There seems to be a fair bit of ‘Big 4 bashing’ that’s been doing the rounds on LinkedIn these last few months.
Yes, there are alternatives. The Big 4 world doesn’t suit everyone, and there’s plenty of places where you can carve out really successful Indirect Tax careers outside; indeed many of the most impressive business and thought leaders that I’ve come across in my career have never gone near working for a Big 4 firm in their lives.
However, I’m yet to be convinced that there’s better places for the majority to build and develop Indirect Tax career foundations, even if your ultimate destiny is working in-house; in a software/technology provider; in a large mid-tier firm or a small entrepreneurial professional services set up. It’s not just the technical solidity of experience that the Big 4 environments can give you; it’s the well-rounded business skills that you pick up by osmosis and that last you a lifetime. Big 4 experience can truly open up more opportunity for you in the long run. Plus let’s face it, the financial, business and human capital resources that these firms have available to invest in your career development are unrivalled.
Some are put off (or scared) by the idea of joining such giant global behemoths. But it’s worth remembering that Indirect Tax is a niche field, and those who work in it are typically working as part of small, close-knit teams where long-lasting friendships as well as advantageous business connections are regularly formed. And these days work/life balance is just as important as the drive for commercial results. Whilst of course people may decide ultimately that they’d prefer, or are better suited to, something different in due course, it’s actually very rare to meet anyone who ever regrets their time in a Big 4 firm. Big 4 retention rates are universally very high in Indirect Tax – that tells a story in itself. Most choose to stay for the long run, and reap both professional and financial rewards by doing so.
As for the Indirect Tax Partners and leaders, I’ve known most of them in the UK for many years, having helped them join in the first place, or via recruiting talent for their teams. And what usually strikes me first and foremost whenever we catch up is how much the majority are heavily and enthusiastically invested in their colleagues’ professional development – it’s genuine. By and large they’re a lovely bunch of humans (buy me a beer as a thank you if any of you are reading this!), as well as great people to learn from.
Here at BLT we work closely and strategically with the vast majority of mid-tier and independent firms. We also spend a huge proportion of time filling exciting in-house roles in the corporate, F/S and public sector worlds. We’re delighted to be able to wax lyrical about the benefits of these kind of environments if that’s the direction you’re thinking you might like your career to head. But we also work closely with every single one of the Big 4 – and there’s equally just as many positives to talk about there.
All of the Big 4 firms are different – in terms of both style and structure, but also by the characters and personalities that define each specific Indirect Tax team. Currently the bulk of opportunity is for experienced UK Indirect Tax advisors at the Senior Manager/Associate Director and Manager grades, with sector specific VAT slots in Real Estate, Financial Services and Large Corporate London client advisory teams, as well as typically more generalist roles in regional locations in the West, Midlands, North and Scotland – although you can be a sector specialist here too! There’s also VAT Director roles in Manchester & Birmingham and in sector specific Insurance, broader Financial Services and Real Estate London teams. If you’re intrigued, get in touch with Emma or myself and we can help you unpack the mysteries.
Of course job adverts and posts tend to be written with the aim of enticing Big 4 candidates out and onto pastures new – that’s because that’s where the bulk of specialists work, and these are often (but not always) the profiles that companies are looking to attract. But sometimes it’s worth trumpeting about the advantages of going the other way, or sticking with your Big 4 journey – and this can get lost amongst the morass of anti Big 4 sentiment that’s regularly peddled in the media, social or otherwise.
- by Guy Barrand