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Original poster

How busy is Big4 work load really?

70 replies

Believing8nSanta · 09/12/2023 15:26

Since I have been little I always dreamt of working in a consultancy ... due to the fact my husband is in IT and I didn't have any luck with my plans. I moved to IT role 10 years ago. Now an opportunity has arisen in the big4 in again sort of IT role not consultancy but the company is one I always aspired to.
.
However, I'm scared. IT is pretty chill and everyone is sort of mediocre in their ambition so it's not difficult to be high performer and achieve good results.

So my question is how busy and difficult it is to shine in one of these companies? Is it really full of over achievers and super ambitious people that work 24/7? Is there a way to balance work with your personal life at all? It's a senior role btw if this matters.

Thanks!!!

OP posts:
folkjournals · 09/12/2023 18:21

People don't work in the Big4 for work life balance, they do it either to make partner or for the "exit opportunities".

Celebrationsnakes · 09/12/2023 18:36

folkjournals · 09/12/2023 18:21

People don't work in the Big4 for work life balance, they do it either to make partner or for the "exit opportunities".

This

LucyInTheParkWithDragons · 09/12/2023 18:42

Mostly what @folkjournals said… but it might be different if you’re their in-house IT rather than a fee earner (guessing this as you say not consultancy).

Rugbee · 09/12/2023 19:20

Depends and also depends on your clients. Not unusual to work evenings, when big projects are due weekend work creeps in. But fast paced, exciting, cutting edge work.

mynameiscalypso · 09/12/2023 19:23

I wouldn't join IT consultancy at a Big 4 at the moment; lots are being hit by redundancies.

ChristmasPuddy · 09/12/2023 19:31

folkjournals · 09/12/2023 18:21

People don't work in the Big4 for work life balance, they do it either to make partner or for the "exit opportunities".

Yep.

Original poster
Believing8nSanta · 09/12/2023 20:07

I never said I want to work there because of the great balance, not sure why this has to be reiterated. I asked how difficult it is to establish yourself and perform well didn't I?

Thanks all for your comments though. :)

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 09/12/2023 20:09

How senior is senior? Director/Partner level is quite different to Senior Manager level.

HundredMilesAnHour · 09/12/2023 20:20

Is it really full of over achievers and super ambitious people that work 24/7?

Pretty much, yes.

I work in consultancy and yes, almost everyone is super-talented, bright, driven, dedicated, ambitious and usually has some fascinating backstory where they speak 5 languages and/or have represented their country at something or other while running marathons to support starving orphans in their (small amount of) spare time. And then some. It can be brutally competitive. Often the weakest 5-10% get cut most years so very much survival of the fittest. We are frequently reminded that we're 'held to a higher standard' and 'expected to excel' so excelling is actually considered as merely meeting expectations. I wish I was joking. Some people thrive in this environment but it isn't for the faint hearted nor is it for those seeking work-life balance.

GelatinousDynamo · 09/12/2023 20:48

It really depends on your role. It's hard to say without knowing more about what your job would be.
As in any firm, not everyone is an outperformer. But the "up or out" mentality is definitely a thing.

Original poster
Believing8nSanta · 09/12/2023 21:02

It's a Senior Manager role, to me this is senior. I realise for some if its not partner it's peasants at certain age but I guess I'm not quite there yet. 🤣

They all sounded incredibly chill and nice during interview stage and I didn't have any bad vibes or any impression they work 24/7. I always worked in a very 9 to 5 sort of environment and even though I have had some days with long hours and worked on occasional weekend, I have 2 children and don't really imagine going through this now.

Im also super ambitious and hard working so will probably be killing myself to prove myself which im not convinced will be worth it.

OP posts:
GelatinousDynamo · 09/12/2023 21:15

Believing8nSanta · 09/12/2023 21:02

It's a Senior Manager role, to me this is senior. I realise for some if its not partner it's peasants at certain age but I guess I'm not quite there yet. 🤣

They all sounded incredibly chill and nice during interview stage and I didn't have any bad vibes or any impression they work 24/7. I always worked in a very 9 to 5 sort of environment and even though I have had some days with long hours and worked on occasional weekend, I have 2 children and don't really imagine going through this now.

Im also super ambitious and hard working so will probably be killing myself to prove myself which im not convinced will be worth it.

Is it accountancy, consulting, m&a or just in-house IT? IT audit? If it's client facing, then it's fast paced and intense, with long hours and you will have to work some weekends. Client is king an this is a deadline driven business. But it's also interesting and I've not had a boring day in the last thirteen years. In-house roles are just like any other office job, but not as well paid. Top talent faces the client.
As a senior manager, you will likely manage a small team, but still report to a partner, so not much HR responsibility, just some admin on top of your "normal" workload.

mynameiscalypso · 09/12/2023 21:16

I ask because I was a consultant at a Big 4 for 15 years and was a Senior Manager when I left. It's a pretty tough role and there will be lots of very ambitious people pushing for Director (particularly in the current environment with so much instability). It's not really senior enough to be a leadership role so you still have to do all the grunt work but at the same time, you're constantly expected to be pushing to do more. I left after they gave me a 'below expectations' rating in a year where I had singled handedly saved a very high profile project that was in the toilet and brought in a load of revenue through building an excellent and trusted relationship with the CEO of a bank.

Original poster
Believing8nSanta · 09/12/2023 21:47

@mynameiscalypso This sounds brutal. :(

It's client facing role. And it does seem like they look for some sort of person to do the job of 5 people for the salary of one. 🤣

It's a job where I won't have competition it's a new field they are exploring so they don't have other people in this role. They can I guess then very easily say they don't need the role in 6 months who knows...

OP posts:
Oblomov23 · 09/12/2023 22:02

With respect OP, this isn't classic Big4, because your role is quite niche, a new field. So it's not like a qualified ACA trying to step up to Big4 Partner.

Original poster
Believing8nSanta · 09/12/2023 22:07

Oblomov23, absolutely, a fact. :) so how do you think this reflects on my worries about performance and stress?

OP posts:
shearwater2 · 09/12/2023 22:12

Don't do it. Big accountancy, finance and corporate law firms in London are toxic, boring as fuck and hellishly stressful at the same time, and full of psychopaths and workaholics who never want to go home. It's only worthwhile as a comparison against how much better it is to work anywhere else.

Original poster
Believing8nSanta · 09/12/2023 22:18

@shearwater2 You made me laugh so much. 🤣 what you say is also my secret feeling, but what can I say I'm a sucker for a posh line in my CV. 🤣

OP posts:
breadandbutter99 · 09/12/2023 22:21

Having worked in 2 big 4 companies in London and Sydney, and working closely with big 4 companies in my current role (I am the client now), I disagree with the majority comments above. I rarely worked overtime, never worked a weekend and I don't see people I still know in big 4 doing this.
There will always be people working late just to be seen, it depends on how you go about your work and reputation. I don't think I've worked with anyone who I considered to be good at their job, working all hours or setting that type of example.
That being said, I think it's very manager/team/project specific - so the above is just my personal experience.

eurochick · 09/12/2023 22:26

I agree with the last comment. It will be team/manager specific. I have friends in three of the Big 4. One seems to work crazy hours but the other two don't. However their days are incredibly full on. I met one for dinner recently and he said he was hungry as he hadn't had breakfast yet...

Doggymummar · 09/12/2023 22:27

I was in Hong Kong for a large bank in the 80s, that was hardcore, 18 hour days back stabbing, drink drugs casual sex not many women survived the six month placement.

mynameiscalypso · 09/12/2023 22:29

I agree it's very team specific. I also get the sense that more junior staff aren't willing/expected to do the hours that people were 15 years ago. I definitely had some projects when I had to pull all nighters and work all weekend but it isn't consistent especially in consulting.

yerty125 · 09/12/2023 22:39

I'm an SM in London, Tax line of service and wouldn't say my hours are crazy. Some of the international teams' hours are pretty rough sometimes but I would say they're the exception.

As others have said it's very team director/partner specific.

One thing I would say is that it's difficult to get from SM to D in some teams. How you do it is a bit smoke and mirrors

Original poster
Believing8nSanta · 09/12/2023 22:40

And again there are so many mixed comments and experiences it's impossible to tell. :) I think the decision then must exclude the company name or fear of past culture/reputation and focus on other criteria. :)

Don't get me wrong I'm not scared of hard work and long hours. What I'm scared of is what was mentioned to do the work and be reviewed as under performer because expectations are impossible.

Now thinking even of my own company I guess if you choose 5 people from the same team you may get very different perspective and opinions so everything is always so subjective ...

Some people in my team work until 8 pm ... not because they have to ... because they want to. I have told them multiple times noone would promote them or make them rich because they are online at 8 pm but they simply don't believe me. 🤣

In my recent years I personally have seen so many sly people progress not because of hard work but because they know how to play the game and be seen. Other people work like mad and don't get anything because noone appreciates their work as they are too shy and not vocal enough.

So ya ... I'm stuck again not knowing what to expect. :) I'm tempted to just call the hiring manager and ask them honestly about their leadership style and expectations. 😅

OP posts:
jay55 · 09/12/2023 23:01

I've had the misfortune of working alongside consultants from big4 firms on IT projects and they've been great at selling more bodies onto a project and shit at doing any actual work.
Would often stay late in the office but pissing about because they were bored and away from home.

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