Big 4 Interview and the 'business case'

[mx stu]

Morning all,

After I graduated from university I joined one of the 'big four' where I became qualified and after working there for five years I joined a small niche firm. I've now been here for six years and although I enjoy the job I'm missing being part of a large organisation and getting involved in big transactions.

I spoke to a recruiter I've known for a while and they circulated my details to their contacts which resulted, almost immediately, with interviews at two of the big four. I had a first 'technical' interview and got called back within a day or so for a partner chat. This chat was basically an hour long chat about how much business I'd bring with me.

Now on this point the problem I have is that the firm I work with now supports accountants and lawyers in providing specialist advice to their clients. Often we are in the background and have little contact with the end client but serve the function for the accountant that they get the specialist advice for their client, thus avoiding their client getting poached by a larger firm of accountants.

As such, and although I didn't put it as explicitly, the business I'll be able to bring with me will be nil. My current clients (the accountants) will have no interest in working with me if I'm in a large accountancy firm! In the partner interview I made the point that I have no problem presenting to potential clients, attending seminars and making internal networks which got me work when I worked in the big four before. The feedback I got however is yes you can do the job but unless you bring work with you then there is no job for you. Sorry.

I've got an interview with the second big four firm next week and I'm concerned that it's going to go much the same way.

As such any thoughts out there on how best to approach this point?

[shtu]

mx stu said:

unless you bring work with you then there is no job for you. Sorry.

Hmm. Tricky without a bit more background, but unless it's a partner-level role or similar where you get a proper share of the profits of the business generated, I wouldn't be expecting you to bring clients. Securing clients and generating business is the partners' job.

After all, if you had a good client list and pipeline of work, why would you not just do it yourself? Why would you take that to an employer and make less money for doing the same stuff?

[mx stu]

shtu said:

Hmm. Tricky without a bit more background, but unless it's a partner-level role or similar where you get a proper share of the profits of the business generated, I wouldn't be expecting you to bring clients. Securing clients and generating business is the partners' job.

After all, if you had a good client list and pipeline of work, why would you not just do it yourself? Why would you take that to an employer and make less money for doing the same stuff?

Nope far from partner level or even director level, its a lower level senior manager role. Spoke to the recruiter at lunchtime and her opinion is that the department probably didn't have the capacity to recruit but were probably chancing their arm a bit to see if they could get someone on board who pays for themselves.

The other role sounds more promising as the department has plenty of work but not enough people actually doing the job so are more appreciative of my background. The director interviewing me knows how my current firm operates from a work generation point of view and is less concerned by me bringing a client list with me, which is reassuring.

Edited by mx stu on Wednesday 9th October 15:24