Mid-Size firms boast a lengthy resume of reasons why they continue to be among the industry leaders in employee satisfaction. In fact, in a survey performed in 2013 by Vault.com, PwC was the only “Big Four” firm to rank in the Top 20 in terms of employee satisfaction, finishing at 17th. Are you trying to decide between a mid-sized firm and one of the Big Four? Here are three important considerations to factor into your decision making process.
Many companies preach that their work/life balance is “the best”, and is superior to others. In reality, each company likely has their own definition of what makes a great work/life balance. The general consensus among mid-size firms is that if you work hard, you will be rewarded with the desired level of work/life balance. Mid-sized firms typically focus on private companies who don’t have as many strict reporting deadlines, allowing for more flexibility and improved work/life balance.
In addition, mid-size firm employees are able to see a file from start to finish, including tax work. This greatly aids in the development of the staff, as they do not get boxed into one or few sections of a file. Staff are able to act as financial advisors to clients, because they see the whole big picture of the company, and the direction in which the company is going. This is not possible at larger clients, where there is little room to add value to the business as a whole.
Another key factor in CPA development includes the personalized approach to studying and mentoring. Mid-size firms often provide CFE writers with a mentor in order to track progress, and ensure that all areas of weakness are addressed early enough to be able to tackle them by the time the exam comes. This leads to an overall high success rate amongst many mid-size firm CPA candidates.
Do your research—a mid-size firm may very well be the perfect place for you.
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