ACCA & Big Four

J

jubilee

New Member
I am about to complete my acca and i want to join big four after completed acca. Anyway, i was told that big four will only recruit ACCA grad wif 3.1 audit optional paper.. Anyone noe about tis? coz i dun really like the subject... so i actually choosed other optional papers... Can someone clear my doubt? If this is true, does it means tat i have to retake 3.1 so as to join big four? My frenz told me this case apply to poly grad wif subsidise for their acca course from big four.. but for private student, he is not sure... anyone can help? thanks a lot..
 


Justin, big four are external auditor. So if you want to just them as auditors, you would need auditing qualification ie 3.1
 
ic.. Thanks, mayelene!
happy.gif
 
justin,

I agree with penelope. If you intend to join their auditing department. Unless u intend to join them to do tax or advisory or some other departments?

Anyway, it doesn't mean that once u get ur ACCA u can get into the Big 4.
 
Thanks Icebaby & Mayelene... if tis is the case, then i might hv to take up one more optional paper than the rest.. coz big four recruit from Jul to Dec.. so if i miss tis chacne, then i have to wait for another year.... n i understand it is not so easy to get into big four~ jus giv it a try bah~ Anyway, r u guys from Big four? or worked there before?
 
Hi Mayelene,
act i m currently working in commercial line.. i dun noe whether it is a rite decision to join big four after complete acca.. coz i will suffer a pay cut later on n have to start from zero again... wat do u think about commercial accounting? Do u think u r in a disadvantage when compare wif those who hv exp in big four?
 
Hi Justin, do you mean you will suffer a pay cut if you leave big 4 and join commercial accounting? Technically this is true for most auditors turn accountants. Big firms generally prefer ppl with big 4 audit experience, so if you have the opportunity, i will encourage you to join them. But the hours are gruelsome and you will definitely sacrifice sleep and precious time with your love ones. If you are willing to tolerate 3 years of that, I will say go ahead. However, if you are not ready for such heavy work commitment, i will advise you to go into commercial accounting where the hours are more predictable. Note that even if you have no experience in big 4, as long as your exposure in commercial accounting is good, your market value is still quite high. For me, i don't think i am in a disadvantaged position compared to those in big 4, cos i have alot of exposure in commercial accounting in my previous job.
 
i mean i will suffer a pay cut if i leave my current job... coz for audit, starting pay is only 2k.. yet my current drawing is almost 3k... i will definately get more when i complete acca... however, see no much prospect to grow wif my current job as there are three accountants here already..... since i have make up my mind, then will jus quit e job bah~ jus a bit worry that i might not be able to get e job~ haha~
 
My ACCA core paper is this coming June. Took audit paper too... Anyway I was working as audit asst before, so it was not too difficult. Want to join big 4, so I hope I pass this round.
happy.gif
 
anyone has 3.5 ftc lect notes to sell?
couldnt go for class as busy at work, intend to self-study.
pls pm me if you have the notes to sell. thanks!
 
Need some advice.
Want to know which is the preferred firm among the big fours? Is the starting pay the same for all entry level staff?
 
Heard that Deloitte is quite good. Starting pay I am not too sure. Prob 2K. Increment is not bad. Someone I know got around $1K increment in 2 years.
 
nowadays the starting pay is S$2.2k for 1st year assistants. there was a 10% increase across most accounting professions. increment wise, all big 4 pay around S$300-400 for yearly raises. for promotions from e.g. assistant to senior level, you'll get around S$800-900. that's the norm.

all big 4 pay the same. would actually advise you to go for pwc instead of dt tho. pwc has a larger pool of employees, so you won't be worked too hard during peak. i worked in dt before, and the peak was worse cos we didn't have enough assistants and such. so everyone had to pull longer hours. good thing is that dt doesn't have a cap on the amount of time off hours you can accumulate, so you'll have maybe 5 weeks worth of time off you can take during off peak. kpmg for example only allows you to accumulate a max of 2 weeks i think.

also, it's not really true you'll get a pay cut if you leave big 4. if you switch to an mnc, you'll be paid the same if not higher. also, having the big 4 on your resume is really really sought after in the industry.
 
Hi Krispykreme..

Think KPMG allows you to accumulate a max of 260hrs a year which is equal to 6.5weeks.. this is very good for assistant level.. but senior level.. would be pretty difficult to enjoy the long break without having work still on hand during the break.
 
hey all!

I'm working in one of the big 4s now! Starting pay will be 2.4k for fresh grads with honors this july onwards.

Pay increments goes like this:

1st year pay: 2.4k
2nd year pay: 2.4 + 500 = 2.8k
3rd year pay: 2.8 +1k = 3.8k
4th year par: 3.8 + 500 = 4.2k

And the increment goes on...

Its the same for all big 4s. and those that are worried about the hard work, then don't join audit, join the advisory team! we work till 6.15pm. only OT on certain jobs.. max 11pm
 
Hi all, I'm working for one of the BIG 4 too..my advise is,DONT ever join...the turn0ver rate is so high..can see ppl leaving almost every month..Im going to leave this F**king firm and definitely not turning back again..pay sucks, and not to mention BONUS..
 
haha
nope.. longer hours doesn't mean more pay.. now we're not even allowed to claim TIME OFF for the OT that we're working...

blame the bad economy.. but at least we don't have retrenchment.

hahhaa
 
Hi Eileen Ng (twinkleng),

I'm interested in joining Big four in IT audit. Do you know anything about the IT audit service? Is the current recruitment situation looking good?

Thanks
 
Hi,

would appreciate if i am able to get a answer on which training centre would be good? FTMS Global? kaplan? or SAA?
 
I completed my ACCA 2 years back. And I wrote in numerous times to the Big 4 after qualifying, and even with accounting experience, I got no response to whatever department I have written in to. Sad to say, the Big 4 firms prefer graduates from local uni instead. This is confirmed by some of my managers and even my cousin, who is a partner in one of the Big 4s.

Even if you do get in eventually, the level of learning and exposure varies. I have friends in the Big 4 who says those with ACCA qualifications do not have a chance to audit listed companies, financial institutions, etc. They only get to do SMEs. Priority is still given to those NTU/SMU/NUS grads.

I suggest you think really carefully over this mid-career switch as I really regret studying accountancy sometimes. It is un-interesting and desk bound most of the time.
 
huh, andrea, if your cousin is the partner in on eof the Big 4, you sure can get in right?!

Anyway, I was an ACCA graduate and I was from 2 of the big four. Is true that Big four gives priority to local grads but I don't agree that there's any preference once you get in there, i mean preference of local U over ACCA, of course the manager do have preference over staff who are performer.
The entry for Big four was tough in my time, but nowadays I see many ppl join from local firm, or overseas Uni, i suppose they've lower down the entry barrier as they are short of staff.
I completed my ACCA in 1.5 years after my poly, I must say this is a tougher road compare to university but worth it as it saves my time.
Right now I'm working in the accounting department, once you're at the managerial level I don't find it routine or boring or desk bound. I'm mobile most of the time. I pretty enjoying my life.
So, work hard and gain more valuable experience, the good future is lying ahead.
 
I pass ACCA with flying colours, never fail before n got 1st class honors with their BSc. That's when I feel i suited to this profession. Start working in big 4 and CPA firms and works like slave drivers, less pay, long hours and high stress. If u r young and no commitments , should start off working and learn as much as you can. After that, you can jump to other MNC to earn big money. I have done audit, accounts, tax and secretarial in CPA firms. I hate to do audit, so in the end I specialize in accounts. I like tax but not much jobs available.
 
Big four is a good entry point to acquire the right skills, no doubt the works are much demanding than commercial and local firms.
I've seen many auditors from local firms still vouching the expenses to GL, which is nonsense to me, if you start from local firms, chances are u acquire the wrong concept and wrong methods.
Whether big $ or not, it depends on your performance and your path. If you join a company as accountant after ACCA, you won't be getting far as you're lacked of many technical knowledges. For MNC, they would require someone with audit background, preferably from big 4.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top