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Travel

What is your average length of overnight travel for audit? Also how is this compared to consulting? What would you say is the percentage of time you are at 'out of town' clients?

Audit: There a lot of factors that play a role in determining this. Some people never travel out of state, some people travel 5-6 months a year. Some people have 1-2 clients that involve traveling 2-3 weeks a year. Your position also plays a role in determining how much you travel.
So if you're a staff associate, and you are on a client with a facility in Nebraska, you'd have to be with the team the whole time. If you're a manager and above, you'll go to Nebraska for 2-3 days tops. You could ask to get put on jobs that require travel, and if you have personal commitments at home (baby,etc.), you can ask to get put on clients where you don't have to travel much. Your request will not always be heeded, but the firms will try.

Consulting: Buy a carry-on, toiletries kit, etc. etc. because you will be traveling. The average consultant will travel for six months a year.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Regarding travelling for consultants, does this only apply to the US?

I'm going to start as a consultant in a big 4 next year in Australia, which only has a few major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane).
Anonymous said…
I'm a consultant for an accounting firm and I travel nearly 100%. Its fine if your single and unattached. I travel to some pretty cool places unlike a lot of the audit folks who go to backwards woods USA.
Anonymous said…
Hi, I just wanted to say thank you for giving the world an insight into audit. I am a student, and I had been attending first year programs by a couple of big 4 accounting firms in Aus. This blog gave me real perspective into the service line, and when I was offered to attend a recruitment day today, I was able to ask relevant questions, because I had become so interested in this blog.

Ironically, despite some of the negatives that have been described, it still did not phase me to apply for Assurance [audit], and I was offered a position for the summer vacation of 2011/12.

So yeh, just writing this, because I wanted to let you know that you've inspired me into learning more about this line, and possibly working in it during my life! All this from simply being curious about audit when I heard it was about numbers while tax had a lot of reading, and I was curious to find out more, so I typed it in google and found this blog. Don't call me crazy!
Anonymous said…
What can you tell us about Forensic Accounting within the big 4 (or other firms). What have you heard about the average workday/travel/any kind of information on it? Ive read a few articles stating that the big 4 are expanding into forensics
Anonymous said…
How easy/difficult is it to go from working in Audit at a big 4 firm to working for a P/E firm or to get into trading. Is this even possible? Would the easiest way to accomplish this be going into a fund accounting position and eventually leading into a different role?
Anonymous said…
Can you give some advice to people about to start in a big 4? What are some of the stuff that will help you stand out and possibly get you faster promotions? Also, what should be avoided?

Also, can you comment a bit on the culture of the big 4s? I heard being a jock & drinking a lot is very imporant, especially in the first few years. Is this true? and what happens if the person's not a sports person or doesn't like to drink alot?
notfordisplay said…
Thanks for the comments everyone. Sorry for the lack of posts. Been busy at work
Anonymous said…
Yes, I find a good job from here. I am searching by Aged care jobs Sydney and find some great site. This is one of this. You should visit this site to find a perfect job for you in Australia. Thanks everybody.

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