Stay or go?

28 is the time of your life to make the big moves.

I get how you're feeling. It sounds perhaps that you're mostly feeling a bit "guilty" for not being busy in work, despite asking for more work and being a good worker. But I would say there's nothing to be guilty or feel bad about. The company seem happy with you, so why not enjoy being not too stressed and being able to relax most days a week. I'm a hard worker in my job but I also appreciate my mental health and appreciate the days where I'm not overwhelmed with work.

I would say push for a raise in your current role. At least it'll take the money aspect out of your decision to move. Then could you ask to change your working hours (start earlier, or later), or work 4 days a week? Or ask for more holidays? Maybe you can then make the most of your free time and go on more holidays with your other half or mates. Make the most of the time you're free!

And for the days you're working from home, could you perhaps work from a cafe or library? I find it really helps shakes things up, even if it's just a 1/2 day a week.

Complications yes. But also youth give you time to recover from mistake and take risks that you won't want to later. Without without kids.

Though Kids can make it hard to be that mobile that adaptable.

Best of luck OP. Just a few thoughts and snippets that may be of interest (albeit a bit late!). Don’t work in Big 4 but know a tonne who do. Below is recentish salary scale on audit side (generally poorly paid so you can probably add a bit, but gives you a sense of relativities).

Associate Director (1) - 82k + 15k bonus

AD (2) - 84k + 20k bonus

Director (1) - 93k + 20/25k bonus

Director (2) - 100k + 30k bonus

(Title names can be slightly different from company to company)

pensions are typically age related. Non existent before 30. Excellent after.

After the above you’re into salaried partner and equity partners which is when real money comes into it.

From everything I know, in the big 4, you fit into one of two boats.

A) acquiring a skill set which makes you incredibly attractive to senior industry roles at which point you exit.

B) pushing hell for leather for partnership.

Relative to the work, the pay is pretty poor throughout until partnership, so it makes no sense to hang around the middle management tiers long term. From your previous posts I don’t get the vibe you’re a sacrifice it all for partnership kinda guy. So get in there, work hard, build up a skill set and then move back into a senior industry role in a few years on better money with better work life balance! Good luck!

Also, a previous post mentioned shares as part of big 4 Comp. All big 4 are private partnerships so I have never heard of anyone being awarded ‘shares’…as there are none to award. Would take this with pinch of salt. Big 4 are remarkably uniform and strict with their packages. You don’t get people negotiating out of the ordinary comp until very senior positions.

Own industry is usually easier but I’m financial services so won’t profess to be an expert in your particular area. I’ve met and worked with COO’s and even a few CFOs without any formal professional qualification and very broad, non specific experiences. At a certain point you become a strategic thinker/problem solver/people manager rather than a ‘qualified X or Y’.

The Big 4 and consultancy generally is a great place to learn those skills and no doubt you’ll be very attractive to a host of companies in future if you succeed.

I see now I said a ‘a few years’ in my post. But probably talking certainly 3+ rather than 1-2. Either way, as others have alluded to, 20s is way too young to be stagnating so you’ve made the right call. I’d be almost certain you won’t regret making a move - but that leap of faith is often hard to take so well done for doing so!

IT companies often have shares and share options. Time locked so you can't sell them until after a certain time. Leave early and you lose them. I'm not sure thats what you're asking.