Public Practice

Cutting-edge advisory work is no longer solely the domain of the Big 4. Today, many mid-tier and independent firms are tasked with challenging assignments beyond traditional service offerings.

If you want to stay within the profession, but outside the Big 4, you should consider moving to a different firm: specifically, one which provides you the quality clients and substantial assignments you need in order to enhance your career.

Boutique firms may not have a global reach, but many have been increasing market share in specialist services.

It is not uncommon for niche boutique firms to have boosted their market share in areas such as forensics, corporate recovery or corporate finance. Others have earned excellent reputations by advising clients in specific fields such as energy, property or the entertainment and creative industries, which often require in-depth sector insight and understanding.

Many boutique firms have been founded by entrepreneurial finance professionals with large-firm training. As a result they demand high standards with regard to both the candidates they choose to recruit, and their client service delivery.

Working in a boutique can facilitate your own sector or discipline specialisation, and help to develop your commerciality and business acumen.

This is a popular career path amongst newly qualified accountants as the benefits of working here include:

• Valuable client-facing experience
• Exposure to commercial opportunities for cross selling and new business
• A structured career path

One of the most notable benefits is the exposure to interesting and demanding client scenarios, which will accelerate the maturity of your professional experience. 

This diverse breadth of client work and new projects will also allow you grow your professional network, which in turn can be stimulating and sustain your long-term career. It will also help your continual professional education through ensuring your technical ability is up-to-date and at the forefront of new reporting and regulatory requirements.

Not only are future promotion opportunities often projected, allowing you to more effectively plan your career, earning and personal goals, but staying within professional services, even for the short term, gives you the opportunity to make a more informed decision about the direction of your career in the long-term.

To talk to a consultant about your career in public practice, please get in touch with your local recruitment expert.