Does a lateral move at Senior associate/consultant level from (Accenture --> Big4) make sense in 2026?
Currently with Accenture (ACN) which is my first job out of college and have senior associate/consultant interviews within the technology consulting space at PWC and EY.
Pros are great leadership standing due to strong performance + WLB in current role making it a 'solid' gig. Cons are stuck in role which I don't anticipate growth in + slower pay progression staying put with first employer.
Primary motivation for leaving ACN is a 30-35% base pay increase I would get which would take at least ~3-4 years to get internally. Understand I can explore new roles internally to address role expansion con.
Many of the posts on reddit are negative (including ACN's) and/or horror stories of being PIP'd or laid off within 1-2 years of joining the new firm.
Would appreciate perspective on making a lateral move in current environment and on the particular situation. Is PWC or EY the better employment option long term for technology consulting?