waridi wrote:Hi good people!
Please help me make this critical decision.
I have received a job offer from each of these 2 big 4 audit firms as an associate.
What are the pros and cons of each? Anyone with previous experience Associate experience in either?
I don't have a good answer for your question in its current form. However, here are a few points you might want to consider - if you haven't already.
The soundness of your decision is as good as the alternatives at hand. So maybe you want to re-frame the problem. What do you want? Money? Experience? Some time to spare after work? What's most important to you?
Secondly, expand your search space. What jobs are you qualified to do? Which among them would you most enjoy? Sometimes the one you'd most enjoy isn't the best paying in the beginning, but it often provides the most satisfaction in the end. That has been my experience.
PS: I think these so called Big Four audit firms are overrated. I think they pay less per unit of work done than alternative employers out there. If you do not like the job, don't take it because of the money. You will ultimately make more by focusing on what you are passionate about. If you do go there because you absolutely need the money, have a clear exit strategy in mind - which is not easy when you are working your butt off day and night.
Learn first to treat your time as you would your money, then treat your money as you do your time.