Box Theory - Tax Supervisor RSM Employee Review

1.0
May 30, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great clients, tons of opportunities to learn and grow, very smart people to learn from

Cons

At RSM in Houston you are placed in a box from day one and that determines your career at the firm. This is not based on your input either. It is based on your interactions with management and how you work; the partners and management assume where they think your career should go. This can be a good thing, but it is ultimately a very bad way to operate. Certain people they peg as a superstar are just handed all of these great opportunities on a platter. They are taken to client meetings early on, they get to be involved in special projects where they can learn new things, they get the best clients to work on, etc. These opportunities make them stand out and more likely to get promotions over others. The partners know this and do it on purpose. If they see someone who they would like to get promoted, they throw extra opportunities at them that will increase their chances of getting promoted like interviewing, giving presentations, and leading special groups. These are great ways to get promoted and recognized but they are being handed out to favorites. This has led to multiple people getting promoted before they should and hurts that individual and the firm in the long run. Other people are placed into different boxes where they do not get special treatment. These are the people that the firm assumes just want to work and are not interested in growing or getting promoted like others. There are too many people in this category. I have worked with many supervisors and seniors who have been in those positions for multiple years and it is obvious they have the potential to grow and move up. The problem is they are not a partner's favorite so they have to fight for the opportunities that others are just handed on a regular basis. This is discouraging to them so they will most likely never bring it up. When they do the response from the partner is most likely "why didn't you tell me you wanted this before?" Valid question but in response to the partner I would ask "why are you handing these opportunities to others without them asking?" Management at this office is a disaster. What I have presented is just one big issue I have encountered during my time with RSM and it has frustrated me to no end. I do not see this changing. The partners and management are too stubborn to accept the fact that they have issues and need to correct them. They live in their own little world where everything is fine and the issues are ignored or swept under the rug. Until this ends and they start treating everyone fairly, they will continue to have high turnover and unhappy employees.

Explore other reviews about RSM

5.0
Jun 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The people are nice and flexible WFH

Cons

The pay is below big 4

2.0
Jun 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- As assurance associate that came over from another public accounting firm, some pros are the ability to work with several different teams. - Hybrid, 2-4 days in office - Learn from senior associates - At my last acct firm never did inventory observations, so got the chance to see what that was like here at RSM

Cons

- Some seniors associates aren’t able to explain or teach which plays a part in your development as a first year associate or intern. I feel first year, intern should be able to leave feedback on senior associates. As if I’m having trouble with a senior who am I supposed to go, due to the hierarchy system they have implemented at RSM. - Can be Clicky & your colleagues will be friends in your face and talk behind you behind your back, I’ve seen it happen to others so I’m pretty sure it happened to me. Houston office can be toxic - Hierarchy system, leave people thinking with senior job titles that they are above you and you can be treated like sh*t - Favortism, you don’t have an equal chance here, because every first year is not put in the same position to succeed. Some first years are able to work closely with partners and the same colleagues but different clients which is where they can have the opportunity to build great relationships while some have to bounce from senior to senior having to learn for each client and adapt to how the senior wants the job done which in turn doesn’t help build relationships. As one can senior want something done such as accounts payable one way then you get to another client and the senior wants accounts payable done another way which makes you look bad in their eyes. Which doesn’t set you up for success at all and can overall lead to a layoff.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All