Part time / job share in big four firm

[TheWaterHorse]

Does anyone have any experience of making part time / job sharing work as a fee earner in a big four professional services firm?

I'm trying to think through how pt / js might work before applying to reduce my hours; therefore it would be great to hear how others have made this work.

Hi just saw your thread. I'm also at Big 4, and do 4 days pw in client-facing advisory role in a regional office. My non-work day is mid-week which helps with deadlines etc. Totally get what you say about doing 5 days work in 4 etc - this is definitely the case, I basically took a 20% paycut to do the same job!! But it means I do get a day at home, even if I'm checking the Blackberry while off.

I also found I quickly changed my work pattern to suit the DCs - eg I often leave at 5.30pm (gasp!) but log on from home to deal with emails/etc once DCs in bed. Previously I would have worked late in the office. I have also got a lot more focussed/efficient and spend a lot less time on the non-chargeable crap which seems to come with these types of job!

Don't know if this helps you, but I've been doing this for a few years now and it does get a lot easier. I was totally freaking out when I first returned to work, but after DC2 it was almost a breeze.

So I hope things go well for you and you find a work pattern that suits you and your family.

So hang in there!

Marking my place - due back in October after 15 months off, 3 days a week. Had to do the 3 days they said, not what I wanted to do. They have said I cannot work on certain types of jobs which I argued about, lots of discussions had, and still not 100% confirmed yet :(
Am an auditor. Client facing.

I totally agree with what others are saying - it's often a case of a 5 day week on 4 days pay! I really wanted to return on a 3 day week (international law firm) - but who was I kidding really - that was never going to happen! They offered 4 days with expected use of blackberry on 5th (which would be unpaid). I then went through major unsettled time just not knowing what to do. Well..I quit. I just decided to take a huge leap of faith and hope that in a few years when no doubt I will really want to work again, something will work out! In the meantime, we've sold our flat, we're renting now & I'm constantly amazed at how little money I actually need. I've actually found it liberating to not buy things anymore & to be free from the corporate world. I'm enjoying every moment with my DD and trying to simply accept my decision, be happy, content & enjoy this stage in my life. Not sure if my post is at all relevant or helpful but just wanted to share. Right, need to update my name to mummyEXlawyer now as I'm clearly misrepresenting myself!

I am sorry to hear you are not happy with the arrangement. That doesn't seem a good way to start. I worked in a business school, ft but always with the option of going back to pt hours when it was possible. It never was. Reason: client targets. If I would have been able to bring in 80% of clients, that would have been fine. But I learned that when building up a client base (as I was) ft people put in much, much more time than ft. I 'only' did 40 hours, which just wasn't enough. pt teaching would have been possible, once I would have built up my hours. I have since quit and seen some other (previously very successful) tutors struggle with pt. Just because somehow 80% of time doesn't automatically bring in 80% of clients, but more like 60%. I now work free lance, and that works much better for me. I also come across many women now who have made that step, after finding pt didn't work in their situation. I even know a lady who started a law firm herself, mainly now hiring free lance lawyers, many of whom are ex-city. I like the idea: if the big firm structure doesn't offer the flexibility we need, we will just create it ourselves! I do hope it works out for you though, do give it a chance! And yes, you work less, so your career might be a bit slower, but at least it isn't gone. And in a few years your situation will be different and you might be able to pick it up where you left off.

Hello, I worked in the big 4 for many years and left when I was reasonably senior. I am now a client What I would say from my experience of both big 4 and now as a client is

The big 4 is a an unforgiving environment - generally - anything client facing is. However, if you have a large enough team, seamless transition and nice clients (!) who understand how you work, then you can make it work

Observation has told me that generally part-time is not the way to promotion in the big 4 - although if you make it work really well, people cannot dispute your fees earned etc.

Generally - I cannot over-emphasise how much life outside practice is more enjoyable and I say that as someone who was reluctant to leave and on the partner track... I was always going to go back, but now - can't see it!