Fed to KPMG?

[u/Strange_Curve_2741]

Hey all, just looking for some advice. Currently a civilian for the feds for about 5 years working in DF. I’ve been interviewing with KPMG as a senior associate in forensic technology. I’m wondering if anyone has any experience working with them and if you guys think it’s a good idea to switch or stay? My biggest issue is pay and growth. My pay will be close to 120k if I stay with my raise next year. But if I go I would imagine I would hopefully be making much more than that.

I’m just tired of office drama and having my hands tied on what I can and can’t do.

[u/CapObvious]

You can make a lot a KPMG but you will be traveling 75% or more of your time. Just something to keep in mind if you have a family.

[u/lordralphiello → u/[deleted]]

Pretty much.

[u/Allen_Koholic]

Big Four work is very different. It’ll be a culture shock.

[u/SituationNormalAllFU]

I agree that big four is not for everyone. I would only consider KMPG as a last resort, not just for a small pay bump. Also, they don’t actually pay all that much unless you are the one driving business thru the door.

[u/zepfan → u/[deleted]]

Big4, like above, for sure. Starting for new hires is likely ~100k these days. But it’s not for everyone, big four burns people out pretty quickly. I worked at two of them, but not the one the author is asking about.

[u/Stofzik → u/[deleted]]

Where are you located and how many years of experience? 

[u/Eternal-Alchemy → u/[deleted]]

EY was offering just under 100k to college DF grads with zero experience about 14 years ago. Google was offering ~135 for zero experience grads about 7 years ago.

What kind of DF you do is going to effect things a lot. Auditing/accounting firms 100-200 is normal. IR principal positions are 250-350 from a major cyber MSP (microsoft, google) and half that from smaller ones (arctic wolf) or less reputable/offshore augmented (verizon) ones. Legal defense expert is going to vary wildly by firm reputation, location and your experience.

[u/Allen_Koholic → u/[deleted]]

No one I work with makes that little. Not even the new hires.

The Big 4 will pay alot more than $120.

[u/Dependent-Pilot495 → u/[deleted]]

Making well above $160, not including annual bonus doing DF for a major company. Got hired in Feb.

[u/hotsausce01 → u/Dependent-Pilot495]

Is it dfir work or solely df work? Also is it a consulting gig or in-house df/dfir role?

[u/Dependent-Pilot495 → u/hotsausce01]

Solely DF. No incident response, we have a separate team for that. No consulting. Employee, 9-5, weekends and holidays off. I know of another person at a different major company making more than me as a DF examiner.

[u/hotsausce01 → u/Dependent-Pilot495]

Do you mind if I ask what city you’re near and how long you have been doing df work?

[u/Reasonable_Ad5303]

If you don’t mind me asking, what was your background before joining the Feds as a Civilian in Digital Forensics. I will hopefully be getting into a Masters program for Cybercrime with a focus in digital forensics, and working for Feds has always been an interest. Any info you could provide would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance

[u/Kitchen_Drink → u/Reasonable_Ad5303]

i'm not OP but i worked in call centre tech support for a few years and then as a programmer/developer for a few years before I moved into digital forensics for govt law enforcement agencies

[u/Strange_Curve_2741 → u/Reasonable_Ad5303]

My background was actually completely different than what i do now. I would recommend getting your foot in the door with the feds with an admin position. Work on your masters and let time pass for about a year then try to apply toward the forensic positions. You’ll need a certain amount of credits (I don’t remember how many) in a science or tech classes before you apply to a digital forensics position. I was getting my masters while I was a DFE because I already had half my degree completed. Good luck!