Difference in Big 4 and small audit firm - Part 2

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Milo-Dino

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Big 4 takes in Non-Accountancy Graduates too. Not many, but got.

Not just Business, even Engineerig and Math graduates also have.

Everyone is on par / equally qualifed after getting their CA SG. The hard part is actually passing the papers. But surprisingly,the NAGs in my firm seem to do quite well... they really mug hard to pass unlike some Acc grads who took things for granted and end up failing.
Ya I know have. Last time I got non accounting friend in big4, in audit because got connections lol.

Now audit season again... Jin jelly pwc auditor so free.. Always go home earlier than me

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-73H_64M3R-

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So strange. Nowdays non-accountancy graduates are now eligible for CA sg too? If I remember correctly, only those with accredited degree can then be accepted into the programme since the rebranding.

Yeah. Non-accredited degrees are on a case by case basis though.
 

TKR1992

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My point is.. The guy above is expecting to be able to get an accounting job with business degree?

Accounting degree holders really go eat grass liao..

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I was asking on behalf of someone else, and yes he has gotten into Big 4 with a Business degree.

Accounting jobs aren't exclusive to accounting degree holders, but surely they will be preferred by accounting firms.
 

jace88

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I was asking on behalf of someone else, and yes he has gotten into Big 4 with a Business degree.

Accounting jobs aren't exclusive to accounting degree holders, but surely they will be preferred by accounting firms.



I thought it varies by firm & country as 'business degree' means different things to different people.
 

-73H_64M3R-

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Why I feels accounting professionals like more & more not professionals in Singapore?

Accountants weren't very much considered professionals in the first place. The formal professions are Law and Medicine. They're protected to a lesser extent now but still, you need very specific degrees to become a doctor or a lawyer.
 

bubblegumcartel

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I don’t think accounting is very difficult at all... I don’t think reading Geog or History in school will impede with your ability to account for things.

Everyone need to take professional papers anyways so in terms of knowledge and technical skills, really no difference between accounting grads and say a history grad. I’d say about 10% of my colleagues did accounting in uni...

Why I feels accounting professionals like more & more not professionals in Singapore?
 

Milo-Dino

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The difficulty comes in the changes of accounting standards and the impact on the accounts and way things are done. Just like the changes in revenue recognition and accounting for leases.

Anyway accounting is only the first step. The eventual aim should be on how accounting can help you get to management level and how it helps in decision making.

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asdarf

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There is a difference between bookkeeping and accounting. Some expect bookkeepers to perform like accountants and some only want to pay accountants like bookkeepers.

Current trend seems to be towards FPnA too - but then you often get dragged into reviewing bookkeeping outputs.
 

kaysee

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Ya I know have. Last time I got non accounting friend in big4, in audit because got connections lol.

Now audit season again... Jin jelly pwc auditor so free.. Always go home earlier than me

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Hahaha. Maybe they go home makan then continue again till very late. Alot of ppl doing that nowadays. More comfortable instead of being in your office attire and working.
 

Milo-Dino

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Hahaha. Maybe they go home makan then continue again till very late. Alot of ppl doing that nowadays. More comfortable instead of being in your office attire and working.
Don't bring laptop home, can work?

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xjszex

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Alright, I have a slight dilemma, I'm current an Audit Senior in a mid-tier firm. I've recently went for an interview in one of the Big 4 firms, and will most probably be offered a position as an A2 (downgrade of 1 level), that's normal and fine with me.

My concern is because I'll be joining mid Feb, the Senior Manager that interviewed me mentioned that it is highly unlikely that I would be promoted this year (June). Whereas, if I stay in my current mid-tier firm, I would be promoted in Sep if everything goes well.

Need some advice on the situation, and the recommended path I should likely take.
 

Kyoji83

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After your promotion to S2 in your current mid-tier firm, will you still be interested to join Big4?

Cause Big4 may still offer you A2 position even if you are S2 or worst, not going to hire you anymore.


Alright, I have a slight dilemma, I'm current an Audit Senior in a mid-tier firm. I've recently went for an interview in one of the Big 4 firms, and will most probably be offered a position as an A2 (downgrade of 1 level), that's normal and fine with me.

My concern is because I'll be joining mid Feb, the Senior Manager that interviewed me mentioned that it is highly unlikely that I would be promoted this year (June). Whereas, if I stay in my current mid-tier firm, I would be promoted in Sep if everything goes well.

Need some advice on the situation, and the recommended path I should likely take.
 

AngelBurst

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Alright, I have a slight dilemma, I'm current an Audit Senior in a mid-tier firm. I've recently went for an interview in one of the Big 4 firms, and will most probably be offered a position as an A2 (downgrade of 1 level), that's normal and fine with me.

My concern is because I'll be joining mid Feb, the Senior Manager that interviewed me mentioned that it is highly unlikely that I would be promoted this year (June). Whereas, if I stay in my current mid-tier firm, I would be promoted in Sep if everything goes well.

Need some advice on the situation, and the recommended path I should likely take.


What are your current academic & professional qualifications?

Why want to go Big4?
 

jace88

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Alright, I have a slight dilemma, I'm current an Audit Senior in a mid-tier firm. I've recently went for an interview in one of the Big 4 firms, and will most probably be offered a position as an A2 (downgrade of 1 level), that's normal and fine with me.

My concern is because I'll be joining mid Feb, the Senior Manager that interviewed me mentioned that it is highly unlikely that I would be promoted this year (June). Whereas, if I stay in my current mid-tier firm, I would be promoted in Sep if everything goes well.

Need some advice on the situation, and the recommended path I should likely take.

By default I would assume no promotion but you can try to negotiate it in - or at least understand their rationale/concerns for downgrading you to A2 and keeping you there for a year (and whether it's reasonable). You don't know how strong you will perform relative to the other A2's when you join. It's been done before where people join and turn out to be amazing and get promoted anyway.
 

QueSeraSera

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Hi!

Hoping to get all your laojiao's advice. Does your audit portfolio matter much when jumping from Big 4 to commercial?

My jobs have mainly been IPOs - so we audit smaller companies/retail. If I were looking to jump to an MNC, would this limit my career options, than if I were auditing bigger listed companies?

Thanks for your advice!
 

Kyoji83

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Hi!

Hoping to get all your laojiao's advice. Does your audit portfolio matter much when jumping from Big 4 to commercial?


If all are asking for same salary, then chose Big4.

However those Big4 may ask for higher salary, so company can only afford lower range of salary which may in directly create an opportunity for you.


My jobs have mainly been IPOs - so we audit smaller companies/retail. If I were looking to jump to an MNC, would this limit my career options, than if I were auditing bigger listed companies?


Sometime it is about the branding & etc.

For example, you can smoke interviewer that you have a structured training & resources if you work in a big company but you have to consider if you decided to say that for a small company.


Thanks for your advice!


Not from an accountant point of view but as a recruiter point of view.
 
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