To this point, much of what I have shared with you has been about the “Big 4” Public Accounting firms. With the sheer size and importance of these firms, I think that any discussion of careers in Accounting simply needs to start with these 4 firms. Admittedly, on a personal level, I also happen to know a little bit more about the Big 4 than other firms. However, I would be remiss in leaving out the mid-level firms that populate the landscape of Public Accounting.
Firms such as McGladrey, Crowe, Grant Thornton, and BDO all command respect from those in the Accounting profession. These are firms that offer most of the same services that the Big 4 do, but on a smaller scale. They typically have offices in most large cities, and attempt to hire from the same schools the Big 4 targets. So should you, as an undergraduate accounting major, consider working for these mid-level firms? Absolutely. Crowe can sell you on the idea that they have a more personal relationship with their coworkers because of their smaller offices. And Grant Thornton might show you how they carry a number of large clients, making them a serious competitor in the market to the Big 4. At the end of the day, comfort is crucial in determining a place to start a career. The ‘second tier’ of public accounting firms should be on your list of potential employers, if for no other reason than doing your due diligence.
-B
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