OC or LA career-wise for a young accountant? (Los Angeles, San Diego: apartments, rent)

[vegaspilgrim]

(I apologize for posting this twice; the first time I hit enter and pressed the submit button by mistake. Ignore that post). I'm going to be at USC for one year for their MS in Accounting degree, and I'm trying to decide where I want to work after I graduate. I am from Denver, and my current plan is to return there to start my career after I graduate. However, I am also considering staying in California, since I'll already be there and have the USC connections. The recruiting process starts as early as this fall. My goal is to work for one of the Big Four public accounting firms, ideally. The principal southern California offices for these firms are all located in downtown LA. However, according to their websites, Deloitte has an office in Costa Mesa with 705 professionals, Ernst and Young has an office in Irvine (the website doesn't say how many people work there), KPMG has one in Costa Mesa with 250 professionals, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers has an office in Irvine (website doesn't say how big). I am fairly certain that if I were to stay in southern California, I would rather live in Orange County (or even San Diego, in theory, if I found a great job there) than Los Angeles itself.

What I'm wondering though, is do brand new hires start out at the Orange County offices of the Big Four accounting firms (and other major accounting firms besides the Big Four) or do you have to work in downtown LA? (something I am dreading). I understand that as an auditor I would be doing a lot of travel to the clients' work sites. If I worked in Orange County, would I be travelling mainly within Orange County? Also, how do you think LA county compares to OC county career wise? All advice is helpful, even if you're not an accountant.

[NaplesRes]

When I worked at Deloitte 7 years ago they wanted folks to be in the LA office but you could do Costa Mesa. The reality was the staffing was regionally based so it didn't matter what office you called home.

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by NaplesRes

When I worked at Deloitte 7 years ago they wanted folks to be in the LA office but you could do Costa Mesa. The reality was the staffing was regionally based so it didn't matter what office you called home.

Do you have any choice as to what region you are assigned to?

[Unkllars]

My buddy got work right out of college at Deloitte in Costa Mesa. It seems like they're always hiring.

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Do you have any choice as to what region you are assigned to?

When I say region I mean the greater LA/OC region. It's all the same that's why it doens't really matter what office you're in. For example, I have a friend who works out of the costa mesa office but spends almost all of her time working at her client's office in El Segundo.

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by NaplesRes

When I say region I mean the greater LA/OC region. It's all the same that's why it doens't really matter what office you're in. For example, I have a friend who works out of the costa mesa office but spends almost all of her time working at her client's office in El Segundo.

Hmmm, so is it safe to say that as an accountant in the greater LA/OC megalopolis, regardless of the office, I'd be commuting all over the place? That's probably the case in any major city, but for LA that seems a little scary to me considering the traffic problems. Costa Mesa to El Segundo is 41 miles apart. How long would that take-- 2 hours? I imagine that must be a nightmare. Or are you supposed to live in month-to-month rent apartments and keep moving everytime there's a new assignment?

[BRinSM]

It's a bit like working in construction, you just have to find a good central location.

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Hmmm, so is it safe to say that as an accountant in the greater LA/OC megalopolis, regardless of the office, I'd be commuting all over the place? That's probably the case in any major city, but for LA that seems a little scary to me considering the traffic problems. Costa Mesa to El Segundo is 41 miles apart. How long would that take-- 2 hours? I imagine that must be a nightmare. Or are you supposed to live in month-to-month rent apartments and keep moving everytime there's a new assignment?

This was certainly true when I worked there but maybe it's different now. Don't live by the office but rather find a central location I guess. The other thing is you work long hours in the beginning so you'll probably miss traffic by leaving early in the morning and late in the evening.

[preppyglam]

i think that you will have a different experience since you will be able to utilize your USC contacts and alumni network. take advantage of it, for sure. i would say that if you know you everntually want to live in OC, try to get transfered to an office here. i think you will get your fill of LA going to USC and you will want to go to OC. in downtown LA, where the firms are, the parking is IMPOSSIBLE- very costly both in the lots and meters. and a lot of the time, your company does not pay for it. the freeways are really old and tight near downtown- it can be quite a mess. i would say live near LA while going to USC and working there, then when you get transfered to OC- move to OC. you DO NOT want that commute. my husband is an accountant and commutes to LA from OC....not fun. I go to UCLA for grad school and ive had early morning commutes that total 2:45 mins....and thats not out of the ordinary. (i live in central OC, too- im not even really far south). the fastest morning commute is about 2:10 mins. its HORRIBLE.

as for the firms- yes, we have big 4 firms here in OC. i have friends who worked at deloitte back when it was d&t right out of college (undergrad, maybe it will be different for you), and they worked impossible hours- but they really liked it. my husband in an auditor in LA and he travels mostly within LA, sometimes he is at his office in OC, too- but he is mostly in LA. i think it will just depend on your situation and the companies needs. good luck!

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by preppyglam

i think that you will have a different experience since you will be able to utilize your USC contacts and alumni network. take advantage of it, for sure. i would say that if you know you everntually want to live in OC, try to get transfered to an office here. i think you will get your fill of LA going to USC and you will want to go to OC. in downtown LA, where the firms are, the parking is IMPOSSIBLE- very costly both in the lots and meters. and a lot of the time, your company does not pay for it. the freeways are really old and tight near downtown- it can be quite a mess. i would say live near LA while going to USC and working there, then when you get transfered to OC- move to OC. you DO NOT want that commute. my husband is an accountant and commutes to LA from OC....not fun. I go to UCLA for grad school and ive had early morning commutes that total 2:45 mins....and thats not out of the ordinary. (i live in central OC, too- im not even really far south). the fastest morning commute is about 2:10 mins. its HORRIBLE.

as for the firms- yes, we have big 4 firms here in OC. i have friends who worked at deloitte back when it was d&t right out of college (undergrad, maybe it will be different for you), and they worked impossible hours- but they really liked it. my husband in an auditor in LA and he travels mostly within LA, sometimes he is at his office in OC, too- but he is mostly in LA. i think it will just depend on your situation and the companies needs. good luck!

Thank you for your post, preppyglam, this really helps me out. Unfortunately, what you are saying is confirming my greatest fears about LA. A two hour commute is simply unacceptable for me. Even considering that I am young and just starting out and I'll have to start out at the bottom as an accounting grunt, the level of ass-kissing I'm willing to do does not extend to commuting for over two hours one way. What is a "good central location" for the entire LA/OC megalopolis? I don't think such a thing even exists for a city that big! If what you're saying is true, then maybe the best option for me is to get the USC degree, then go back to Denver (my hometown). Denver has all the Big Four firms too. Of course, any big city has traffic, but navigating a city like Denver for different work assignments is a world of difference from being stuck on the freeways of LA for hours every day. I'm going to USC for USC-- they have the perfect program out there for what I'm looking for, not because I am gung-ho on living in California (although it's still an option to consider of course, that's why I'm posting here). BTW, I'll be living right in the vicinity of the school for the next year. They have the program structured as a full-time, day program, so there's not really any opportunity to work and go to school at the same time. On the other hand, it's only one year, and then I'll be working.