beyond money alone: how college accounting students choose their first job

ey and ut austin top professors poll.

in considering job offers from competing accounting firms, the most highly sought-after students weigh three criteria equally, and it doesn’t much matter whether the offer is for big money or whether it’s from a big four firm anymore, according to a leading survey of several hundred college accounting professors.

students today consider compensation and benefits, “work/life balance and a family-friendly environment” and a desirable geographic location each about equally, according to the 33rd annual professors survey for 2014 by public accounting report.

the difference is barely discernible, par reports. on a scale of 0 through 10, with 10 being the most important, professors marginally differentiated between the three in order of importance. they rated compensation and benefits an average of 8.10, quality of life/family-friendly environment 8.09 and desirable geographic location 7.99.