Company: KPMG
Date: 2010-06-02
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: former

A great place to learn, but unattractive short term economics
Pros: 1. Global brand, prestigious firm.
2. Great learning opportunity: a crash course in business understanding and technical accounting topics.
3. Great exposure to job opportunities outside of the firm.
4. Above average starting pay, and attractive earnings opportunity OVER TIME (a considerable amount of time actually).
5. Professional environment and people.
6. Contrary to popular opinion, work-life balance is respected. You will work long hours and travel at certain times, but this is to be expected in any professional career path.
Cons: 1. Career trajectory: 12-15 year partner path? I struggle to think that it takes 15 years to gain the proper amount of leadership, sales and professional experience to be a partner. This is an incredibly long partner path compared to tier 1 consulting firms like McKinsey or Bain, or most law firms. Your most talented, but impatient, assets will leave before then (this shows in turnover data).
2. Compensation trajectory: starting pay is above average, however you have a pretty flat trajectory until you make partner. Real economic opportunity isn't available until you are a partner. Again, the most talented people won't wait that long.