Why Public Practice Still Has a Lot to Offer (Even If You’re Eyeing Commercial)

When it comes to career moves, the Practice vs Commercial decision comes up time and again for accountants in New Zealand. Many professionals wonder whether to stay in public practice or explore commercial roles.

It’s a completely fair question. The commercial world can seem appealing because it often means focusing on one client, enjoying more predictable hours, and maybe even “leaving timesheets behind.”

However, here’s the other side of the story: staying in public practice could be the very move that sets you up for the career you actually want. So before you make a jump, it’s worth exploring why public practice still has a lot to offer in 2025 – and why you might want to think twice before switching to commercial too soon.

You’ll Get Real Variety Early On

In a commercial role, you’ll generally focus on one business. While that can be great for depth, it can also limit your exposure.

In contrast, public practice offers:

• Work with different clients across multiple industries
• Experience with varied business structures – from start-ups to trusts, partnerships, and corporates
• The full spectrum of accounting tasks – compliance, advisory, tax planning, restructuring, and more

This variety builds a broader skillset and helps you figure out what you genuinely enjoy. You’re not confined to one business model or a single reporting cycle. Instead, every client is different, and with that difference comes constant learning.

Progression Can Happen Sooner

One thing candidates often don’t realise is that public practice frequently offers earlier leadership exposure than commercial roles. For example, you could be:

• Reviewing the work of junior staff within just a few years
• Running client meetings and building direct relationships
• Progressing to a client manager or leadership role earlier than your commercial peers
• Moving towards equity or partnership pathways if that’s your long-term goal

In commercial, structures can be flatter. This means you may have to wait for someone to leave before you can step up. In public practice, many CA firms are actively developing their next generation of leaders and will even map out your career plan from the start.

Practice vs Commercial: Ongoing Development vs Repetition

There’s a common perception that commercial roles offer more learning. However, that isn’t always the case. While some ommercial positions have excellent internal training, many become cyclical over time.

On the other hand, the best CA firms invest heavily in your development. In public practice, you can expect:

• Ongoing CA or CPA study support
• Regular technical updates
• Exposure to advisory work, systems implementation, cloud migration projects, and restructures
• Opportunities to specialise – from international tax to agribusiness to virtual CFO services

This ongoing development adds depth and breadth to your CV, rather than simply repeating the same month-end processes year after year.

Long-Term Flexibility and Portability

Public practice skills are globally relevant. New Zealand CAs can take their experience to the UK, Australia, Canada, and beyond.

Even if you plan to explore commercial roles one day, staying in public practice a bit longer can:

• Give you a stronger foundation to move into a wider range of roles
• Open doors to international firms or niche advisory work
• Make you more competitive for CFO or finance leadership positions in the future
• Increase your earning potential before you make the switch

In short, the well-rounded skills gained in public practice can make you an attractive candidate far beyond the CA world.

Practice Professionals Are in High Demand

Right now, strong candidates in public practice -especially those with 3 to 7 years of experience – are highly sought after. If you’re already performing well in your current role, you’re likely sitting in a market sweet spot.

Firms are:

• Offering flexibility, career mapping, and tailored development
• Eager to retain professionals who are genuinely engaged in the work
• Often willing to shape roles around your personal and professional goals

Therefore, before moving just for the sake of change, it’s worth exploring your current options. With the right environment and support, the growth you’re looking for might already be within reach.

Practice vs Commercial: Don’t Count CA Firms Out

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and commercial may well be the right fit for you down the track. But with the right recruiter who understands your aspirations, public practice could still offer exactly what you’re looking for – growth, variety, and long-term opportunity.

Ultimately, your next career move should be the right one, not just the next one.

Let’s make your next step the right one, not just the next one.

If you’re ready to work with a recruiter who listens and tailors the process to your needs, the Tyler Wren team is here to help.

Find out more about Tyler Wren’s:

• Public Practice Recruitment Here (NZ)
• Public Practice Recruitment Here (AU)
• Legal Recruitment here (NZ)
• Legal Recruitment here (AU)
• Risk and Compliance Recruitment here (NZ)
• General Insurance Recruitment here (NZ)
• Wealth Management Recruitment here (NZ)

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