A bit but I havn't taken Audit or Tax yet so it's been on the back burner of my mind. I want to try them out first and see what I think of the classes.

Do you work at a big four? what would you recommend based on your experiences? I'm unsure of what route I want to go. Thanks.

I have but for less then a year so far, so my info probably isn't that great.

I work in Tax and the work life balance seems pretty solid, there are 2 busy seasons one starting in august and another one 6 months from then. 60 hours a week isn't unheard of in busy season but outside of busy season schedules are really flexible, as long as you plan ahead you can get time to travel or whatever fairly easily.

Audit seems to be busy all the time, I say on average they probably work 10 to 15 more hours a week then tax over the course of the year.

Advisory seems to be the best for consistent schedules all year round, no true busy season

I'm in audit at a big 4. From May to September we only have to book 35 hours per week. You end up working more if you have a large client with a June year end or public quarterlies. Basically everything depends on who your clients are. I had a couple clients who would throw us out of their offices at 5:00 every day in busy season.

Financial services clients will have long hours all year. Other industries will have different hours. It all depends on which area you practice in.

I spoke with the guy who owns the local bowling alley and he thought it'd be alright for me to come in and work with the guy who does the books (probably book keeping and light accounting work). When I originally asked I said I'd do it for free as I just want experience.

Will something like this help in getting an internship this fall?

thanks. i'm personally interested in big 4 auditing but on the commercial side. is that what you do?

mflip, you must work at the laziest big4 office in America. 35 hours a week for 7 months a year? That's fantasy in most every big 4 office in America.

I'm not complaining. Half days on Friday or just work a few extra hours during the week and take Friday off.

Not sure where you got 7 months from. It's 4. It's basically June/July/August with a week or so run over on either side.

Ah, you said May-November (7 months).

That's my post. It's like 5 above the one you just made.

I personally bailed out not due to grades, but the career to follow post graduation. I switched to Finance, and now I'm in Pharm contracting and make just as much as my CPA friends if not more. Some of my best friends are CPA's i respect what they do, but there are other competitive jobs out there.

I've been studying Excel quite a bit and would like to incorporate it into my resume once I believe I'm competent at it. How does one put this on a resume? Seek certification via a Microsoft test?

Wha have you been doing to practice at Excel? Are you following a tutorial book or something? I also want to get competent at it but need some direction..

I have the Excel Bible and various books from school. When I took the class that required the book I simply sped through assignments (follow the pictures essentially) without really letting everything sink in so I figure this will be a good study guide..

I assume you're speaking about this? http://www.amazon.ca/Excel-2010-Bibl...4593444&sr=8-1

Do people prefer 2007 over 2010?