Big 4 Salary Expectations w/ JD and LLM in Taxation Forum

[CanadianWolf]

I've seen offers at 150k and 140k for senior, plus signing. Dont get lowballed, markets hot this year

What service line/location? I'm assuming this is NYC/DC M&A or NTS?

Washington National Tax Services pays above a base salary of $140,000 and has done so for several years. Still not worth it if you can get a biglaw offer. Even if WNTS has gone to $168,000 base, still not worth it if you can get a biglaw offer.

NYC M&A has paid up to $125,000 plus $15,000 signing bonus. Not sure about current cycle. Better to go with NYC than with WNTS.

Nevertheless, if you have a degree in accounting & like section 382 work, then Big 4 might be a great career path. But, if you want to be an attorney and like the practice of law & like be being paid well, then avoid Big 4.

[Anonymous User]

I've seen offers at 150k and 140k for senior, plus signing. Dont get lowballed, markets hot this year

What service line/location? I'm assuming this is NYC/DC M&A or NTS?

Washington National Tax Services pays above a base salary of $140,000 and has done so for several years. Still not worth it if you can get a biglaw offer. Even if WNTS has gone to $168,000 base, still not worth it if you can get a biglaw offer.

NYC M&A has paid up to $125,000 plus $15,000 signing bonus. Not sure about current cycle. Better to go with NYC than with WNTS.

Nevertheless, if you have a degree in accounting & like section 382 work, then Big 4 might be a great career path. But, if you want to be an attorney and like the practice of law & like be being paid well, then avoid Big 4.

Interesting, appreciate the perspective.

When you says WNTS isn't worth it, do you mean purely from a comp perspective? I can't imagine Big Four offices in DC are expecting Big Law level billable hours from their associates but is there still a sizable disconnect from a work/reward perspective?

I have limited anecdotal knowledge of the dynamic but have encountered a few Big Four WNTS --> Big Law mid-level laterals who are benefitting from the market conditions.

[CanadianWolf]

Starting in WNTS is not worth it if you have any biglaw offers due to the difference in compensation & due to the difficulty of moving from WNTS to biglaw in a typical market. Too often law firms view JD-LLMs from WNTS as "too specialized". Many major law firms will restrict experienced hires to those with law firm or biglaw experience. Those law firms which will consider applicants from accounting firms typically state so in their postings & usually ask hires to take a 2 year setback.

[CanadianWolf]

I've seen offers at 150k and 140k for senior, plus signing. Dont get lowballed, markets hot this year

What service line/location? I'm assuming this is NYC/DC M&A or NTS?

Washington National Tax Services pays above a base salary of $140,000 and has done so for several years. Still not worth it if you can get a biglaw offer. Even if WNTS has gone to $168,000 base, still not worth it if you can get a biglaw offer.

NYC M&A has paid up to $125,000 plus $15,000 signing bonus. Not sure about current cycle. Better to go with NYC than with WNTS.

Nevertheless, if you have a degree in accounting & like section 382 work, then Big 4 might be a great career path. But, if you want to be an attorney and like the practice of law & like be being paid well, then avoid Big 4.

PM / DM me as I would like to hear more about your knowledge & I can share some specifics.

Interesting, appreciate the perspective.

When you says WNTS isn't worth it, do you mean purely from a comp perspective? I can't imagine Big Four offices in DC are expecting Big Law level billable hours from their associates but is there still a sizable disconnect from a work/reward perspective?

I have limited anecdotal knowledge of the dynamic but have encountered a few Big Four WNTS --> Big Law mid-level laterals who are benefitting from the market conditions.

[Anonymous User]

I've seen offers at 150k and 140k for senior, plus signing. Dont get lowballed, markets hot this year

What service line/location? I'm assuming this is NYC/DC M&A or NTS?

Washington National Tax Services pays above a base salary of $140,000 and has done so for several years. Still not worth it if you can get a biglaw offer. Even if WNTS has gone to $168,000 base, still not worth it if you can get a biglaw offer.

NYC M&A has paid up to $125,000 plus $15,000 signing bonus. Not sure about current cycle. Better to go with NYC than with WNTS.

Nevertheless, if you have a degree in accounting & like section 382 work, then Big 4 might be a great career path. But, if you want to be an attorney and like the practice of law & like be being paid well, then avoid Big 4.

PWC M&A NYC is 132,000 base and 15,000 sign on this cycle/year