Transferred Big 4 Audit -> Valuations within 8 months Q&A

Thanks for doing this.

I'm a Canadian citizen attending a US college and graduating this summer. I don't have anything lined up yet post-graduation. I wanted to ask if I still have time to get into the recruitment process for either Audit or Valuations, and also if studying at a US college instead of in Canada would be a barrier in any way?

Canada Sucks

What are the most likely exits from valuation? How possible is it to go to MM PE/MM HF in the FO side?

Thanks for doing this. I have two questions:

1) What made you stand out from the other auditors for the Val the position?

2) What steps did you take with your firm to let them know you were interested in the lateral transfer?

Thanks

Great post.

I am in Toronto and I am wondering about the off-cycle hiring for auditors at Big 4. I am a 4th year accounting student from a non-target which makes the off-cycle even harder. I had internships at big banks but not front office roles - and it's hard for me to get into the front office for the time being. So I am planning to start with big 4 and leverage to transaction services/advisory.

What recommendations would you give to me?

Thanks a lot!

I also am doing some audit for a big 4 starting in July. However, I really wanna get more in banking... Any idea on how to transition in? I've spoke to a few BBs and they said to work for a year then leverage my position over. They weren't exactly clear on HOW any ideas? I have a few.

Wow, i just made a post about a similar goal of mine. I am currently in Internal Audit and also didnt go to finance because of the same reasons and have the same goal of transferring into Transaction Advisory Services.

I need the full help. I have been working for around 1.5 years (Internal Audit at a F100 firm) now and want to make the switch. How do i prepare myself to look like a great candidate considering my undergrad and masters were both in Accounting. What concepts and ides should i have down. Also how are candidates such as myself viewed?

Type as much as you can and as much as you are willing to share, i need it all.

thanks.

To those asking how to apply for a Big 4 audit position off cycle, just apply outside of your school's recruiting system. The audit practices at Big 4 firms will take almost any warm body they can get their hands on. Half of their workforce is composed of what are essentially indentured servants in foreigners working solely for their green cards (which is like an 8 year process for an auditor, since in order to obtain your green card, you have to show that you possess specialized skills necessary for a position that no ordinary American citizen could otherwise fill...this is hard to do when a high schooler could do the same job as a first-year auditor).

Not to be a dick...a few positives of Big 4 audit are: 1) job security (it's almost impossible to get fired), 2) networking, and 3) some above average exit opps for those who are especially proactive (like the OP, for example).

If you want to do banking. I'd HIGHLY recommend not trying to do audit -> banking directly. You have almost no transferable skills from audit.

You should look to get into the valuation of FDD/TS practices of the big 4 if you want an easier and more popular route.

FWIW, I did audit internship - > TS offer -> non-public accounting valuation (think H&L, D&P, etc.) and think I'll have a good shot at banking if I chose to go down that path.

What are the most common exit opps you see from people that have worked in your FA valuation department? (This question was already asked above, but you only answered their second question).