RM2,600 - RM2,850 depending on firm / class of degree.

The rate is pretty standard. If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much about RM100 - RM200 difference in pay.

Give them a call to follow-up. Never hurts to go an extra step.

Tax interview usually has HR, hiring manager and hiring Partner involved. I don't think they have implemented any formal written assessments since I left last year, but I could be wrong. If it's still status quo, then it's just a friendly conversation.

Certain partners may ask technical questions, so be ready with your knowledge of the Income Tax Act. It's much more a test of your communication skill than anything else.

I left the "professional" line last year. No plans on going back. =)

Usually yes. I don't recall any of my staff or peers having to undergo a technical test or written exam. Just conversation based. They might test you on your FRS knowledge but nothing extensive. I'm assuming, of course, you are applying for entry-level staff.

Personally, I've not gone through the audit interview so I can't really comment on their procedure with certainty.

This post has been edited by CKJMark: Mar 11 2011, 01:26 PM

Increment and promotion is based on performence. Increments are also dependent on whether you are progressing to next level or you are getting a promotion. How well you meet expectations, and how well you perform as compared to your peers.

You might want to check the older posts/ threads for more info on this.

This post has been edited by CKJMark: Mar 11 2011, 01:28 PM

These firms have a bad habit of not responding to people that are not their first choice. If you have submitted your application and have not received a reply within 2 weeks, doesn't hurt to give them a call to ask Good luck

It's all about perception. The only thing that differentiates the firms among each other is market share. Whether the firm is "good" or not depends who you work with when you join. There are good consultants and bad consultants in every firm. You can join EY or PwC and end up with a crappy manager/partner and you still won't learn much. Or you can join a small firm and work for a good mentor-type partner and learn fast.

I wouldn't be concerned about the firm's so-called reputation among your friends and peers. They aren't hiring you. Anyone who tells you your experience in DKC is not are valuable as your experience in EY or PwC or KPMG is quite retarded IMO. All this "I'm better than you perception" is just syok sendiri. When you apply for job in future, employers don't say "EY / PwC experience perferred", they say "Experience in Big 4 accounting firm will be an advantage".

I encourage you to get a job in any reputable firm, Big 4 or not. Of course, Big 4 has a stronger reputation but that does not mean non-Big 4 are inferior. If you want to add a premium to your resume, yes, Big 4 name will help because people outside the profession know the name.

The point I want to make is no firm is inferior to the other purely by virtue of reputation. Ppl talking smack about DKC is unfounded and not warranted. It is purely ego boosting.

Not only associates.... some seniors I dealt with also give me this problem. The best is when you amend some details but the total still remain the same, then you realise the joker wrote over the formula with direct input /facepalm

Perhaps the statement is taken out of context. I believe what is meant is "Don't expect to be treated with kid's gloves when you make mistakes. And the best way to improve is to take criticism positively."

Perhaps I am old-school but I am inclined to agree with Topace with the fact that the best seniors I have had the opportunity to work with are those that have come through a baptism of fire instead of a protective bubble.

I doubt it unless your college is slack in handing over the resumes.

On average 4K.

If you don't perform and stuck at junior level, obviously it won't go much above your starting pay. But honestly, that person has to really really suck at their job if they can't even get promoted beyond junior level in 3 yrs. They are better off doing something else.

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Added on April 20, 2011, 10:01 amEY is rather inconvinient in terms of accommodation and parking. If you don't mind taking the public bus then you can take the Putra feeder bus that stops in front of EY, but that too is very packed like sardine. Bukit Damansara, Hartamas, and Bangsar accommodation aren't within fresh grad pocket range. So if you take that job and are coming from out of town, you will need to be prepared to travel a fair bit. You can check out the notice boards around Help College to see whether ppl offering rooms to let, but you will have to put up with student housemates. I got no beef with student housemates but I do know people who aren't keen.

KPMG is more convinient if you are considering parking and accommodation as there are condos and housing areas nearby, and 1U parking is cheaper than EY parking. The housing at Bandar Utama is more affordable compared to the areas around EY.

Honestly though, I think most Big 4 offices are quite accessible by public transport and driving. So where you live isn't really an issue as long as you can afford the travelling cost. You could probably find accommodation around Sec 17 area and drive to either EY or KPMG if you have to too.

This post has been edited by CKJMark: Apr 20 2011, 10:05 AM

Can always arrange to follow ppl back, or take a cab, etc. My staff used to carpool among themselves when they had to work very late.

I agree that driving is more convinient but the salaries of fresh graduates are not generous enough to allow them to take a car loan, pay for maintenance, parking and petrol all at the same time.

Somemore Big 4 expense claims take 1 month + to approve sometimes. People living on a budget can't afford that luxury.

Claims for OT and transport usually are allowed, but for carpooling only the driver can claim. You best check with your individual firm policy.

"Best" is subjective. This perception is based on client composition and accolades given by "independent" bodies who base their assessment on client feedback. If you want to have a career in tax, my advice to you is join any of the Big 4 for tax, and you will have sufficient exposure regardless of which of the 4 firms you join. Joining the "best" firm doesn't help you if you get assigned to a crappy manager/team, which all 4 firms have their fair share of. I wouldn't be too concerned with these lables.

For tax, if you are in compliance, you probably will be based in the office primarily. Since travelling is less (maybe some trips to IRB), transport is not a primary concern. Your work schedule is fairly routine and your destinations are fixed, so you can plan around it as opposed to audit. At the very least, your colleagues will usually finish the same time as you so carpooling is more plausible too. At least drop you off at a LRT or taxi stand.

I agree with you that KPMG is more convinient than EY, walking distance to reasonably priced homes. Congrats on your offer

Depends on the firm. Some firms / Groups practice a "pool" system. This means a group of Managers share a common pool of seniors/staff. In this sort of setting, you will report to several managers at the same time.

Some firms/Groups practice a cell system, where a few staff report only to 1-2 managers. Depends on the culture of the group you are joining.

LOL, that's what you think XD

Quite easily because they need interns to do year end audit field work. But apply early (sept/oct).

You can apply online, or you can write in / submit to HR personelly (I think the latter is more effective). Or you can apply through friends/seniors you know working in those firms.

This post has been edited by CKJMark: Aug 8 2011, 07:09 PM

1) Sometimes yes.

2) In some branches, the client base is small but so is the workforce. So eventhough the cilents are not as large, your staff size also won't be as large, so I think the workload could very well be similar in terms of stress. Exposure-wise, I would say yes.

3) Yes there is a salary discrepancy