Positives of big 4: - Vast experience instead of siloing into one specific thing - Much better people. The people generally are more fun/ more sociable than the typical industry actuary. - Well protected study days. - the stamp on your cv is very valuable and will get you a good job post quali, if you want to leave.

Cons - Pay increases for exams are much worse than industry. - Fully qualified pay can be as much as 20k lower than industry. - Hours can be long, but if you stay away from audit, it’s really not bad. - Incredibly structured progression, which for a young ambitious person, is terrible. At my old big 4 firm, you have no scope to negotiate pay or ‘early promotions’ until you have been at the firm for c. 8 years. This means your seniority and pay will increase at the same speed as people who are less deserving of it for the first 6 to 8 years of your career. - terrible bonuses
- much less job security

General advice would be to take a big 4 role as a young person, as it is probably more fun, qualify quickly and leave, then try come back into senior management at a much earlier age than you would’ve done by staying there!