4 name on your resume.

like

No. If it’s a different service line then yes but the difference between big 4 and top 10 at senior level is not that much.

like

Does it come with a pay raise? If so, yes. If not, then no.

like

Really depends on the team and practice you'll be working in.

like

I have an offer as experienced associate - money is good and I ll take another promotion bonus when I make Senior again.

like

Never

like

No. No no no.

like

Don’t

like

NO - DO NOT UNDER SELL YOURSELF!

like

Related Posts

Hey Fishes! Wanting to move back to the gulf from US. What are some companies that pays HR consultants/experts well if I dont want to go consulting route? Middle management HR with around 15 years of total experience.

like

Planning to do a PRM or FRM qual. How useful is it to move from Big 4 Risk and reg consulting to industry? Finding it hard to get anything other than non-PM roles

like

Hi,
I have been working as accountant for past 10 years at a logistics company. I want to change my route and join different industries for better challenges and opportunities. How can I approach new firms with this single industry background.

like

Wondering potential exit ops for a PM in financial services. Fintech seems like a clear path, but wondering if I’d be a contender for FAANG-like companies as well?

like

Hi fishes ,

I received an offer for senior manager position in PWC .

Can you please let me know about the health insurance coverage as it is not mentioned in offer letter.

Please also inform if parents can be included in health insurance provided by PWC.

like

Referral Available for following
Comment or DM for details

Post Photo
like

Any hiring tips? I’m the associate at a two attorney firm and my boss apparently wants to hire and is giving me free reign over the process.

like

26 y/o JD, CPA, CFP --- what are my odds landing a career with the FBI?

like

So I'm not a top performer. Definitley not the smartest guy at big 4. But some of the questions I get from very experienced seniors are just so basic.

like

Hi fishes,
I need your valuable suggestions from your rich experience

I am going switch my tech into Java development. I am having around 2 yrs of experience in Database.

What are the skills you expect from 2 yoe java developer, which skills I should focus more so transition won't seem too hard.

Note: I am going to join as experienced guy only

please give me your suggestion. It will help me a lot to work and gain those skills now only before switching.

Thanks a lot.

like

Any tips for moving up in a medium/large-sized legal department, aside from switching companies? I work in a collegial environment with plenty of opportunities to create more value, but the management level is fairly crowded and it seems the clearest path to get one of those roles is to be hired into it. What has been your experience? Thanks!

like

Hello,
Can someone suggest or rather guide me which skills one should work acquire after having 10 years of experience in automation QA?
Also what is scope after having such experience?

Thanks in advance.

like

I’ve been told my company is changing my title from Associate Director of BD to Sales Executive. I’m concerned it reads like a title demotion. Is it just semantics? How will this look for my career development? Curious about the standard perception of Sales Executive from a seniority perspective. Where does this land on the sales roles hierarchy? For context, it’s a professional services firm, I’ve been there 3+years, and they gave a Sales Executive title to someone who just started 5mo ago.

like

Anybody work for liberty mutual remotely in a non-phone position in claims? I’m in CL claims intake but i hate phones going to stick around until i Can get away from the phones!

like
like

Hi fishes, Dm me with the job id for referral in Cognizant.

like
like

Need prayer 🙏🏻 some complications with my company transitioning me into a full time position. Now I have to look for a new position and am not having luck. Feeling anxiety. Hard to have faith.

like

More Posts

One more day before tgif! Whats on your wrist?

Post Photo
like

Everyone complains about high healthcare costs in the US. I understand that it’s a complex problem including drug prices, insurances etc. But no one talks about the high physician salaries. Why do surgeons make near a million in the US while they make $250K in Canada?

The artificial supply limitation should end.

like

General consensus: Should national elections be national holidays?

like

Folks I'm really sad - like, REALLY sad. Can we all just have ONE thread where we come together and agree that there is no justification for the people who murdered Brian Sicknick?

Can we not just accept that there is no excuse for a crowd of people collectively killing a Capitol Police Officer?

Please?

like

Is any USCIS processing center known to be not good for h1b? Not processing time wise but like lot of rejections and stuff

like

Hope y’all have had a good week!

card text:
I want to thank myself for ______.

Post Photo
like

Opening for CIEC for senior data engineer.

Post Photo

Hi All,

I am currently surving notice period and willing to get new oppotunities.

Please refer me in your organisations if the below skillset matches up.

Yoe - 7years
Skillset - Selenium, TestNG, Maven, Git, Rest Assured, Postman, Jenkins, Aws, Java programming, Linux, Sql

Location preference - Noida/Gurgoan/NCR

Thanks in Advance

like

Any star alliance status match delta platinum?

like

Can anyone refer to Cognizant ? Found some Salesforce roles I’m interested in

funnylike

Hey, any Meta PgMs from Product & Service Operation team? I wanted to ask few questions that can help me prepare. You can DM me also. I'd appreciate any help. Thanks!

like

With product design questions, I struggle to identify user groups. Once I do everything starts flowing and I’m confident. But the initial identification of user groups is something I find challenging. What’s your go-to way of doing this? For example, the question “design a podcasting app for truck drivers.” What types of truck drivers can I select so that I can prioritize a user group to focus on and begin identification of pain points and solutions?

like

I am so sick and fed up with some of the older clients at my job. I know it's my responsibility to take care of them, but they're just so sexist sometimes.

like

IEP, 504, and those without internet will return in-person next week while rest of students remain remote. Regular Ed teachers may have students (mild Learning Disabled kiddos) in their room while teaching. They are saying it’s a liability issue if they have one student in the room with them, even though teaching other via Zoom. Thoughts? Anyone else experiencing this?

like

Hi all,

I have recently moved to Pune. I am looking for 2 BHKs. If anyone has any contacts or know good places (areas) to stay, can you please share with me. Thanks!

Hey Folks ,

Can you help me understand the PF deductions in Coforge CTC, Is it just the employers contribution ? And employees share will be deducted from Gross Monthly Salary?
Also about LTA , Can i opt out of it and get it as taxable amount?

Thanks in Advance 🙂

like

Looking to get into SaaS sales but my experience is in construction and fine furniture (I was a sales manager and was able to lead my team of 4 people to consistently hit 450k monthly targets). I did that for almost 2 years before making the switch. I miss sales, though. Does anyone have any connections to companies looking? I have also considered a sales analyst role considering that I am moderately versed in Salesforce and have worked both the customer facing and sales generating side. TIA!

like

Which is the best automation tool to learn right now?

like

Additional Posts in Accounting

Who's sending these freaking emails?

like

Anyone done the Netsuite Solutions Consultant Academy. Got contacted by an Oracle recruiter today about it. Seems really good but would like to hear from others first.

like

Seriously! A coworker is talking about her degree in history and she wrote her senior thesis on June Cleaver. How does she work at a B4? Of course, her Dad was the Partner's son's HS football coach.

like

With as miserable you all sound I am surprised there's not more suicides or workplace violence.

like

Some of these recruiting salary offers are offensive.

like

I'll probably get shit for this. But please explain to me the purpose of letting women off the elevator first. Half of the time it's ridiculously inconvenient.

like

You ever get so sick of prepping for a walk through you just say fuck it and wing it? I mean really, the pressure should be on the client to talk about the process, not on us 🙀

like

Anyone have an idea of how long it takes for the background check to clear at KPMG? Also, do they send you an email or something to let you know it’s done?

likehelpful

Any advice on keeping my marriage healthy during busy season? Seems like this time of year is hard both at work and at home.

like

There's a ton of self help and leadership books out there to help people in their careers. If there was one that was written front the lense of a public accounting, would you read it?

likehelpful

Can this week please just end?

likefunny

I know it's been asked before, but thoughts on the Siegfried Group? They seems to be recruiting hard nowadays.

like

Does anyone else feel Monday closing in?

like

How many vacation days/sick days does Deloitte senior associate have? Deloitte

like

Am I spelling my name right? Formatting tips appreciated. PwC OP, B.S, M.S., CPA, CFA (level 1 candidate), CMA, CFE, CISA, GOD

funnylike

That fine moment when the partner on an engagement doesn't know what the client's business does or how many reports we have to issue (and he has to sign). Good thing filing got pushed back.

like

Buyout lease or buy new? Leased a 2014 Camry for 2 yrs. Has 20k miles on it, would be $15k to buy 4.99%, dealer says worth $13k. 2017 Camry: lease-$162/mth w/2500 down or buy $320/mth w/4000 down, 0%

like

26 y/o JD, CPA, CFP --- what are my odds landing a career with the FBI?

like

So I'm not a top performer. Definitley not the smartest guy at big 4. But some of the questions I get from very experienced seniors are just so basic.

like

The partner in charge of my office had a nearly hour long conversation Tuesday with our new hire, behind closed doors. I didn’t hear yelling, but the bits I heard weren’t good. Will he be fired?

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

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

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