How much to stay in Audit?

commenting on this to remember to come back to it later with more detailed info, but basically try to be in audit for as little as possible. It is insanely boring, which you'll find out soon enough. Of course there are people who've gone in and succeeded at becoming partner, but you'll meet a lot of ex-auditors (and probably already have) in a lot of other places.

EDIT: as promised, here's my updated response RSD Nasadsque

Answers to your questions:

• How much should I stay in Audit to learn accounting and Excel?

In Audit you’re generally not going to learn about to build models, mostly just some useful tips and tricks in Excel. For this instead, look up any of the online modeling courses or free resources.

• When do people in Audit usually reach their learning plateau?

Depends on what you mean by learning plateau, but generally you’ll learn about a certain industry kind based on the types of projects you get assigned to. This isn’t unlike a coverage group in IB in a way, but is generally a lot more fluid (you’ll get staffed on completely random industries). Since partners are the ones bringing in business, it will help getting close to them and good managers so that you can get staffed on better projects.

• What would be the difference between someone who does Audit for 6 months and someone who does it for 2 years?

Someone who does audit for 2 years will be a lot more depressed and resentful than someone who leaves audit earlier, ceteris paribus. Audit is definitely for some people, but not for everyone. Sometimes you’ll learn some interesting things, but generally it is mind-numbingly boring.

I have heard of audit -> IB but that is pretty rare and going to require some serious networking. However, I’d argue that audit could be useful for RX specifically (but I’ll let others correct me), not so much for M&A. What I’ve seen a lot of people do is transfer to Transaction Advisory Services or Financial Due Diligence (terms vary between each Big 4, but generally you’d be moving from the Audit line of service to Advisory). This is easier said than done, and my ex-auditor colleagues found it easier to get a whole new job than move internally since you need the blessing of your partner, a partner in advisory, and for there to be an open role. Getting the stars to align is annoying.

Try to pivot as soon as possible. I thought getting the experience could be good learning but getting your foot in the door is far more important (ex auditor). 

ASAP but the story to potential employers still works until you've completed your CPA / culmination of your grad contract (~3 yrs in europe / ~2 yrs in US)

correct i meant to add some question marks to the US portion of my sentence. In Europe its a 3 / 3.5 yr graduate program where you progress through your ACA exams while working 9 months a year and study complete your exams in the summer months.

Depends the value u place on having some degree of dignity 

LOL ya - compensation is proportionate