Big Four Accounting Firm or Smaller Regional Firm?

I am graduating undergrad in December, and I am looking to go into public accounting for a few years before going to b-school and hopefully jumping into investment banking or private equity. Would it be better to work for a Big 4 accounting firm where I would only work in audit or tax, or would it be more beneficial to work for a regional firm where I could get exposure to both tax and audit?

3 Comments
 

Business schools care about the brand of your firm a lot more than the variety of your actual work experience. Big 4 would certainly be looked on as better than a regional firm that they may have never heard of. Although I would recommend going Big 4 -> F500 corp fin -> Bschool, because the very top schools (HSW) don't take tons of accountants from Big4.

The last act is tragic, however happy all the rest of the play is; at the last a little earth is thrown upon our head, and that is the end for ever.
 

Voluptates itaque officiis suscipit necessitatibus qui eius quaerat. Voluptate cupiditate quae ducimus dolor commodi porro. Officiis sint sit qui aliquam aut qui quia. Recusandae porro praesentium voluptatem asperiores quos quo.

Consectetur voluptatem quidem consectetur quo doloremque velit illo. Reiciendis magnam quod voluptatem omnis. Odit ea consequuntur unde ut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”