Meal allowance? Or OT hours? Singapore Big 4 has abolished OT hours since Feb 09 but we can still claim meal allowance

itu-dia-man,
just chill for this two weeks, you will soon miss this kind of days.

The most excruciating experience I had was standing up for 3 days straights on my heels cause the client has got no desk for us at their level.

They gave me a room which is like at the basement (where you need to tag in and out the at the ground then walk a big circle to get to your room), whereas their office is at 30th floor. So either I keep going up and down or just station at the client. I choose to station at the client.

Pity my junior, she has no choice but to follow . Thankfully was just a week's job.

Chasm, KP Msia is rather generous with staff eh. Even when I am auditing bank (H**C). The most we had was only 6-8 staff and even that, most don't stay until finals (kena pull out half way to do other jobs).

afaik - as for as I know.
Despite now being peak, alot big 4 has already accummulated reserve way before the peak to counter the inadequate demand. And massive influx of interns as well.

Erm Jeremycool, I don't think they will subsidise your certificate, I could be wrong. But do it for your own benefit and not just cause they told you so.

silkfuseone,
Risk Management is a mundane job, depending on which department, it could be sentinel, CEAC, timesheet, independence, conflict of interest and so on. Basically, you will be juggling a lot of paper work, in which you cant really transfer your experience aside from an audit firm.

Audit is the only platform to mingle with the upper management in big corporation when you are just a junior, not sure if you can do that in other industry. I still remember when I was just 2 weeks old in the company, know nuts of anything, then my senior asked me to perform certain test, and I found a lot of exceptions. Since the staff cant answer me why so, he directed me to this man in the room, of course, being young and naive, I didnt know he was tricking me.

I knocked and went in to talk to the man, he was nice, and explained the exceptions to me. Then I documented and told my senior. The team was shocked that I actually went into the CFO room to ask such minor exceptions, luckily didnt get scolding and the man is the CFO of C*MB.

This post has been edited by chess_gal: Nov 9 2009, 11:05 PM

I agree being in marketing is more interesting, infact it was my first choice to get into marketing & sales. But sadly, the offer came tad too late, was already 3 months into the job with the big 4 when I first started then Shell came with an invitation. It was twice infact, 3 months and a year later, for some management trainee position but based in Miri. Rejected it cause I was heading South.

Once in audit, couldnt get myself out cause i didnt want to be the first among my friends to quit and so I stayed. Not sure was it a wise decision, but heck, already 3 years into it and starting to fall into my comfort zone.

As compared to marketers, i believe auditors life is far more mundane. A friend of mine was in Sunway Group for a year or two, under event mgt dept or something along the line. She organises event/concert/functions and meet lotsa celebrities. It was definitely more interesting and fun, but also long hours.

Whether or not you are in audit/marketing/sales or finance, i guess it boils down to your own capability and calibre to be a CEO/CFO. Audit is NOT essential that's for sure, but it may boost your resume slightly a little for its widely known fact, audit equals to hell, so if the potential employer looks at your CV n says 'Hey, this guy's been to audit, perhaps we can hire him and throw more shit at him, since he exposed and used to working hard' so chances are higher than.

silkfuseone,
You are the lucky ones since you have your dad as your mentor to tell you what's right and wrong, whereas a lot ppl who come from average families don't have the necessary guidance and goes into a certain field too hastily without thinking whether or not it was their interest.

Jeremycool,
1.May i know do u all work on weekend as well ?!
-depending on engagement and your senior

2.same hour as weekday?!
-depending on the urgency of the engagement, could be whole day, also depends whether or not you have completed your work.

3.or only at peak period?!
as above.

There is no direct YES/NO answer. You choose audit, so you should know there is no 9-5pm kind of schedule for a PROFESSIONAL. If you cant get your things done, then finish up before you go at the end of the day.

Haha, I used to hate audit, I mean, I have a love hate relationship with audit. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I dread dragging my sorry ass to work. All in all, the choice has been made, though it is not too late to reverse and make a U-turn, but the longer I am in audit, the roots starting to grow deeper.

Plus, I think I kind of lost focus, eg, wanting to own a business (but small business is very hard to grow, though I might get self satisfaction), wanting to be an Audit Partner (Too ambitious I guess but looking at the elimination rate each year, chances are improving), and wanting to pursue a career in banking industry (Sales & Marketing). So, before I make any drastic decision, perhaps I'll just sit down and rethink which way I want to go.

Haha,
Thanks silkfuseone, passion is one thing but persistance is also vital in realising one's vision and dream. When i started with my bubble tea business, I worked really hard, travelling from sg to KL every 3 weeks to manage the store, prepare drinks, serve customer,going around giving brochures. But I love doing it, despite it was hardwork. The money wasnt even fantastic, but I was nevertheless satisfied. Then came back to sg on weekdays to work. Almost died during that period.
After sometime, the owner had a dispute with my partner and we called off the partnership and force to move out. There goes my dream, so despite having passion for it, it doesnt work sometimes, perhaps I wasnt persistance enough, considering the fact that I cant afford to let go my current day job thats funding my business.

So now shifting my focus into my career until an opportunity comes along or when my savings allows me to go into business again.

Agree, perhaps Deloitte wasnt aggresive enough in their recruitment.

that is cause the basic is 2.4k + CPF 14.5% = 2.7/2.8K. In the long run (Unless he turns PR later), his has no EPF savings.

This post has been edited by chess_gal: Nov 14 2009, 11:07 PM

Depends on your interviewer but most likely will be retained if from KL, they will also throw some FRS question to access whether or not you are capable of being A1. And the payscale is the same for all big 4, but just wonder why your friend is getting lesser. Perhaps his basic is lower, mkt rate is 2.8k (For freshie + CPF), But there is several pay cut among Big 4, not sure which.

acca_newbie,

try spending some time reading through all the replies in the thread and you'll get your answer. While the company would give sponsorship and study leave, but you'd have to set your priority straight, it is either your career or studies. If you still have loads of outstanding matter, then you better clear it off before going on study leave.

Almost everyone in the Big4 are doing their professional course, so if the rest can do it, why not you. Btw am doing as well.

---

Added on November 29, 2009, 11:30 amOh to add on, I thought EY had promotion twice a year? One in March, the other in Sept? Correct me if am wrong, that was 2 years plus ago.

This post has been edited by chess_gal: Nov 29 2009, 11:30 AM

I took one paper at a time, will be doing P7 (Audit) this round, not sure how will i fare but looking at the syllabus, pretty easy considering the fact that I have been doing audit for 3 years. I think if you want to advance, try not jeapordise your career. Blaming studies for your poor performance will not get you anywhere. Remember, that qualification is to just enable you to advance in your career but if you cant even perform at work, despite getting loads of world prize will get you no where.

This post has been edited by chess_gal: Nov 29 2009, 08:03 PM

Erm, from my understanding if you don't clear Part 2 of ACCA, you wont be promoted to Senior. And to be a Mgr, you'll need to clear everything.

Perhaps intern. RM700-800?

Dormant, Funds, audit fee <RM2K, will be given to newbies during their first month.

Most likely understaff but the senior also needs to review the file thoroughly if done by new joiners.

hohoho... am on leave...

Gosh, am still working now.. brain's dead. Still got whole lot of files to review.. came lowyat for a 5 minutes break!

Just had a 20 min ghost story sharing with my team and now everyone is afraid to go to the loo alone! Light moments like this really helps in keep oneself sane in audit.

Yes. Since you know how one system works, basically you know what could go wrong.

It is like an accountant wanting to be an auditor, he/she has a higher chances of getting hired cause he/she knows where the figure are coming from.