I'm about 1.5 years into my first job out of a MAcc — audit associate at a Big 4 with my CPA. I don't hate it, but I'm realizing audit isn't where I want to be long-term.

The goal: build a rental portfolio and eventually reach some level of financial independence through real estate. Planning to relocate to a MCOL/LCOL market (Midwest or South) to house hack and find cash-flowing properties. I figure being inside the industry — understanding how deals get underwritten, how sellers think, how financing is structured — accelerates that personal investing goal way faster than staying in audit ever would.

Career-wise, I want to be closer to transactions, not reporting on them. Something acquisitions-oriented, underwriting, or anything that involves actual negotiation. I like that side of things.

A few specific questions:

- What roles should I realistically target from Big 4 audit? (RE PE? Acquisitions analyst? Development? CRE brokerage?)

- How feasible is breaking in without direct RE experience — does the CPA/Big 4 background actually open doors in RE?

- What should I start building now to make the transition? (Financial modeling, Argus, something else?)

- Does it make sense to try to transition internally first (RE clients, TAS) before making the full jump?

Would especially love to hear from anyone who made a similar move or works in RE acquisitions/AM. What roles did you target, how did you pitch your background, and did being in the industry actually help with your own real estate investing?

Appreciate any input.