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Depends on long term career path you want and what brand you’d have at a commercial bank. I’d honestly say big 4 if it’s a small regional bank. The work sucks but the brand is respected and you’re way more likely to be able to lateral from PwC or Deloitte to a decent front office job than you are from CIT or BBVA or First Horizon or Webster Bank or Huntington etc

 

Commercial banking is a better career path and it's not even close. 

1) Compensation: You will reach 6-digits in commercial banking in ~3ish and starting salary is ~$20k-$30k more than Big 4 Audit. You won't reach 6 digits until manager at a Big 4.

2) Work hours: You will have a more manageable 9-5 schedule in commercial banking and Big 4 audit can get very busy during "Busy Season" which is quarterly.  

3) Designation: If you want a "designation", use the hours you would have used to study for the CFE in audit to study for the CFA for commercial banking. CFA > CPA in regards to receiving a certification

4) Exit opportunities: With commercial banking you can enter various higher paid finance roles (Credit roles, corporate banking, etc.) as opposed to accounting where roles tend to mainly revolve around accounting

 

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