| Accounting is a very promising field to pursue with high | | | | different career paths. Less travel is an advantage |
| wages, opportunities to advance, and stability. When | | | | also considered by many recent grads due to not |
| it is time for college students to choose which firm | | | | having cliental from all over the work. Disadvantages |
| they want to do an internship it can be very stressful | | | | of private accounting include: less pay, less networking, |
| with all the firms they can choose from. There are | | | | and less experience. |
| many options like: public, private, or governmental | | | | After college graduates have decided if they want to |
| accounting; small, mid-size, or large firms; as well as | | | | work for a public or private accounting firm, they need |
| what they want to focus on like audit, tax, or | | | | to decide what size company they would like to work |
| consulting. Many college students do not take the | | | | for. Large accounting firms, such as "The Big 4", |
| time to think about what type of company they want | | | | include: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and Touche, |
| to intern for because they are not knowledgeable in | | | | KPMG, and Ernst & Young. Small accounting |
| what each category has to offer. Choosing an | | | | firms are the mom and pop companies that are found |
| internship is very important because most likely that | | | | locally. The advantages of interning and working at a |
| internship will land you a job right out of college. | | | | small accounting firm are: better relationships with |
| As tax season and summer are approaching, | | | | customers, more hands on experience, and a more |
| accounting firms are in the process of reviewing and | | | | personalized setting. Having a smaller cliental base |
| interviewing for tax internships and summer | | | | gives the employees a chance to get to know their |
| internships. With that being said, it is important for | | | | customers more, be more compantionate, build a |
| college students to know the advantages and | | | | better relationship on top of just business, and make |
| disadvantages in public and private accounting as well | | | | each customer's request special. If an employee is a |
| as deciding what size firm would work best for | | | | full time recent graduate or part-time intern a smaller |
| them. Every college student is different and | | | | firm allows more opportunities for hands on |
| depending on their personality, knowledge, and work | | | | experience with more challenging work beyond |
| ethics their decision will be different. This article | | | | entry-level. This is because employers have more |
| contains information that is helpful when choosing an | | | | time to devote to looking after employees, educating |
| accounting firm that is right for you. | | | | them, and correcting any mistakes. Smaller firms also |
| The first major decision is the one between public and | | | | offer a more personalized experience because they |
| private accounting. Public accounting is accounting | | | | are not as many employees so employers can really |
| work that a company performs for another | | | | take the time to get to know everyone and build a |
| company. Private accounting is accounting work that | | | | relationship with each and every employee. |
| is done for your own company. Public accounting is | | | | Disadvantages to working at smaller firms include: little |
| the most popular field for many college students to | | | | room to grow, less opportunities to network, and |
| enter. There are many advantages for working for a | | | | lower salaries. Large accounting firms have many |
| public accounting company such as: high salaries, great | | | | advantages including: the fame, the excellent training, |
| experience, and a greater chance for advancement. | | | | and all of the networking opportunities. Because large |
| According to the 2008 Salary Guide, recent college | | | | accounting firms have the time and money, they can |
| graduates can expect to make anywhere from | | | | afford in-house courses for training. Networking is |
| 41,500-51,000 dollars a year at a mid-sized public | | | | another big advantage to working for a large |
| accounting firm. The experience you receive at public | | | | accounting firm because these companies have clients |
| accounting firms is a great resume enhancer and | | | | from around the world. One of the last advantages |
| highly respected by many types of employers. With | | | | of working for a large firm is the reputation and |
| that being said, it is very common for young | | | | respect that employees receive from the outside |
| employees with less experience to get a more | | | | world when they say they are working for a Big 4 |
| qualified job elsewhere with experience in a public | | | | company as well as the respect they will get from |
| accounting firm as opposed to a more qualified | | | | other companies when they see that experience on |
| applicant who does not have that type of | | | | their resume. Disadvantages of working for alarge |
| experience. Working for a public accounting firm | | | | firm include: feeling like a small fish in a big sea, little |
| gives employees the opportunity to advance and | | | | respect for entry-level or internship employees, and the |
| grow in their department. There are many | | | | stressfull work envionment. |
| opportunities for promotions and within six to eight | | | | In the next couple of months, college students will be |
| years a college graduate could be a partner within the | | | | making a decision for which accounting firm they |
| company. Disadvantages of public accounting include | | | | would like to do their internship or work for. There is |
| long hours, hard work, and a lot of stress (especially | | | | a type and size of firm for all types of personalities, |
| around tax season!). | | | | knowledge, and work ethic whether it is public or |
| The accounting field also offers the chance to work | | | | private accounting or a small or large firm. There is |
| for a private accounting firm. The major advantage | | | | no right or wrong decision when choosing a firm, it is all |
| of private accounting is not experiencing the "public | | | | about preference and what feels right to you. The |
| accounting burnout" and the ability to balance your | | | | most important thing about making a decision is that |
| work life and home life. Private accounting also gives | | | | you need to be happy. |
| many opportunities for new employees to experience | | | | |