Skip to main content

vacation days big 4

What are common times to take a week off? Christmas to New Years? Is it frowned upon to take days off during busy season?

How do vacation days work at Big 4 firms? Do people (in particular first years) tend to use up all their days, or is there an unspoken thing where you only take them when you really need them?

Many big 4 employees take their vacation in the summer time, with a week off between Christmas and New Years. The only unspoken rule is that you do not take any vacation days during busy season (jan-march/april time frame). Many individuals use up most of their days, and sometimes lose a few days but you can always get around this by planning ahead of time. The other unspoken rule is to take a day off after you've been scheduled on a client. So try taking your days off during open times in your schedules. If your schedule is packed and you run the risk of losing your days off, it is totally okay to go to scheduling and let them know, and they usually will do everything they can to let you take the days off, since it is legally not a good thing for the big 4 firms to force you not to take earned time off.

Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
Just wanted to say that I recently discovered your blog during my internship at a Big 4, and that it has provided answers to many questions that I didn't feel comfortable asking my co-workers. so, for that, thank you!!

I do have two questions that hopefully you won't mind answering... After interning in tax, I'm not sure if a career in the Big 4, or even accounting, is right for me. I was wondering what career opportunities there are in tax after maybe 2 or 3 years at a Big 4 firm?
Also, is a career in consulting worth pursuing instead of audit or tax?
I feel like consulting can be a gateway to many other career opportunities, but what's appealing about audit/tax is that there is greater job stability. If I were to consider consulting I was thinking Deloitte would be my best bet since their consulting practice is more established.

Thank you!
August 16, 2011 at 1:55 PM
Anonymous said…
What's your advice to a senior in college going to a networking event - something like a meet the firm-type of gathering. What's really something you see that is a big plus or a big turnoff?
August 16, 2011 at 9:18 PM
still_kidz said…
Wow! I really like your blog =)
I'm a newbie hehe.. I've been one year in big four.. Still have to studying... more and more hehe.. But i really like this job, although it can sometimes feel stress.. haha.. greeting From Newbie Bigfour in Indonesia ^^
Thx for sharing.. I tag this blog as my fav in my laptop hehe
August 17, 2011 at 12:49 AM
Amelie said…
I'm an accounting student and found your blog incredibly interesting.
Keep up the good work!
August 22, 2011 at 1:02 PM
Anonymous said…
I love your blog. I can relate big time. Hahaha. Maybe I have same experience or even worst because I am working in Asia. Our OT hrs is until 2am next day. Need to come back at 8:30 hehehe. How do I sleep? Sleep while typing and having my powernap during lunch.

can I ask your help.
I have an ongoing application process in one of the big 4s. Can I ask you what is the salary range for 2nd year senior? I really need this info to negotiate my salary. Please message me at makjl29@yahoo.com Thanks a lot.
September 18, 2011 at 10:24 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ADP/Payroll

Just realized that the very payroll/adp reports we all enjoyed looking at in order to see how much our client contacts made, now seem to piss me off. Especially when your main contact, who couldn't tell a debit from a credit, makes significantly more than you, and leaves at 5. It's almost guaranteed to get you in a foul mood and yak with your team about the ridiculous salaries that certain employees get when compared to yours.
36 comments
Read more

should you choose to audit financial services?

I'm trying to decide whether to audit financial services companies or non-financial services companies. What would you say are the pros and cons of either industries? Do individuals who choose non-FS have less career mobility within the firm or if they decide not to stay with the B4 after a few years? Really depends on what you'd like to do after (unless you really love auditing). If you want to a controller,etc. at a p/e firm or a hedge fund down the road, you'd want to go into financial services. The pay won't be too bad, especially if you get a share of the insane bonuses they dole out. If you want to audit industries with tangible products and want to get a better understanding of the operations of such businesses, then other industries are the way to go.In terms of mobility outside the firm, auditing other industries is the way to go since you have plenty of options when you exit the audit world. For example, in 2008, after Lehman collapsed, it was incredibly hard ...
49 comments
Read more