Companies that carry the titles Big 4, blue chip, FTSE or more recently ‘Superbrand’; aren’t these just different words for the same thing?
And how are such labels acquired? Scale? Delivery? World domination? Or is it just simply a measurement of annual turnover and profit?
The exact criteria remain a bit of an enigma. The Business Superbrands survey defines a ‘Superbrand’ as follows:
“A Business Superbrand has established the finest reputation in its field. It offers customers significant emotional and/or tangible advantages over its competitors, which customers want and recognise.”
With the ranking of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as one of 2010’s top ten Business Superbrands last month (in addition to its Big 4 status), what does it actually mean to work for such a company?
The most obvious (but still valid) answer is the weight it adds to your CV. Prestigious companies attract fierce competition, so if you manage to get offered a job, you’re likely to be the top of the candidate pack.
However, don’t miss out on smaller businesses just because they don’t pack the same ‘celebrity’ punch. There are plenty of opportunities at smaller accountancy firms and SMEs. You’re likely to encounter a greater variety of work and the opportunity to get to know people rather than masses of faceless names and email addresses.
Equally, you can dip a toe into other facets of business by working as an accountant for a company rather than a practice. Read about more career options on the GAAPweb blog.
Whether or not you decide to actively pursue a career with a prestigious company, you should always keep your options open. After all, a ‘Superbrand’ organisation is only as good as its employees.