In 10 years ago, the Big5 (when Arthur Andersen still around) only recruit top student/employee. If you ever fail any paper in ACCA/CIMA/CPA you are disqualify in their list. But now world has change.

Bro. do you really think working in Big4 really give you big money?

Lets do the maths
Let say Big4 offer 4k & commercial is 3.5k

Big4- Work average 12 hours for 25days (sometime work on Sat)= work 300hrs/mth

RM4000/300hrs = RM13.33/hr

Pros-
gain more experience & get promoted every 1-2 years (due to very high staff turnover)

Cons-
No life, workaholic life, sleepless, very stressful life, no entertainment, no time for family/partner & etc


Commercial- Work average 9 hours for 22 days (sometime OT) = work 198hrs/mth

RM3500/198hrs = RM17.68/hr

Pros-
better bonus, work life balance, less stress, more time for family/partner and etc

Cons-
Less experience gain, hard to get promoted, routine work and etc

Anyway it is all depends what you really want, if not happy with current job, stop whining and go get better job and offer. If you can't get any offer, blame no one and continue you current role.

To become assistant manager in big4, yes provided you very hard working & smart & able suffer to work >4 years. But to be manager level, you must have professional qualification plus you are really really good & hardwork.

All the best to you to get in Big4, but seen you attended some of the interview, sorry to said they have some cooling period before you can go for another interview. Seen they don't offer you a job, they must have some reason behind and you should think about it.

A genuine advise, instead of keep complain & comparing, please put all your effort to complete your CIMA. With professional qualification you can easily get a better paid job. If you stuck completing it, there goes your salary level also.

Bro. MNC look more on qualification then your experience, so as the Big4, you never make it to Manager level if you don't have professional qualification, regardless whether you are MIA member.

From Audit/Tax to commercial is a big change, some of my friend stupid enough to back to Big4 due to don't like the closing & routine job in commercial. Some not even able to cope the commercial job due to different natural.

I'm ex-Sime Darby staff. Reason Sime Darby not offer high paid due to HR look the benefit & remuneration as a package, and they are one of the best employee benefit in country. Most my ex-colleague don't leave due to the benefit & bonus despite the salary not high.

I always said, if you feel underpaid, just jump other company who willing to offer you. If you can't get any better offer, mean you are well paid and you need to work harder to get better paid.

Honestly, 6 papers is a long way, you should focus more to it for the sake of your high paid career dream. Please extent your vision, and not be short sighted & see the short term benefit.

I rarely see any MNC Finance Manager/Director with Degree only. Only SME & some Chinaman company who prefer experience then professional qualification.

CIMA 6 papers Please let me know if you can complete by end of 2013.

Most people will go further study for Master Degree.

10% annually still consider low? Guess starting own business only can fulfill your desire & dream. It is very hard to become rich by a employee. Or maybe jump to sales/marketing/property agent can get you to your high paid dream, 10-20k per month not a issue, if you hardwork enough to get the sales.

But in Finance & Accounts, probably work 5-10 years you still can't to reach 10k.

Let me know how many & what level of people in Big4 get 10-20k per month?

Generally MBA will recognised by most firm, but it only useful when you going toward manager level.

The preference for Prof qualification or master degree are depend on what level of job you apply, if fresh grad, then most firm will prefer prof qualification, if you are good & experienced >5 year in operation/business, then Master will be more valuable.

If you know business, the paid are decide by how much you can add value & generate income to business. So if you wanna get high paid, ask yourself, how can you derive benefit & income to company, so that they have enough money to paid your salary.

This post has been edited by conqu3ror: Dec 18 2012, 03:16 PM

Bro. please don't underestimate accounting background, half the director & CEO in Malaysia are from accounting background.

Please be patient & work hard to gain more experience, of cause with prof qualification you climb faster then normal degree holder.

Undeniable some sector paid very good for fresh grad, eg, IT, E&E Engineer & etc. But is very hard for them to climb into managerial level due to they work in frontline, specialise operation job. Finance & Accounting are more flexible & more into business or even go into banking/investment industry.

Stop complain & comparing, otherwise you might end up trapping yourself.

Instead of asking what your salary should be, I guess is better to put down your salary detail as reference and answer your question. Else your question will gone by the air.

Job Title :
Job Desciption :
Years spent in company :
Company :
Industry :
Tenure :
Employment Level :
Experience before joining :
salary :

Please share the detail, else you only get crap answer.

Wonder you all ever join the life in Big4? People always think Big4 is a best place to work and desperate to join them.

What is the purpose of getting high paid but no life to enjoy?

Sigh... Glass always look greener on the other side.

We know you are young, naive and embrace and desperate to join Big4. But only 1 out of 10 of my friend still stay with Big4. Most leave within 1-2 years, only few stay till 3 yrs. Although their salary jump very fast, but their job is just compliance to tax and statutory report. Some even know nothing about business operation.

AUDIT = All You Do Is Tick
Audit Manager/Senior will always tell you just follow last year file.

Btw mind to share your new job detail? Hope you really get a high paid job with less hours as your dream.

Again I just in late 20s

This post has been edited by conqu3ror: Jan 8 2013, 07:46 PM

Those who become audit partners most with older generation thought. To open own audit firm and become boss with their profession. Same to Civil Engineer Consulting Firm.

In Uni/College life, we only know joining Big4 is the most success career path. It may be yes, but only you can survive the working life. Sadly some even compromise their health. Some manager even have some mental problem due to heavy stress (especially some single ladies manager)

Honestly, don't you see colleague surround you majority are ladies? And most are workaholic and rarely have social life. Indirectly most are boring, narrow minded and didn't see the bigger picture. (No offense, some still have good life and bird eyes view)

Anyway is your choice for your life, and do what you think best.

Hahaha, that's funny

A kids can also ticks.
Come on, the ticks in the audit check list lah.

Probably you should really ask your friends their working life in Big4. They always give very tight time budget and everything come in last minute with a non extended deadline. If anyone ever attempt to work 16-18 a day know it is really tired and normal people can't focus after working 8-10 hrs. But Auditor in Big4 have to work 16-18 hrs a days for the continue 3-4 weeks, it is freaking crazy. You working double, but only get 20-30% more then your peer. (FYI, not all the OT can claim replacement hours, the claim also mean you inefficient)


A question, "Why you desperate and insist to join Big4?" the answer will be similar to those wanna become Big4's partner.

Even fresh grads from oversea getting same paid as local grads. The only different is you get different exposure and the Uni/College is more recognise then others = higher chance of getting hire but certainly not higher paid.

Whether you can get a better paid is by how good you are, not how good is the Uni/College.

When studying = R&D, when working = production.

So how good the production depends on how good the R&D.

I guess your off shore allowance will be a lot. (Could be more then your basic)

Work for accounting is normal, especially during closing and peak period. So do you think by Big4 Auditor working double working hours and getting extra 20-50% higher then market rate is a great thing?

Think again are you really well paid then others?

Audit firm always underpaid. BTW what you expect as a fresh grad?

Honestly, house price had went crazy. Let said if you are 30 and with 1 year old son, you loan for 40 yrs. By the time you finish repayment, your kid already 40+yrs old. Are you sure your kids will live with you and help you repay the rest of 10 years loan for you? (Assume you retire at 60's) And dunno how many years you can enjoy the relief of paying the crazy house installment.

LOL, I don't think so. Although they may be rich, but they also need to serve the monthly installment. What if most their properties are in construction which mean they currently only serving interest instead of the full installment.

If property burst with the economic crisis, how many rich people won't tight in cash? A great example will be US Property Burst, the Sub-Prime Loan which just happen few years back. Or you can see currently what happen in China.

People are always optimistic and forget what happened previously.

I will said is average, but not harm to try to get a better paid job. Good Luck

Mileage claim only RM0.20? It will be too little, even for frequent traveler also minimum 40cents ++

Normal mileage claim is about 50-60cents some may even RM0.80-RM1

The rest are quite ok.

I will be suggest you to further study for a Degree, don't think you can go far with diploma.