When Is The Best Time To Leave The BIG 4 Firms? BIG 4 Exit Opportunities (PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, EY)

[@JamesAlberts]

BIG 4 Ready community waitlist 👉🏻 www.big4ready.com BIG 4 Exit Opportunities Cheat Sheet 👉🏻 bit.ly/3lgQmtW

[@parulspall7865]

Hi. Kindly reply to my emails. I made the full payment.

[@theepicologist8811]

Worked at Deloitte straight outa Oxford almost 13 years ago! How time flies! Grateful to have gotten the ACA within 3 years and called it quits. In Doha atm working as CFO - within the education village - working for a university and loving it! The perks are beyond comforting + managed to squeeze in a few World Cup games for free on the house 😂.

[@PhilosophyLines]

The argument I’ve heard for staying in practice (practise?) is that industry is a dead end and it’s harder to get promoted whereas practice has clear promotion structure. Those numbers don’t necessarily support that but thoughts?

[@JamesAlberts]

It's a common thing to hear; however not entirely true. Progression in industry can be slower and you do have to be more proactive. If you at the data of those in top finance positions (take FTSE 100 CFOs); none of them have joined in that position directly from their BIG 4 position. They've all moved into industry and worked their way up.

[@timk2447]

The thing about industry is that you have to either keep switching companies or leveraging offers to bargain for something better. But the foundations of accounting, the training, and self confidence you get in big 4 are irreplaceable in some ways.

[@seanburns6467]

Can you share the research study you referenced. I can’t find it online

[@skad2485]

Hey James, thanks for the informative video! What do you think about leaving after completing your exams but not sticking around for the full 3 years (leaving a few months before)?

[@CorporatePantsula]

The audio is a bit awkward. Only the left ear is audible. Ima try ease into it though….

[@JamesAlberts]

Yeah, sorry about that mate. Not sure what happened to the audio mix!

[@BassFraud]

Curious what are the statistical trends for the same points you’ve mentioned but for those in Consulting working at Big4 😊

[@garymasterson]

Would love to hear your thoughts on this situation: Non Big 4 offering CA/CTA and Big 4 offering ATT/CTA. Is the qualification more important than the Big 4 name? Tax is the department in both job offers. Thanks for any input.

[@kimberlymayer3991]

so calm and relaxing song rap out

[@martamontreal9760]

I wonder if someone has experience with Big4 transfers between different countries. A few years ago, i was working in Deloitte PL and HR wasn't able to help due to work permit. I succeeded the job opportunity, but it took me a several years to build the CV with experience in the other country. In the future I'd like to go back to Europe and please share with me your thoughts. Thank you

[@JamesAlberts]

You should sign-up to the BIG 4 Ready community (www.big4ready.com), there's loads of people in there with international secondment experience that can help share their experience!

[@cynthiaarnold7881]

really amazing and awesome

[@DanielSquires]

Please can you talk about audit / M&A corporate finance to Investment Banking

[@carolduncan8387]

tremendous and amazing

[@Clove_Parma]

Hey James, from your perspective, how much would this also bear out in big 4 consulting in your view?

[@callumweir3859]

Do you think taking the CFA level 1 after completing ACA is worth it for long term career prospects/earnings?

[@JamesAlberts]

All depends on your career ambitions - if you want a future career related to the CFA definitely!

[@Charlie0311]

Hey, an interesting idea to think about! I'm looking at joining a finance graduate scheme but I'm unsure about something. I've seen a NatWest grad scheme in London that supports an accounting qualification and it pays £37000 in the first year, however Im also interested in the big 4. Which one should I join? The NatWest scheme pays more than the big 4 grad scheme, but it has less 'prestige' and probably worse career prospects. Would love to hear your thoughts on this 👍👍👍

[@JamesAlberts]

Do you know anymore information about how you progress in the first 3/5 years on the NatWest scheme?

[@Charlie0311]

@@JamesAlberts After 3 years you qualify and then I'm not sure how long it takes to become a manager. Probably slightly longer than the big 4🤷

[@PapaSeed]

@@Charlie0311 Money isn't everything, just keep that in mind. Tough choice tbh, I'd pray for wisdom

[@Charlie0311]

@@PapaSeed Of course money isn't everything, that's why I'm considering both. It's just a case of, is better exit opportunities worth £7k less?

[@PapaSeed]

@@Charlie0311 tbh I applied to NatWest just was rejected. I think the NatWest one might be more limiting in terms of future prospects, hence the high salary to retain staff. (My thoughts)

[@callumweir3859]

helpful content again, thanks James

[@JamesAlberts]

My pleasure!

[@I_can_hear_you_not]

👍🏻

[@laurajames8612]

something extremely informed

[@jimbojimbo6873]

Looking lean af mate

[@JamesAlberts]

Haha, when I recorded this video I lost a huge amount of weight 10kg-ish. Managed to put it back on as muscle now 💪🏻