Reflecting on your future career, you might be choosing between Big Four environments and the smaller, close-knit culture of a regional CPA firm.
One of our Tax Managers, Joseph Cannella, shares his journey with working at our regional accounting firm and offers thoughtful considerations when it comes to deciding on a career between the Big Four firms and a regional firm.
While the Big Four are known for their brand recognition and global exposure, mid-size firms offer advantages that can often lead to more personalized development and long-term career satisfaction.
For those just entering the accounting profession, internships at a mid-sized or local accounting firm can provide a more intimate, hands-on learning experience. You won’t get lost in the shuffle — instead, you’ll have access to leadership, diverse work, and mentorship from the start. If you're already in the industry and considering a change, a regional CPA firm can offer better balance, more variety, and deeper client relationships than a national firm.
But don’t just take it from us, here’s one of our long-term employees’ stories from internship to full-time accounting career with us.
Joe’s Journey
Joe Cannella started his education at Temple University on the path to becoming a CPA and initially set his sights on working for a Big Four accounting firm.
But as he progressed with his schooling, he found:
“I knew my passion didn’t lie with serving publicly-owned companies. Once I came to this realization, I started researching the regional accounting firms recruiting at Temple and was lucky enough to secure an internship with Kreischer Miller in the tax department.”
Since his internship, Joe has built his career at Kreischer Miller and discovered three critical differentiators of choosing a local accounting firm like ours over a Big Four.
Here’s what he shared with us.
Working at a Local CPA Firm
When evaluating your career options in public accounting, it's important to consider the day-to-day work environment, client interaction, and long-term growth opportunities. At a regional CPA firm, the benefits go beyond the typical perks — you'll often find more exposure, flexibility, and mentorship than in a large corporate structure.
1. You Can Build Strong Professional Skills through One-on-One Team Collaboration
At Kreischer Miller, people truly define the experience.
As Joe reflects, “I’ve had the pleasure of working with a variety [of] team members who each have their own unique skillset. Experienced team members are always looking to provide learning and growth opportunities.”
Our inclusive culture means you engage daily with mentors, managers, and partners — learning technical skills and client advisory capabilities from all levels. It’s one key advantage that sets our mid‑size firm apart.
Unlike Big Four firms where your work may be confined to a specific niche or department for years, regional CPA firms encourage professionals to try different areas of accounting and develop a wide-ranging skill set. You'll work directly with firm leadership and receive real-time feedback to help accelerate your growth.
Explore What’s Different About Working at Kreischer Miller for additional context on team dynamics and professional growth when working for our firm.
2. You’ll Be Exposed to Diverse Clients & Gain Versatile Career Experience
Opting for a local accounting firm offers breadth in client exposure.
Joe points out: “We have a diverse group of privately-held clients in a variety of industries, ranging in size from $2 million to over $1 billion in annual revenue.”
At Kreischer Miller, you’ll work with a mix of privately-held businesses in Philadelphia and surrounding areas — from more advanced startups to mature organizations. Our clients also span many industries (Manufacturing, Real Estate, Professional Services, and more) and you’ll have an opportunity to engage directly with business owners and executives quickly.
What makes this different from a Big Four firm? In an international or even a large national firm, you may spend years assigned to a single client or industry vertical. At a regional CPA firm, you'll experience a wide variety of projects and client challenges, giving you a more well-rounded foundation and the opportunity to discover what areas you enjoy most.
3. Flexibility & Work‑Life Balance That Supports Your Personal Life
Joe explains the flexibility offered by Kreischer Miller: “Kreischer Miller goes above and beyond in terms of their commitment to their people.”
He also wanted to recognize our hybrid-schedule, “We constantly look for ways to help team members achieve a quality work‑life balance, like our fall and summer hour programs.”
As a firm recognized repeatedly as a Top Mid-Sized Workplace in the Philadelphia region, we offer generous PTO, summer and fall early‑Friday schedules, hybrid working arrangements, and well-being programs.
You’re empowered to maintain your personal interests while progressing professionally.
In contrast, Big Four firms are often known for long hours, frequent travel, and highly demanding busy seasons. While these experiences can be valuable for some, they may not suit everyone’s lifestyle or career goals. At a mid-size accounting firm like Kreischer Miller, you can pursue a high-impact career while still having time for your personal life, hobbies, and family.
Why Choose Kreischer Miller Over Big Four or Other National Firms?
Transitioning away from a Big Four accounting firm and into a regional CPA firm often results in more meaningful engagement and a stronger sense of belonging.
At Kreischer Miller:
- Our mid‑tier size (about 300 professionals) offers scale without losing individual recognition.
- You’ll interact with multiple clients early on and deliver real impact.
- We emphasize long-term retention through culture and employee development.
Choosing a mid‑size accounting firm or regional CPA firm means selecting a career path grounded in variety, mentorship, and balance.
As Joe concludes: “I’ve never had the desire to look elsewhere.”
Explore Our CPA Internships & Careers in Philadelphia, PA
At Kreischer Miller, a mid-size accounting firm based in the Greater Philadelphia area, we offer professionals the chance to make meaningful contributions early in their careers. Our size allows us to be agile and collaborative, while still providing access to sophisticated work and high-impact clients and makes us one of the best accounting firms to work for in PA.
If you’ve interned at a national firm and feel uncertain about that path, consider exploring our Career Opportunities here.
We offer internships and entry-level roles that provide meaningful, hands-on experience. Interns at Kreischer Miller work alongside experienced professionals on real client projects, gaining early exposure to Tax, Audit, Advisory, and Consulting services.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking for a more fulfilling professional home, we invite you to learn more about the Kreischer Miller difference.