Some managers are not qualified to be managers--they're just the ones that were promoted because they did not quit. Pay at the entry and senior levels are abominable--I know people who work in the middle of no where, have not spent countless hours studying for a licensing exam, and did not pursue an additional 30 credit hours, that make more than I did. Bonuses are poor. Cannot relate to leadership. As many people know, the pay per hour in public, factoring in busy season, is ridiculously low. People going the BS Accounting/150 hour/CPA/Big 4 route should explore other career options. While an accounting degree is great, you can make much more money much faster outside of Big 4 with an accounting undergrad. One example would be working at a ratings agency and pursuing a CFA, or at a financial services company like AMEX, Capital One, or something similar. If considering a 5th year, consider a Masters in Finance. If MBA is in your plan, realize that while Big 4 can get you in, it's not the most efficient way--people working 40 hour jobs get into top programs. At the end of the day, do what you have to do, but don't limit your options.
