I quit my first job out of college at PwC after a year. Working at the Big Four has pros — but one con was a dealbreaker.

Javier left PwC to join Comcast as a senior financial analyst.Courtesy of Andrew Pham; NurPhoto/Getty Images.Sofia Javier was excited to start her career at PwC in September 2023.But after experiencing two of accounting's "busy seasons," she felt overwhelmed.Javier quit Big Four accounting in 2024 and feels she has more work-life balance at her new job.This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with 23-year-old Sofia Javier, from New Jersey. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I studied accounting and data analytics at college. As a student, I saw the Big Four route as stable and structured, and our professors advocated for us to get jobs there.They warned that working these jobs and the transition from college to back-to-back meetings would be difficult.I started a full-time job at PwC in September 2023, after graduating from college. I was excited to join the workforce, but I didn't know what was in store for me.After two "busy seasons" as an auditor, I felt overwhelmed by the workload. I realized the job wasn't for me and moved to a Fortune 500 company with more work-life balance.I knew I wanted to leave the Big Four when I hit my second 'busy season'When I joined PwC, I wasn't particularly concerned about the workload or hours. I was just happy to start my career.The first few months were focused on training, then around January, things started catching up with me.In auditing, there are intense periods that we refer to as "busy seasons," where we consistently work to a deadline. In my role, I experienced two busy seasons that lasted several months, from January to March, and July to September.During my first busy season, I was getting a lot less sleep. I went into the office three days a week. Because I lived about an hour and a half away from work, I'd have to get up early to get to work at 8:30 a.m. I'd have my first meeting at 9 a.m. and then either have back-to-back meetings or do a lot of Excel stuff.The first time I heard we were staying past dinner, I was fine with it. We were doing it as a team. There were days I'd get home around 10 or 11 p.m., but it felt normal because co-workers I'd interned with were going through the same thing.After a few months, things calmed down and my routine was more like a normal 9-to-5, but halfway through the year, I was pulled into another busy season. I didn't feel prepared to go through it all again.It was summer, and my friends would be at happy hours in the city. When the events were near my office, I'd go say hi, then have to go back to work while they enjoyed the sunshine.When I joined PwC, I didn't realize I'd have to deal with two busy seasons in a year. The first time around, I stuck with it because I knew there would be hardships with any job, but the second time around, I realized the job wasn't for me.Sometimes, I'd work on weekends to prepare for the week ahead. I'd turn down invitations from friends to hang out. It felt like I couldn't enjoy the fruits of my labour.I'd try to maintain professionalism in the workplace, but in private, I felt very emotional. When I told my parents about how I was struggling, they offered to help me look for new jobs.I wanted more of a regular 9-to-5 like my friends hadMy accounting professors advised me to double major so I'd have something to fall back on, because they were aware accounting isn't for everyone.Leveraging my second major in data analytics, I started applying to other jobs in the summer of 2024. I avoided accounting roles and looked specifically for data analyst jobs.After a couple of weeks, I was invited to an interview with the media company Comcast. As it turned out, my interviewer was an ex-Big Four employee, so we connected over the struggles I experienced at PwC. He reassured me that I could expect more work-life balance if I worked at Comcast.I completed the full interview process and started the role in November 2024. Once I received the offer, I resigned from PwC.I'm a senior financial analyst at Comcast. They were looking for someone with Excel experience and tying out numbers, so I think my time at PwC helped me land the role.I have a better work-life balanceAt Comcast, my work schedule is more flexible. In auditing, during busy seasons, I'd sometimes work late into the evening or check my email at night to stay on top of deadlines, but I haven't had to do this in my current role.It's been a breath of fresh air. I didn't realize this type of work-life balance was possible.The company benefits and emphasis on diversity and equality are quite similar across both companies, but the key difference has been the workload.There were upsides to working at the Big FourThere were more pros than cons to starting my career at the Big Four. You get a very stable career path, and promotions are expected.Starting your career in an intense environment sets you up to work hard in your next role. The intense math and Excel skills I had to learn quickly at PwC serve me well at Comcast.The main con was the workload. I wasn't able to fulfill the work-life balance I'd imagined for myself.There are a lot of sectors within PwC, so my experience may not be the same as someone who worked in consulting or another area of the company. I'd consider going back to the Big Four, but not in audit. Maybe marketing or consulting might involve fewer hours.My advice to others is to do what makes you happy and fulfills you. If it's not the Big Four, you can leave whenever you want and take control of your life.Comcast did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. PwC declined to comment.Do you have a story to share about working at a Big Four firm? Contact this reporter at [email protected] the original article on Business Insider

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