How to move from a regional accounting firm to Big 4
Switching to a major accounting firm after taking an initial offer low on your list is often hindered by missing structural support, such as lacking a pre-approved CPA program. Even with strong grades and work experience, candidates struggle to establish direct recruiter contacts or referrals, making it difficult to find a clear pivot route into a Big 4 associate role.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Starting at a regional firm to gain initial experience and complete a busy season before attempting to pivot
- 2Attending networking events and applying directly to entry-level job postings at larger firms.
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“The problem is, the company doesn’t have a pre-approved CPA program.”source ↗
“Would it be hard for me to pivot to a bigger firm, if I have some work experience as well as good grades in school?”source ↗
“What is the best route for me to get into big 4 for tax as an associate.”source ↗
“Can anyone refer me or introduce me to a EY, PWC or Deloitte recruiter?”source ↗
“The first offer I got was actually pretty low on my list.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4What changes when moving from a startup to a big company?
- 2What happens to bonuses and resumes when your company gets bought out?
- 8How do you transition out of a generalist IT management role?
- 11How to switch careers out of academia
- 8How to transition from corporate to nonprofit work
- 10Should I take an internal job transfer for more pay?