5 Reasons to Choose Tax over Audit | Big 4 Tax Manager

Are you interested in a career in accounting but don't know whether to choose Tax or Audit? As a Tax Manager at one of the Big 4, I've been happy with my decision to choose Tax and have never looked back. Based on almost 7 years of experience at a Big 4 accounting firm, I have compiled a list of 5 reasons why you might want to choose Tax.

0:37 More predicable hours & less busier than Audit
2:03 Comfort and stability of having a set work space
3:37 More variety of work and type of clients
5:13 Able to quantify value provided to clients
7:02 There will always be a demand for Tax services (despite IT innovations)
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📸 Instagram: @gabrielletalksmoney
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WHO AM I:
I'm Gabrielle, a Tax Manager at one of the Big 4 Accounting Firms in Vancouver, Canada. I post weekly videos on personal finance, career, and work life balance.
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Disclaimer: Please note that this video is solely based on my opinion and experience, especially for Tax. I can also be bias considering I've been working in Tax my entire professional career! For references to Audit, it's mostly based on my experience taking courses in university, doing a short Audit rotation at work, as well as countless stories I heard from my Audit peers. I suggest that you network and talk to as many people as possible in the Tax and Audit field so that you can base your decision on sources that are directly relevant to you.

*This description contains some affiliate links, meaning that I may earn a minimal commission if you click through and use these links (at no additional cost to you).

#big4accountant #taxvsaudit #careerintax

[josebless]

“Tax busy season is less busy then audit busy season” lmao how much more busy can I get 😂😅

[SwahiliSpicE]

I’m in industry and I agree with working hours and busy season with audit, month-end and year-end. I accidentally landed in a job that gave me a taste of management/financial accounting and tax but it’s now 100% tax and I freaking love it! It does get stressful with multiple
monthly deadlines but they are short lived.

[IraniRichards]

I was freaking out because of what I keep reading about big4 busy season but nothing too specific! But thank you for this! I chose Tax over Audit and I’m honestly excited

[josesantiago]

Damn it.. I just interviewed for audit. Tax sounds way nicer.Thanks for the info.

[sk]

Also a tax manager at a Big 4 here🙌🏻 i would say that I agree with points 1 & 2. Point 3 to me isn’t much different for audit & tax since I do corporate tax for a lot of my firm’s audit clients as well. Point 4 to me is yes and no since the audit team a lot of times subcontracts tax provision review to the tax team and in that case we look at materiality as well. For point 5, I just think both audit and tax aren’t likely to be replaced by AI, at least, in the near future 😅

Overall, I think I’ve been able to survive in Big 4 for 7 years coz I work in tax and the working hours are shorter than audit. But then, please note beforehand that when you are in tax, your exit opportunities will be limited. Only the big MNCs have dedicated tax manager roles so you can imagine that there won’t be a lot of job openings in the market. I’ve known WAY TOO MANY people working in Big 4 tax only because they still haven’t got the opportunity to go commercial yet.

[michaelhall]

Just made the switch from audit to tax, can't wait to see how this turns out!

[katrinacortes]

Hi Gabrielle, thanks so much for sharing. I'm already starting my career in Tax (Big 4 also) but lately I was thinking of pursuing audit. I think I'm staying in Tax after watching your video 😂

[theredboneenthusiasts]

Your videos are so inspiring! I plan on becoming a Tax Associate and was nervous about the exit options (in comparison to audit).
Do you plan on becoming a controller? Also may you please do a video about conventional and unconventional tax accountant exit options? I’ve been doing research online but hearing it from a verifiable professional is as good as it gets.
Keep doing what you’re doing!!!

[DreamFirms]

Totally agree will all the 5 reasons you mentioned!

[jakehma]

The beauty of Preparing taxes is that if you agree to the client's net income/loss on the business tax return, you know you are on the right track!

[jakefromstatefarm]

I totally agree that technology will improve the accounting field due to work being produced more efficiently. I like the idea of being able to have my own workspace. I can’t wait to take tax and experience it myself hopefully through an internship to see if it’s something I want to do 😁

[paulino_ayo]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I’ll keep on tuned to updates ✨

[xolaughoutloud]

hehehe spent the past days binge watching your videos! They are very helpful! Can you make a video about utilization vs. efficiency? Like how utilization is measured at big4?

[yumazinggg]

hi, thanks for sharing. totally agree, it's because taxes are very promising :D

[acewings]

Overtime gets you to the hour requirements faster for your CPA certification. I’d personally just get my CPA cert and gtfo out of the big 4 and never look back

[danielgreen]

your videos are really helpful thank you!!

[Tamaracuri]

Could you please make a video training about what kind of tasks you have to accomplish on most of the time at work. Kind reading reports, or producing reports. Etc

[ShuvaiAprilzw]

I am kinda loving the con of traveling to the client sites... I guess I’m an extrovert 🕶

[elininny]

Thank you for the good quality videos!! Please share your tips and experiences regarding internveiws and resume!! :))

[dillonminnix]

Toward the end of the video, you mention that you do not think IT will ever replace the need for tax accountants. Do you still feel the same way the recent developments of AI?