Is there ever a scenario where Big Four accounting can be better than investment banking? - Consensus?

Hello everyone,

To keep the story short, my parents are CPAs. My mother worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers for 17 years and finished as a director. I was raised on the idea that public accounting was a steady solid career path, and "Big Four" accounting with the pinnacle of it. As I look more and more, I feel like investment banking is much more challenging, engaging, prestigious, and deliver's higher pay. I thought working the Big Four was the best path, but I'm learning that this may not be as unanimous.

What is the consensus out here? For all of these listed factors...

Can someone play a devils advocate for both an investment banking and a public accounting career.

Being critical about things is welcomed.

2 Comments
 

The following website will give you breakdowns in terms of Career/Compensation/Lifestyle: http://big4bound.com/

Fate is malleable, but then, so is iron. The trick is in applying the right kind of pressure, and in both cases, it's easier in theory than it is in practice.
 

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