Making the move from practice into industry
Every year we speak with accountants, auditors and actuaries who have reached the same crossroads: they've built a solid foundation in practice — a Big Four firm, a mid-tier auditor, an actuarial consultancy — and they're wondering whether their future lies in-house.
It's one of the most common moves we advise on. It's also one of the most misunderstood. So here's an honest view of what changes, what you gain, and what you give up.
Why people make the move
The reasons are consistent. People want to see decisions through rather than hand over a report and leave. They want to understand one business deeply instead of dipping into many. They're tired of chargeable hours, and they want a working pattern that's easier to plan a life around.
There's also the pull of ownership. In practice, you advise. In industry, you decide, implement, and live with the consequences. For a lot of people, that's the whole appeal.
What genuinely improves
Depth over breadth. Instead of learning a new client every few weeks, you build real expertise in one organisation — its systems, its people, its commercial pressures. That knowledge compounds.
Work-life balance, usually. Busy season doesn't disappear, but it tends to become month-end, quarter-end and year-end — predictable peaks you can plan around, rather than an unpredictable client roster.
Commercial influence. You stop being the external voice in the room and start being part of the team that acts on the numbers. For many, that proximity to the business is the single biggest reward.
The trade-offs nobody mentions
Variety goes down. The intellectual stimulation of constant new problems is real, and some people miss it more than they expect. A slower rhythm can feel like a lull after the pace of practice.
Progression looks different. In practice, promotion is structured and relatively predictable. In industry, the next role often depends on someone above you moving on. Titles and pay bands vary wildly between companies, and the ladder is rarely as clearly signposted.
You lose the brand and the network. The name on your business card carried weight; the peers around you were going through the same thing. In-house, you're often one of a smaller team, and you build your reputation from scratch within a new culture.
The first move can flatten your earnings. We're honest about this. The base salary may look strong, but you're typically leaving behind a clear promotion path and, in some cases, bonus structures that reward billable performance. The long-term upside is often better — it just doesn't always arrive on day one.
Timing and how to position yourself
In our experience, the strongest window is shortly after qualification, through to around three to five years post-qualified. Early enough that you're affordable and adaptable; experienced enough that you've owned real work.
A few things that make candidates stand out:
- Translate your experience into their language. Audit clients become "businesses I've assessed"; controls work becomes "process improvement." Hiring managers want commercial relevance, not a list of engagements.
- Show curiosity about the business, not just the role. The best in-house hires ask about strategy and challenges, not only reporting lines.
- Be clear on your motivation. "I'm burnt out" isn't a strategy. "I want to build depth and influence outcomes" is.
Getting it right the first time
The mistake we see most often is treating the first in-house role as an escape rather than a decision. The move rewards people who choose the right business — the right sector, the right growth stage, the right culture — not simply the first offer that ends the timesheet.
Do that well, and practice becomes exactly what it should be: a strong foundation, not a ceiling.
Talk to us
We place practice-trained finance, audit and actuarial professionals into industry roles across insurance, financial services and technology every week. If you're weighing up the move — or just want a candid read on the market — get in touch with the Eames team. We'll give you the honest version.