Big Four Senior Manager Exit opportunities

Most posts here are targeted toward Big Four staff, but I would love to hear from former Big Four senior managers:
1) When leaving the Big Four, how long did it take you to find a job?
2) What kind of work did you end up doing?

I am a newly promoted Big Four senior manager in Transaction Services (M&A) and am starting to feel super depressed about my exit opportunities.

I have always received top ratings and got early promoted to senior manager, but now I am having a tough time finding a job outside of the Big Four. I've been through final rounds of interviews with four well-known companies, but in the end, a different (usually internal) candidate is selected.

Any advice? I feel stuck.

8 Comments
 

Agreed with the above, would love to hear what jobs you're applying to. If it's Corp Dev I could see you getting beaten out by internal candidates with years of knowledge of their company, or IB/Consulting types looking for a better work-life balance. If it's FP&A I would be surprised to hear you having so much trouble as I was under the impression such a switch was common.

This is especially tough to hear for me personally...I went from B4 Audit -> internal corporate accounting, turning down an offer in TAS (non-B4, smaller firm), and have considered trying to make the move to TAS - my ultimate goal being an FP&A/Corp Dev position. Given your situation I'm wondering if TAS is a worthy exit opp from my position...

 

Agreed with the above, would love to hear what jobs you're applying to. If it's Corp Dev I could see you getting beaten out by internal candidates with years of knowledge of their company, or IB/Consulting types looking for a better work-life balance. If it's FP&A I would be surprised to hear you having so much trouble as I was under the impression such a switch was common.

This is especially tough to hear for me personally...I went from B4 Audit -> internal corporate accounting, turning down an offer in TAS (non-B4, smaller firm), and have considered trying to make the move to TAS - my ultimate goal being an FP&A/Corp Dev position. Given your situation I'm wondering if TAS is a worthy exit opp from my position...

 
Best Response

Below are the types of positions for which I have applied and the rejection feedback I've received. I have a good resume (top Big Four performer) and interview well, so not sure what I should be doing differently.

I'm always told that I was a close second choice, but still... feeling very bummed.

  1. Corporate Development Manager: "Sorry, we chose a candidate with an investment banking background." (Ok, makes sense. Corp dev is competitive; I get it.)
  2. FP&A Manager: "Sorry, we chose an internal candidate with more hands-on, FP&A experience."
  3. Start-up Controller: "Sorry, we chose someone with previous start-up experience."
  4. Corporate Accounting Manager: "Sorry, you don't seem to have any hands-on, month-end experience."

I have, however, been very successful with Technical Accounting type roles, but I just don't find those jobs to be interesting or rewarding.

From my experience, I would not recommend Big Four TAS to other people. The exit opportunities are totally unclear, and there will always be candidates that are better suited for any position that you want to apply for.

 

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