Choosing an Accounting Firm: Key Factors Every Student Should Consider
May 2026
Author: Kathryn McDermott, Recruiting at Frank, Rimerman
There’s a lot of information out there to help you narrow down which accounting firm might be the best fit for you. Most people are familiar with tools like the Vault rankings or Glassdoor, but today I wanted to highlight other areas to consider when deciding on a firm.
Success and fulfillment are possible at firms of any size—from local practices to national leaders. Here are a few additional factors to consider as you narrow your list.
When Choosing an Accounting Firm – Location Matters!
One of my very favorite things about public accounting is that it exists just about anywhere. However, do you find yourself missing your hometown while you’re away at school? If so, it might be a good idea to look at local or regional firms near your home city or state. If you’re up for an adventure, take a look at firms with a wide spread of offices in areas that you’d like to move to after school.
Service Line Availability Varies by Accounting Firm
At some firms, not every service line is available in every office. For example, at my first firm, certain advisory teams were based out of select core locations. Additionally, at some firms, certain offices are home to international practices that work with clients based in places like Korea or Japan. If you have your heart set on a certain service line or department, make sure that you understand which locations will offer that as an option. On the other hand, you’re usually able to find core audit and tax departments in most offices of the larger and mid-size firms.
Choosing an Accounting Firm by Industry Specialization
Another factor that’s closely related to location is industry. Although our world has gotten smaller as a result of virtual tools like Zoom, Slack, and Teams, there are still some industries that are highly concentrated in certain areas. If you want to work with entertainment clients like movie studios or production companies, Los Angeles might be the place for you. If you’ve had an interest in industries like banking and financial services, the East Coast has a lot to offer. Finally, if you’re drawn to the tech-focused vibe of the Silicon Valley, the Bay Area could be a great option with numerous innovative clients.
Researching Accounting Firms Beyond Rankings – What are your friends saying?
I don’t know about you, but I’m someone who reads the Yelp reviews before going out to a restaurant so I can see what other people are ordering. If you’re someone who seeks the input of others, you can always chat with friends about their experiences interning and working at some of the firms you’re considering. By chatting with friends-of-friends, fellow club members, recent graduates, older siblings, or LinkedIn connections, you can get a broad array of perspectives in addition to using online resources like Glassdoor. However, always make sure to take your own research and preferences into account as well!
So, when might Frank, Rimerman + Co. be a great choice?
If you’re interested in exploring a Bay Area-based accounting firm, or if you’re interested in our additional locations in San Diego, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City
- If you’re curious about both Audit and Tax and would like to rotate between groups within a summer internship
- If you’re passionate about working with both businesses and individuals, including founders, entrepreneurs, board members, and investors
- If you’re intrigued by industries like technology, AI, software as a service (SaaS), venture capital, and research & development
- If you’re interested in a mid-size firm with opportunities to grow, be challenged, and meet excellent colleagues and clients
Good luck in your recruitment journey, and feel free to reach out with any questions!
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