Returning again with another edition of accounting career therapy, a recruit has two offers – one from Deloitte, one from KPMG. Rather than speak to their friends, family or flip a coin, they emailed us.
Need help making your next career move? Been taking a beating at work and need inspired? Need help deciding if you’re too hot for accounting? Send us your query (and pictures) to advice@goingconcern.com and we’ll be happy to help/judge.
I have an offer from Deloitte and KPMG. Where I reside, the local Deloitte is almost twice as large than the local KPMG, but is also known to work longer hours. Of course, rankings will say that Deloitte is better than KPMG and seemingly pays more according to my research done on this very site. I don’t want to seem shallow, but I am at the moment. Should I go for the money/prestigious name or the shorter hours?
On a side note, I’m honestly only looking to a 5- to 6-year plan in public accounting (hopefully to make manager). With that in mind, what route would you take between Deloitte and KPMG?
Ahhh, the firm versus firm debate. One of the oldest and stupidest to be had. But it’s fun, so let’s indulge, shall we?
Regardless of the back and forth you might read in the comments, judging the firms collectively is a waste of time. There are “good offices” and “bad offices” at each firm. How you choose to define “good” and “bad” is up to you but it sounds like you’ve painted yourself into a corner, saying “Big prestigious firm = good,” “Money = good” and “Long working hours = bad.” Choosing a firm based on this perception is futile exercise. The difference in money won’t be life changing and “shorter hours” probably won’t feel shorter. Trust us.
And you know who agrees with us? DWB.
Clearly in this situation, the KPMG recruiters did a better job managing (i.e. bullshitting) the “long hours” argument. Long hours are a simple fact of life. Unless you want to work at the Post Office, you’ll be hard pressed to find 9a-6p. Also, remember that regardless of where you start your career you will find yourself at the bottom of the food chain. Welcome to the Big 4, kid.
Try this on for size – forget money, prestige and long hours. What about – gasp – choosing the firm that seems like the best fit for you? Did you like the Deloitte people or were they snooty two-shoes? Did the KPMG people seem like a fun bunch or were they all work and no play, thus a bunch of dull mofos? You’re going to have to work with these people EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. And many nights. And weekends. Do you want to be around people that you think you’ll enjoy working with or that you’ll consider suffocating with pillow or poisoning their late-night food?
With that in mind, make your choice. Hell, maybe it won’t be either firm but forget about money, perception and hours. If that’s your measuring stick for choosing a firm, then you may have bigger issues on your hands.
“Reply and let me know your thoughts.”??? for real? I would have replied with a big F-U.
High stress profession, OCD on details nothing can ever be simple always complicated and re repeat and re prove abs re create transactions that are meaningless. People are miserable to work with, it’s all competition and corporate shill personalities.
Or business is good and Deloitte needs to increase hiring.
Deloitte leaders need to take some leadership courses. They don’t promote or push out people and have a succession issues so then they freak out and hire from their IJV office in India but then they realize those hires don’t have the market connections in North America…
It’s a joke they keep schilling that culture will help them beat competition but without a hard look at how leaders treat junior staff what do you expect? You can’t hire the best people with terrible pay. I don’t know why anyone woould stay at Deloitte long there’s no up side, miniscule bonus if that, and terrible pay. Get the name and get the f** out.
You are 100% They cut too deep, and now they have major shortages across all the service lines. From what I hear, there will be another wave of departures coming very soon. I just spoke to couple of friends that work for one of their most profitable and fastest growing groups (Cyber Risk Services/Cyber Security) and the rumor is that the highly anticipated raises and bonuses next month will be more than underwhelming for that group. If true, this is a huge opportunity for their competitors or any organization looking for cyber security talent as they are one of the top in that area. Time to make some money off of referrals:)))
I heard about the “underwhelming” bonuses/raises too. I work in the Advisory group and I think it’s across the entire group not just the Cyber Risk Services. Folks were expecting significant compensation as the dates for the raises/bonuses were even shifted (from September to June) to prevent people from leaving, but if they are nowhere near as expected there will be mass departures as people are overworked and getting burnt out. Hope it’s just rumors as otherwise I’ll be one of those joining the mass departures.
They are doing this to kick people off of unemployment. if they offer an ex-employee collecting UI a position and it’s turned down, that person is no longer eligible for UI. And that helps the employers UI rating.
That’s not have unemployment insurance works.
Deloitte has never taken care of his employees concern…it’s sad to see such a big company doesn’t have ethics and still growing big.
Toilet: Flush it
Glad to be out of there. Still old boys network