Hmm let's take rough math. 4 firm. 1 Advisory team is normally less than 10 people (including partner). Some are bigger like risks (due to mfrs 9 project recently). Hmm let's put 15 different advisory team (ie: m&a, CF, valuation, risks, ...). So 4 X 10 X 15 = 600 plus position in Malaysia to fill? Let's take turnover rate of 20% per annum. That's around 120 position per year? Imagine you have 1000 grads of different background applying? Your chance is around 10% (regardless of bias of academic results)?

Asset management? You can try join place like khazanah? For in, why not try apply directly?

In relation to the asset management info, you are quite right. It’s supposed to be small and lean so it’s easier to dismantle and restructure based on the markets trend or investors preference. The competition is to maintain / get new investors while maintaining the required IRR. You may find better chance to start from boutique firms first to get the ropes and build your track record. You can look for them under the prescribed list in SC website.

Khazanah, its better if you have referral. They prefer someone with experience as the scholars will take up the fresh grads position.

Advisory, also better if you have referral to get the interview. In career fairs, they normally give standard response so just take it with pinch of salt. The tests are normally quite standard and your interview performance will matter more. Try to look for dept that focus on valuation / financial modelling rather than those on presentation / project management.

Taking up CFA also helps as it will give you networking opportunities (if you take classes). Quite a few investment specialist takes up CFA to boost their profile so you can get close to them. Alternatively, you can also look up for glcs/glcs (Ie: BNM, SC, EPF, KWAP, PNB,…)

I can be of some help. My responses in blue below.

Hi guys, been reading the previous post here to clarify on expectations in the Big4's recruiting process. Somehow, I still can't seem to find the answers I wanted as most of the posts are mainly related to audit. Hopefully some kind soul will help me out here by shedding the light as I'm quite anxious about my situation. 

Basically I'm keen to the Advisory department(Valuation, CF) as my main goal is to have exit opps for Asset Management and IB's in a few years. Not to mention hopefully they'll sponsor me for CFA

Most big 4 advisory departments do sponsor CFA without bond, but you pay first and only claim upon passing. Nowadays IB people come join big 4, IB not doing well.

I've applied for PwC(2weeks ago), E&Y (1/9) and I did not received any feedback from neither parties. I've read that we'll be informed by e-mail when our profile is being reviewed but so far there isn't any feedback at all... I'm planning to enquire about it in an upcoming career fair.

I think it's fair to wait 2-4 weeks.

Based on my observation from previous post it seems advisory lines normally have low turnover rates. Does this means that it's very hard to enter as a fresh graduate for an associate position?

Turnover rate differs from team to team. Each team is very unique in advisory, different boss, different clients, different skill sets. The worst teams have higher turnover rate than assurance, the best teams almost no turnover. But overall I would say around 20% turnover, similar to assurance. Turnover is not the only influence on the ease of joining as a fresh grad. Each team will differ in size from year to year (but long term trend team size will gradually increase). More on this below.

I've obtained a first class honours, local grad but UK degree, active in co-curricular activities mainly sports and competitions, interned at a local bank. What are my chances?

I've reviewed some LinkedIn profiles of Big4 advisory associates and they're mainly overseas grads, kinda felt demotivated as I felt that I might not be good enough to be even be shortlisted for interviews

So during good years when business is good, the firm will hire more fresh grads. Standards will drop and the firm will be willing to accept lesser quality candidates to keep up with project delivery work. However, times are not good at the moment and business is generally slow-ish.

So the firm will be receiving plenty of CVs for very few positions. Having good results is a given necessity to join. But unfortunately if the firm receives so many CVs for so few positions, naturally the firm may filter out local grads. Overall i would say 60-80% of advisory staff are foreign grads.