What do I say when asked why I left the Big 4 after 1 year?

[autisticunemployedbitchparents]

I crashed out due to mental health concerns.
What I should say is:

1. I prefer the culture at a smaller firm bc there's more responsibility, faster growth and more personalised development/support
2. I would rather work at a smaller firm that's expanding than something more established like the Big 4 bc there's more room for innovation/agility
3. Greater variety of clients, in Big 4 you get stuck with one sector/type
4. You can see the whole picture of an audit

The truth? You had some health issues but you've now recovered and are seeking a better work life balance.

I think those things are fine.

It's not like you could say they work you to your bones and a small part of your soul dies every day you work there

Also remember that somewhere around 80% don't complete their training there because it is so horrendous.

I think all those points are perfectly valid. Many recruitment partners of the smaller firms will be able to identify with someone who doesn't want to be in the "big firm" culture and would prefer a smaller practice. You're not the first and won't be the last. Some of the partners will have done exactly what you're doing and would have started in Big 4 firms and then moved down into smaller firms at some stage.

I think I'd prepare yourself for questions as to exactly what you didn't like and what you expect in small practice, so try to do as much research as possible as to small practice life.

I'd not mention the negatives too much, as new recruits often find themselves pigeon holed into doing nothing but audits in smaller firms too!, so maybe concentrate more on hoping to get a broader range of experiences, i.e. more tax work, more incomplete records, more book-keeping, more management accounting, etc. as you gain experience and pass exams, etc.

I did too OP. Not auditing, but it was a big 4 in a European city. I lasted 17 months, in my 20s. I have never worked in a worse environment, (and I have cleaned hotel rooms when I was a student). Awful pay, office without windows, crippling long days, bullying, toxic colleagues misogyny, bribes. I was a wreck when I left, physically and mentally. I remember sitting in a bar and my mum saying ‘there will be better days ahead’.
I now run my own business, have moved home to the UK, earn significantly more, and most importantly I now love work and my work-life balance.

You have a great Mum.

I sure do. I took a week off to rest, then I started again by myself. Was hard for the first couple of months but then business soared and I have never looked back.

most of the people at smaller firms will have experience of big 4 and know what shit shows they are so you don’t need to go into detail,
you can just say a variation of point 1.

my DH and I don’t even work in the sector and know all about it.

I’d go with something like
you are glad you have had the experience of working at big 4 and learned a lot from it but you didn’t enjoy the culture and realised that you perform at your best in an x y and z environment which is why you applied for X role

you are glad you have had the experience of working at big 4 and learned a lot from it but you didn’t enjoy the culture and realised that you perform at your best in an x y and z environment

That's perfect, I think.

As a pp said, the interviewees will know the big 4 culture and they're not going to be stupid. They've also presumably chosen not to be part of that world.

They know why people leave the big 4 after a year, and they will appreciate an honest version of 'I hated it' over a pretence that their particular business is somehow so amazing that it's pulled you away from a job that you were enjoying.

What is the most professional way of saying 'I hated the Big 4'?

I stuck it out until qualification and then fled as fast as I could.The big corporate factories aren't for everyone and medium/smaller firm partners like me understand that. It would be helpful to articulate things that would be different in a smaller firm - eg being able to go into the office and know who people are, being able to build more working relationships with people in other departments as you actually get to see them when you are in office.

I managed 15 months. Liked the people, hated the building, the processes and the waste.

But for interview purposes I said that the work was interesting and I learned a lot, but ultimately I prefer to work with different types of clients and feel I can make more of a difference at a different type of firm.

Basically what was said in the quote at the beginning of my post.

"I'm glad I had the experience and I learned a lot, but..." is basically code for 'i hated it'

Perfect

Not an expert here but I would phrase it in more of a positive way rather than saying you didn’t enjoy the culture.

I think your points 1, 3 and 4 are great. Only use point 2 if you know the firm you're applying to actually is growing, definitely don't assume that.

I do also agree with PPs that there's nothing wrong with saying you want a better work life balance. Everyone in the sector knows what the big 4 are like!

If you're thinking of moving to industry you could also say that you love applying accounting to real world business problems and business partnership and realised that in a big 4 audit firm you were not going to get that experience. You could pursue ACCA at night and get a starter industry accounting job instead. Everyone in industry will completely understand that perspective. And as an accountant 20+ years down the road who trained in industry I'm doing as well in my company as those who trained big 4 and smaller firms.

I think they'll likely know the real reason - it will similar for most candidates, but will want to know why you want to work for them, and your answers are good. Maybe try and come up with something specific to their firm too?

Whatever you do not this! Terrible advice most employers and managers do not want people who are seeking better work life balance.

I’d also be warily of OP’s response 1 - it could read a bit like i’m
hoping for more training / handholding and less billable time.

Reponse 2 is risky if not a firm that is keen on being innovative or agile!

I may have used the word 'shitshow' to describe my big 4 experience in one of the interviews I had for my current job and while I wouldn't advise anyone to do the same, most people have a good idea of why people leave the Big 4.

I guess the thing that you might have to address though is if I was interviewing someone who had been there a year on a training contract, my assumption would be that they got fired for failing exams. If that's not the case, you need to make it very clear.

I left the legal equivalent of the Big 4 (Magic Circle) at the same stage. It was a looong time ago but I was very honest and generally smaller firms are full of either other people who felt/did the same, or people who didn't get recruited by the Big 4/MC and love to hear how shit it is! Got offered 3 small firm jobs.

they weren't giving me enough to do, the role did not not materialise/develop in the way everyone had expected it to when I was recruited'.

Is this better?

I did too, KPMG, I say I didn't like the relentless money money money mentality. I want to do right by the people I work with and build relationships that will last a lifetime. I've only had to say it once cos I love my small firm job and earn more for about half the hours they expected. If you are looking to move to another big firm this might not work for you,

What did you say to the smaller firm for the reason why you left kpmg?

1. I want to work for a smaller firm where I'm treated as a person, rather than an employee number. I'd like to be recognised for the work I do and the individual I am, rather than simply interchangable with the person set next to me.