Need some input from those with experience.

[tutonic]

Hello guys.
I've been going through the threads about the big 4s and stuffs over the past few days.
I'm left with 3 months of army so I believe it's about time to start making concrete plans for my future.
My results aren't fancy enough to enter local uni and retaking my A's is totally out of the question. So let's get that out of the way..

Okay first off, I'm torn between Sim Uol accounting finance and econs finance. I have equal interest in both fields.
Which degree is more versatile and of more 'value'?

Secondly, is it a requirement to obtain Acca after my Uol degree, before working in an auditing firm?

Thirdly, I'll have like a 6 month break after my ord date before school officially starts.
Is there anything I can do to gain related work experience? Or should I just get whatever job that pays me well?

That's all of my questions for now. Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[Successor.]

Number 1, what are your A level results?

Have you meet at least the below criteria stated in the website:

•Applicant must be at least 17 years old in the year of registration with UOL
•2 GCE 'A'/H2 level subjects and 3 GCE 'O' level subjects or
•3 GCE 'A'/H2 Level subjects and 1 GCE 'O' Level subject or
•3 H2 passes, provided at least grades D, E, E are obtained or
•2 H2 and 2 H1 passes, provided they are in non-overlapping subjects
•satisfy course requirements in English and Mathematics

Number 2, There are no which degree is worth more then the other

It all depends on your interests. As the name suggests, are you more interested into Accounting or Economics?

Accounting covers the basic Mgmt Acct'ing, Financial Reporting, Audit & Assurance, Corporate Finance.

Economics covers Macroeconomics, Microeconomics and Econometrics.

I don't suppose there is absolute versatility in one degree over another, it is your career plans, are you into an accounting role or more into an ecomomics / analyst role.

Number 3: There is no black and white which states that it is compulsory to achieve CPA (AKA completion of ACCA). However you have to understand that big firms especially Big 4 looks at ACCA (whether are you currently pursuing will be the minimum).

Number 4: I will strongly suggest you extend your service for 6 months in the army if you are 3rd sergeant and above. They pay $2.5k * 6 = $15k.
That's a lot of money and will cover your more then half your school fee or your short term expenditure.

Otherwise, get any contract job, in which you could refer to sites like stjobs.com. Accounts Assistant role is pretty difficult and most of their standards are Diploma in Accounting and with relevant experience (the best I saw was 1 year).

Anyway, I recommend you get anything that pays you well, supposing you have a pass in A levels, the starting pay is $1.7k to max $2.2k for fresh graduates.

 

[tutonic]

Number 1, what are your A level results?

Have you meet at least the below criteria stated in the website:

•Applicant must be at least 17 years old in the year of registration with UOL
•2 GCE 'A'/H2 level subjects and 3 GCE 'O' level subjects or
•3 GCE 'A'/H2 Level subjects and 1 GCE 'O' Level subject or
•3 H2 passes, provided at least grades D, E, E are obtained or
•2 H2 and 2 H1 passes, provided they are in non-overlapping subjects
•satisfy course requirements in English and Mathematics

Number 2, There are no which degree is worth more then the other

It all depends on your interests. As the name suggests, are you more interested into Accounting or Economics?

Accounting covers the basic Mgmt Acct'ing, Financial Reporting, Audit & Assurance, Corporate Finance.

Economics covers Macroeconomics, Microeconomics and Econometrics.

I don't suppose there is absolute versatility in one degree over another, it is your career plans, are you into an accounting role or more into an ecomomics / analyst role.

Number 3: There is no black and white which states that it is compulsory to achieve CPA (AKA completion of ACCA). However you have to understand that big firms especially Big 4 looks at ACCA (whether are you currently pursuing will be the minimum).

Number 4: I will strongly suggest you extend your service for 6 months in the army if you are 3rd sergeant and above. They pay $2.5k * 6 = $15k.
That's a lot of money and will cover your more then half your school fee or your short term expenditure.

Otherwise, get any contract job, in which you could refer to sites like stjobs.com. Accounts Assistant role is pretty difficult and most of their standards are Diploma in Accounting and with relevant experience (the best I saw was 1 year).

Anyway, I recommend you get anything that pays you well, supposing you have a pass in A levels, the starting pay is $1.7k to max $2.2k for fresh graduates.

Yeah. I definitely meet the requirements for Sim Uol.

You know, truthfully speaking. I'm still quite fuzzy on the what an analyst or auditor actually do. I mean, there's too many terms used colloquially that I don't understand..
I know that I love econs, in theory but am quite skeptical as to how that's useful in the working world. Haha
Correct me if I'm wrong, but auditors are basically like the guys that manage the companies' accounts and make sure everything is in order / taxed and such right?
From what I gather from reading the brochures and such, accounting and finance sounds more fun.

Nah. I'm a corporal. Can't even extend if I want to. Hahaha.

Oh? Are you serious? A level grad can get 1.7 in today's economy? What field specifically? Most that I find offer crappy 7 bucks per hour kind.

Thanks for your prompt response. Really appreciate it.

 

[Havok_ex]

Yeah. I definitely meet the requirements for Sim Uol.

You know, truthfully speaking. I'm still quite fuzzy on the what an analyst or auditor actually do. I mean, there's too many terms used colloquially that I don't understand..
I know that I love econs, in theory but am quite skeptical as to how that's useful in the working world. Haha
Correct me if I'm wrong, but auditors are basically like the guys that manage the companies' accounts and make sure everything is in order / taxed and such right?
From what I gather from reading the brochures and such, accounting and finance sounds more fun.

Nah. I'm a corporal. Can't even extend if I want to. Hahaha.

Oh? Are you serious? A level grad can get 1.7 in today's economy? What field specifically? Most that I find offer crappy 7 bucks per hour kind.

Thanks for your prompt response. Really appreciate it.

JC econs is pretty different from uni level econs. Yes, NUS and NTU may classify economics as a humanities/social science subject, but the amount of math, statistical or otherwise, is much higher and tougher than most degrees, except for engine/math of course. Although I'm not too sure about SIM-UOL's curriculum.

If accountancy is what suits you, why not try apply for UNIsim instead? They will be rolling out full-time accountancy programs next year. Your 2 year NS period will qualify as the 2 year work experience required by unisim. And since unisim is local, you will be able to qualify for the new CA sg program that will kick in soon, while SIM-UOL will not qualify you.

 

[tutonic]

JC econs is pretty different from uni level econs. Yes, NUS and NTU may classify economics as a humanities/social science subject, but the amount of math, statistical or otherwise, is much higher and tougher than most degrees, except for engine/math of course. Although I'm not too sure about SIM-UOL's curriculum.

If accountancy is what suits you, why not try apply for UNIsim instead? They will be rolling out full-time accountancy programs next year. Your 2 year NS period will qualify as the 2 year work experience required by unisim. And since unisim is local, you will be able to qualify for the new CA sg program that will kick in soon, while SIM-UOL will not qualify you.

Yeah. I know that uni econs is totally different from what we learn in jc. It's more technical.
Well, I'm definitely gonna try my luck for unisim but I'm not getting my hopes up since there's only 200 slots open for the courses and my grades aren't exactly fantastic. Haha.

 

[MVCPattern]

can extend army to earn money ah?

first time I heard of this =x

 

[Successor.]

can extend army to earn money ah?

first time I heard of this =x

Yes. My sergeants did this.

Of course not all units have the luxury of having NSFs extending service. Afterall it is all base on the unit manpower estab and requirement.

 

[tutonic]

Which line of work has better career progression and such?
Auditors or analysts?
From what I hear, most that work in the private banks stay stagnant after a couple years, with the exception of the few who are excellent and keep getting promoted.
Is that the same with working in an audit firm?

 

[tutonic]

Oh yeah guys. One more question. I've visited the ca sg website and one of the recognized accounting degrees is the one accredited by unisim. Are they referring to the full time course or the part time one? If they recognize the part time unisim degree in Accounting, is it a feasible route to take the part time degree from unisim while finding work as an accounts Assistant so as to gather related work experience?

 

[tutonic]

but that's a 2 month contract :/
isn't it a tad too short?

 

[Kyoji83]

I personally feel that 2 month contract is short, does not help you grant much of a consideration experience & it spoil your head start of your career CV.

but that's a 2 month contract :/
isn't it a tad too short?