I also want to ask if I pass all the ACCA papers in 4 years time(CAT+ACCA)
but less/zero curriculum activities( my college doesnt have much activities)

will I loss competitive?
same question as zomode
but I think he's studying degree not CAT and ACCA.

I applied for the position of Audit Associate
Yupp finished the test already.

What about you?

I just did it yesterday.

Basically there's a test on identifying your character/attributes, English and Mathematical reasoning tests both by selecting True/False/Can't be determined based on the information provided.

The key is to answer it timely + accurately. No point finishing all the questions but got all wrong, or vice versa.

You're applying too?

Me too. But i havent gotten any follow up call. You?

Fresh grad? Haha
Nope, not so soon I guess...I just did the test like yesterday!
But the PIC told me that they will get back to me by mail in few days time if not mistaken, whether we got the chance for an interview or not.

Good luck anyway!

Interested to know what are the differences between the cultures of each of the Big 4 firms....the good and the not so good aspects.

Would appreciate some feedback.

Thanks, pal.

I have just received an e-mail from KPMG that I passed the online assessment test! She will update me soon regarding the group interview. May anyone share their experience how is it like? Is there anything I should look out for?

It really depends on your arrangement as each Big4 also got different dept. Each dept got multiple teams. You got the death squad, dustbin team, the rojak, the average joes, … Hellish team trains your endurance while good team foster good culture. The culture is shaped based on few things such as the composition of team member, boss style, client demands, ….

But one culture is prevalent, work hard, play hard approach.

Hahaha. Love your explanation. Mind to elaborate the types of multiple teams? I am trying to see if any of the team I'm working with fits in these categories?

Companies nowadays are putting more emphasis on co-cu activities. So you may lose to those with candidates with lower cgpa but with more co-cu experience. Then again it also depends on how well you did in your interview if they did call you. And if they did call you, be prepared to answer questions like why didn't you join any co-cu activities. Good luck!

HEy guys, anyone got into big4 with low cgpa ? in uni my co-curiculum activities is rather impressive but the result wise is slighty affected.
just wondering anyone got accepted. btw my cgpa is 2.3

i just applied pwc yesterday. not placing too much hope tho

This post has been edited by themightywong: May 31 2016, 02:47 PM

May I ask will the promotion period in other big 4 office other than KL is largely difference? Since the competition to join KL firms is much higher than other branches.

Not sure all firms are the same but you will have the (most teams are criss-crossed):
1) Super / Large team – Teams that employed the most staff members. Everyone talks about them, so most will try to join this team to get exposure before they leave the firm. Audit should be very voluminous but clean (large materiality). Culture should be ok as most can take long leave after deadline.
2) Small team – Deals with small or mid-size companies. Rarely have such teams unless they are 1st or 2nd year managers. Very little resources and manager either do most of the work and/or rely heavily on whoever they have. Culture depends on your luck depending on your client (smaller materiality)
3) Foreign team – Deals with MNCs or branch of MNCs (think companies like Facebook). Very big materiality, tight deadline but should be clean audit as it’s mainly a group reporting. Tight deadline due to consol deadline. Culture also depends on your luck.
4) GLC team – Really not comfortable to share, you will know when you go in
5) Chinaman team – Not the company’s nationality but the culture of the corporation. As most are conglomerate or diversified, most people dun like but you will learn a lot. Culture …
6) Dream team – An ironic term, these are the “special” staffs place. Imagine companies that are high risk, backlogs, foreign subs, … Culture …
7) Death squad – Basically the firm will make your life so miserable for you until you resign.

Of course you will lose out.
Let me ask, if they ask you "what is your biggest achievement during your 4 years university life?", How you going to answer this?

You tell them how much you studied and how well your results are? I doubt they will be impressed because there are many first/ second upper degree holders. They are looking for people who is more of an overall achiever.

Trust me. If you are still studying, please be active in different activities. (If certified by your university, then will be better!)

This post has been edited by Asgardians: May 31 2016, 11:08 PM

Hello. 2.3/4? If it, then I would say your results are not really good to be honest. You might not even get called up by the big 4s even with such impressive involvement in cocuriculum activities because they are really looking for people with second upper AT LEAST! Unless you completed your internship there, or else I would say it is impossible to enter. I have friends who got second upper and got booted out during the interview process.

Maybe you can consider taking ACCA/CPA/CIMA and beautify your CV with a professional qualification? Good luck!

It is possible, a guy with cpga lower than 3.0 get into one of the big4 (not to mention which one). But initially he was not being shortlisted for the interview. I heard pipu said he keep calling the HR to convince them to give him an interview opportunity. and boom! He succeed. FYI, he is very active in co-cur and accounting club, the HR in big4 and mid tier firms know him.

Pwc is hard, they have too many applicants. Aim other firms, and call them daily to kacau until they feel ur passion.

Agreed. PwC is a club for elites. I'm still in the industry (another Big 4) and until today we think highly of those who worked there.

EY loves people with a mix of both (decent co-cu and academics).

Deloitte (decent academics with some co-cu will do).

Can't tell much about about KPMG. Have never heard any stories from them since the day I joined.

If you are applying for a firm that has a hiring manager / proper HR personnel, they'll look at your co-cu and your results. Call them to kacau them should be fine. Applies well for KL office and branches that have large number of employees.

For other branches, if you are applying for a firm that automatically redirects the CV to Manager & Partner because there is only administrative staff around, it depends. If you have a traditionalist partner, he/she will take academic results during uni or professional papers as his/her main criteria and co-cu being last (same applies to when assessing experienced hires).

Mine's a mix of small team with a hint of chinaman team (a bit tight on the budget) and moving towards death squad. Learnt a lot but my future being there sounds bleak...

What about the dustbin team, the rojak, the average joes?

It isnt myself dont want join/refuse to so that I can focus on my academic result.
Its the accounting club itself doesnt have any activities.
Its been 2 months....the notice board still blank..since I joined the college I doubt its a small college.
btw its a college not university

I really want to join any activities because I know they wanna find an overall person.I need to become committee with higher post if possible.

No matter what,I am going to write an email to my lecturer to find out why

This post has been edited by SmallPenguin: Jun 1 2016, 09:39 AM