Is every professional services job just shit now?

[ZenNudist]

Im a Partner in mid tier firm. I'm getting paid A LOT less than the men they recruited from big 4 firms to do the same role as me. So I'm moving on. I'm a specialist and in demand. I'd have to take my team but various firms would support that. Trying to decide where to go. I want to find the best place for my team and I.

Most firms now want
People in the office all the time
Late nights and weekend work
Pay doesn't keep pace with the market once you've been there a while
Aggressive growth targets

Be interested if anyone knows what it's like to work for other mid tier. I'm thinking BDO GT HKA RSM Mazars Interpath A&M Crowe, Evelyn, Cooper Parry, Saffrey are all places that likely could want me.

Big 4 too toxic for me (been there).

What's the actual job

I'd imagine you can't just take your team. Surely they will have some element of non compete.

Not all professional services are expecting rto full time but id say about half time feels the norm. I do think overall the market is changing and that's resulting in some less than happy mood music

Surely pay as a Partner in one of these firms is driven by how much money you’re making for the business?

What are you doing exactly, as different specialities will have different expectations.

Have you considered looking at a small firm? Lifestyle balance can be better there…

Professional services in this broader sector are very competitive and I think with a funny year with a lot of companies not doing well - the reaction to that has been to be more prescriptive on how you work (‘if you’re here more we will do better!’).

I went in house. 25% more money, no timesheets or fee targets. Haven’t worked a minute of overtime in 2 years.

the challenger firms seem to be doing well at recruiting the right people/teams - eg S&W A&M - have heard of people going there for double the cash of the big 4

25% more cash than who? Not a partner in a big 4 or equivalent

They are all shit . Move in house!

Those service firms are bloated by the costs of:

• former partners
• existing senior partners who get paid all the money but aren't bringing in the new clients
• spending massive amounts in the hope the AI revolution takes off but no one is buying it (yet)

Ps my friend is at mazars. Pay is crap, don't go there.

Evelyn has just been bought by NatWest. I wouldn’t go anywhere near them until all the inevitable redundancies have been worked through.

I worked at one of the options you mentioned. As long as Private Equity overlords are calling the shots, it won’t be any better…

Thank you for responses. Misery loves company.

Job is outing but no in house equivalent unless maybe London.

I don't mind WFO and like half and half WFH/WFO as a balance between being in the market and with my team or productive at home dealing with people around the country on teams. WFO is implemented very unfairly in my firm where some people get London salary and hardly ever go in and we go in all the time because we are conscientious.

I've always resisted PE backed but salaried partnership is a huge con. All of the responsibilities but shit pay. They are trading on existing staff being too comfortable to move.

To the PP who says 'surely your pay is driven by how much money you're making for them' you'd think that'd be true but I'm making less salary and bringing in more fees than lateral hires.

I'm pissed off.

I'd like to go to Mazars but have also heard bad things.

I have a non compete but we can't stop people leaving of their own accord. Its normal for people to follow partners when they move around.

Very true. Lots of firms binning partners right now. Part of me thinks stay, don't coast but don't let it eat you up, enjoy the (limited) perks and worst case there's a pay off. I reckon on being too useful as a salesperson to have too much difficulty getting another job. Then I'm in it to win it for equity but I don't rate my chances. I reckon they will string me along.