Big 4 IT Audit Senior 1 here. Should I stay for Manager or pivot now?
Here's my situation:
- Senior 1 at a Big 4 in IT Assurance/IT Audit
- Banked my bonus (forego 5k senior promotional bonus, then 3 years later can cash out 25k, regardless of promotion)
- Know for a fact I don't want to do IT audit long-term
My current plan: Grind to the 3-year Senior mark/promoted to Manager (requires a CISA, which I'd have to study for on top of busy season), then leave.
Why I'm second-guessing it: That's like 2 more brutal busy seasons in a field I'm already checked out of, plus a certification I'd probably never use again. And by then I'd be 5 years deep in IT audit, which might actually make it harder to pivot into something completely different.
The case for staying: Manager at Big 4 on the resume is genuinely a different conversation in interviews. More comp. More leverage, etc etc
The case for leaving within the next year: I already have Big 4 Senior + bonus banked. The longer I wait, the more I'm just optimizing for a career I don't want.
So I'm genuinely asking — what would you do?
- Did you leave Big 4 as a Senior or hold out for Manager? Do you regret it either way?
- If you pivoted out of IT audit, where did you land and when?
- Is the Manager title actually worth 2 more years if you're planning to leave anyway?
Not looking for "just stick it out" — I want real opinions but would be amazing if you’re someone who has been in my shoes before