Big 4 Audit -> TAS/FDD -> PE Advice?

Hey filthy animals,

I was just curious if anyone on here has recently gone through the Big 4 Audit -> TAS/FDD -> PE route and if they have any advice to share? Is this route a possibility or is it far fetched to think that an accountant can move into the generalist-esq finance field of PE? Just trying to get some perspectives as I just finished getting my CPA and am recruiting for TAS/FDD roles. Any and all opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

6 Comments
 

Though possible (as I've seen a number of threads about this every so often), switching lines of service from audit to TAS or anything more advisory-like is notoriously difficult because: A) fuck audit so everyone wants to leave it B) because of point A, attrition is terrible and big 4 firms try to keep all the auditors they can get C) in my opinion, the amount of inter-office networking you'd need to do this would be better spent transitioning into a more traditional finance job outside of big 4 D) the problems of people's perception of you being an auditor/accountant, despite having a desire and eventually a skillset better suited for finance

Just my 0.02.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 
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I am at a non-Big 4 accounting firm in valuations and @BubbaBanker" is correct. I think the politics and attempts to retain talent are even worse in Big 4 than at my firm at it is still difficult at my firm. We are trying to get someone from tax to come over to my team and they won't let them go because they are their "rock star". So you do too well they don't want you to leave and if you don't do well enough you won't get to transfer to consulting, a true catch-22. I would say that you should make the effort to transfer within your firm but it should be easier to get to TAS at a different firm (especially going from Big 4 to non-Big 4) or getting a different finance job. I will say that if you are set on PE then that finance job needs to be limited to TAS or IB.

Array
 
"BobTheBaker" We are trying to get someone from tax to come over to my team and they won't let them go because they are their "rock star". So you do too well they don't want you to leave and if you don't do well enough you won't get to transfer to consulting, a true catch-22.

This is the biggest issue I forgot to mention. It's also really important at the pre-senior associate stage. If you are going to make a jump, do it before promotion to senior since that seems to be the confluence of the shit river from managers and dumbass questions from associates, but then again every immediate mgmt position is going to be like that I assume. GL.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 

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Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.

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