Big 4 Accounting Experience for Biz School
Hi,
I know there have been threads about this before, but there never was a clear answer from what I saw regarding how Big 4 accounting experience is viewed for business schools. Obviously, it won't be in the same galaxy as i-banking/MBB consulting in terms of prestige, but is the low number of accountants at top schools more a function of lack of demand (less people need MBAs, thus they don't apply and don't get accepted) or due to lack of credibility (its not as good experience as banking/consulting, so they don't get accepted).
There's a good chance that I'll have a shot at a Big 4 firm after graduating that could also be in a foreign country and not a US office (long story don't want to get into details). I was wondering how getting the CA (that country's equivalent to the CPA) + auditing experience + working in an international setting for 3-4 years may look for top US business schools. Ideally, after I am done graduating, I want to get into financial management, hence why I am pursuing an MBA, but I don't want to do an MBA from a second-tier.
There's a good chance the CA alone may push me over the edge for getting a executive position after getting position, and I'd mostly want the MBA to re-brand (I went to a non-target) and to get the target school network, so if I don't get into a top 10 MBA, I won't consider an MBA, but I want to make sure that its possible to get into good MBAs with only audit experience
I work at a Big4 and know a guy from my office who earned his CA and went to CBS. Mind you, this guy was fairly well qualified; top performer at the firm (made manager quite early), president of various student organisations at my school etc.
The reason most CA's don't pursue MBA's is firstly post-designation they land cushy, fairly well paying and stable (often boring) jobs. Secondly, from an educational standpoint, an MBA would teach you nothing extra beyond what you've already studied in undergrad business school and through earning a professional designation. Combine that with the first point and there really is no incentive to pursue one.
If you are committed to getting into M7, you've got to be a superstar on and off work. If you can prove that, you've got just as much a chance as anyone else.
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