what's better audit in public or private sector?

[destro88]

In your opinion what do you think is better? auditor for the CRA or auditor for a private company???

[trusoulja2g]

Please be more specific. In accountant-speak...
Public accounting = working at an accounting firm
Private accounting/industry = working for a regular company in any accounting role

CRA auditor is separate from the above.
Internal auditor at a company is a subset of private accounting.

AFAIK, most CRA auditors are CGA's. Internal auditors make more money.

[Wendy]

If you're comparing public accounting firms to, say, internal audit of a private company, public accounting salaries have pretty much caught up to industry (finally!). While you generally would get a decent bump in salary (i.e. 10K or so) when you first go to industry from public accounting, you should factor in the fact that salary increases in public accounting firms are generally much higher than in industry (i.e. 6% to 10% vs. 3%). Also, audit is a hot area right now so bonuses in public accounting firms for audit staff are quite good. The trade-off, however, is that the hours in public accounting are generally much longer than industry, hence why many people leave public accounting -- so they can have "work-life balance."

[trusoulja2g]

If you're comparing public accounting firms to, say, internal audit of a private company, public accounting salaries have pretty much caught up to industry (finally!). While you generally would get a decent bump in salary (i.e. 10K or so) when you first go to industry from public accounting, you should factor in the fact that salary increases in public accounting firms are generally much higher than in industry (i.e. 6% to 10% vs. 3%). Also, audit is a hot area right now so bonuses in public accounting firms for audit staff are quite good. The trade-off, however, is that the hours in public accounting are generally much longer than industry, hence why many people leave public accounting -- so they can have "work-life balance."

What are the current salary ranges for Big 4 seniors and managers?

[TotallyKiller]

What are the current salary ranges for Big 4 seniors and managers?

50k-150k Partners are pulling in about 300k after tax on average in Canada.

[charliebrown]

50k-150k Partners are pulling in about 300k after tax on average in Canada.

seniors are probably closer to 60-90 in GTA
I'd imagine managers are 80-110?
then snr mgrs 100-150?

[William W]

For the federal government, excluding CRA, as they have their own classification and salary structure.

Starting :45k
After 1 year: 58k+
More than 2 years: 65k to 90k.

If you make it as an Executive, 100k-130k But you have to be fluent in both French and English. Without French, the max that you'll ever get will be 80-90k.

So in another word, the less experience you're the better off you're in the government. Also, the private sector may pay more on gross salary terms. BUt on a $/"hourly work", you can't really beat the government. There are some who makes even more than Bill Gates on a $/hourly worked, if you get what I mean.

So to answer your original question. It really depends on the person. My suggestion to you is if you are one of those that like to Invest in low risk, secure investment but limited return. Go with the Government. But if you're one of those who likes to invest in Stock, High Risk, High Return, go big or go home type of gal or guy, go with the private sector.

[TotallyKiller]

seniors are probably closer to 60-90 in GTA
I'd imagine managers are 80-110?
then snr mgrs 100-150?

That's about right. With those being similar to what you get in the West (Calgary here) although a less expensive cost of living here as well as less tax.