Pros
Before joining Ryan, I'd heard about the exciting culture, committed employees and saw their ever expanding presence in the market. They were winning deals and taking names. I was evaluating a higher base salary at another firm or a good salary plus a potentially higher bonus plan with Ryan. All other benefits being pretty square, the variable was me. I took a leap of faith - on myself. I went with my gut instincts and my only regret, 4.5 years later, was not doing it sooner. 1) A highly engaged executive team that is accessible, (truly) cares about employees, listens and takes brisk action when necessary. (This makes a real difference. Changes at big 4 are painfully slow.) 2) Ryan provides a perfect balance of market presence and resources coupled with unmatched high growth. The result is an environment which allows for talented individuals to thrive and grow. 3) Hands down - the best work environment. My experience at 2 big 4 firms and one small firm (200 people) provide good perspective. Please do not underestimate the importance of this factor. Work and life, for me, run hand in hand. It is critical to make the right decision. If you are considering a role at Ryan and you believe in yourself the choice is clear.
Cons
Growing pains are a natural course of a high growth business. Ryan is implementing systems, updating software, hiring the right professionals to manage how prospects and targets can be allocated to best serve the firm. The con is that this takes some time to work out the kinks, get it right and then get everyone on-board with the new processes.
