Pros
I spent about 2 years at Ryan out of college before going to the Big 4 for 5 years. I've now been back with Ryan for almost 8 years. What I experienced at the Big 4 was completely opposite of what I expected. Rather than working with or developing cutting edge issues, I was tasked with taking the most conservative approach or doing "Same as last year." There was never an incentive to improve the process or become more efficient, but always asked "How does Ryan do it?" Ryan's client roster is as good or better in many cases than the Big 4. Clients continue to ask for our help after the Big 4 has told them to just pay a tax or we can't fight this issue. Getting to work with world class clients' Finance and Tax Departments, staying on the cutting-edge of tax issues, unlimited earnings potential, flexible work arrangements will keep me at Ryan.
Cons
We are all driven by a competitive spirit and it can create internal tension.