Hi guys, I would like my situation to be analyzed, here goes:

Objective: Audit associate position in PWC

Situation:
My degree CGPA is currently around 3.1, in my final semester I failed 1 paper (so close to become a graduate) due to absurd exam questions being set by the stubborn lecturer.

My total resit count will be 2, after including the paper in final semester, I cleared my previous resit, the last resit will be in Sept.

On the other hand, I've passed my P123, the result for the remaining 2 papers will be known on 17th July (1 week left).


Questions:
1. Assuming I passed all ACCA papers, is it likely for PWC to accept me? Even I haven't completed my degree?

2. Assuming I finished both ACCA and degree, will my low CGPA affect my chance?

3. Assuming I failed ACCA (1 or 2 paper remaining), which means I neither have ACCA nor degree, can I still shamelessly apply for it and get through it? My friend advised me that I may get through by showing confidence (eg: telling them surely I will pass the remaining papers sooner or later anyway). Is it true?

4. How long should I expect to wait for them to accept me? (I'm told around 4/5 months)

5. Can I expect to find a girlfriend during my time in PWC?

This post has been edited by Sasuke95: Jul 10 2017, 09:24 PM

Thank you for the reply, appreciated it.

1. As an ACCA holder, will my starting salary higher than those went in with only Degree?

2. I will have no time to the extent that even weekends are not my days? (what's the point of life), so likely single until leave big 4 for corporate/commercial world?

3. Should I be careful of office politics? Also I wish to know how they interview, I scare I fck up.

4. Anything useful you can tell me? I wish to know.

This post has been edited by Sasuke95: Jul 10 2017, 11:10 PM

1. How much do you think I will be getting?

2. I understand. Currently what I have in my mind is that after I worked for 3 years and get that ACCA membership, I will leave for corporate world for a good jump in salary. In your opinion is it advisable? If no, how long would you suggest? Kindly draw both an ordinary path and an optimal path for me.

Thank you for replying my questions patiently up to this point, appreciated it, not all people are willing to entertain my never-ending-question attitude.
As you know, I'm always hunger for knowledge, and I'm willing and daring to ask, not sure if this is a good thing though.
I would say I'm still digging continuously for info related to big 4, it'll help tremendously if I directly ask you here:

1. If that's the case then too bad, but I asked 1 of my ex-tutor and she told me ACCA overrides degree, and I will be getting as much as 3300 as starting, not true? It is very very sad if the damned degree dragged me down even if I have my ACCA.

2. Hmm I would need an estimation of the figures of both options after 10 years to justify my decision, how big is the difference? Personally for now I would favor more on health because health cannot be bought, there is no point of earning high while your body is damaged beyond repair. I'm told that working until 2am is normal. It is only acceptable to me if my workload reduces as I become more senior in big 4.

3. I saw somewhere saying that the bonus is great, as great as a few months salary, I wish to know more on this, maybe certain condition has to be fulfilled, I'm not sure.

4. I'm told that a car is a must if want to work in big 4 as you have to travel to client's office often. I'm also aware that people work as a team in big 4. My question is, if all of my team members have car, who's gonna drive? We drive separately? And what about those without car?

5. How do we actually do our work there? By excel or some other software? I saw some people have godlike speed in doing excel, do we actually have to be that fast?

6. I'm aware that advisory line give much better salary than audit, so at the end which is better? audit or advisory?

This post has been edited by Sasuke95: Jul 11 2017, 04:02 PM

1. No problem to pass ACCA for me, but very unlikely to get past 60 marks. Am I still getting the same pay as others?

2. Ah I see, I guess it depends whether I can still take it or not, I will leave as soon as I can't take it, minimum will stay for 3 years though.

3. Just curious how much bonus I will be having.

4. To me, tax is definitely out because I'm not interested, left audit and advisory. I know what is audit since I did it during intern, but not sure how advisory works, I did some research and knew that advisory has many types. What is your say on advisory?

5. Will I get accepted faster than others because I completed ACCA first? Majority from my course haven't completed it yet, most of them apply using their degree. I don't have a degree though, kinda funny, I'm not sure what to say to them about my degree.

6. Actually, you still working there? How long? Otherwise you'll not be able to provide so much info to me.

I see, thanks for everything sir, I think I'm out of questions currently.

Wow you're working in overseas now, how long you've been working already? Things going great?

Also, I found out this quote while doing my research, it's called "don't shit where you eat", is it really that dangerous? Would like to hear your personal opinion on this.

I think I will be finding a partner during my big 4 days, since people there are like-minded.

I thought it has only 1 meaning?

It means don't get a love partner in your own working place, it may jeopardize your career if things go wrong, that's the warning I got during my course of research.

A lot couple born in big 4?

As an auditor, preferably you gotta have your own transport as you'll need to travel to client's office often.
However, in small firm, you may not need it because you can sit senior's car.
An ordinary Axia Automatic is around 300+ monthly, definitely affordable, my 2 cents.

Plan things ahead is my habit, I can't resist.

Also I'm confident I can go in, priority is pwc, but will apply all 4 anyway, I'm sure 1 of them is going to accept me.

What are the 3 stages of interview anyway? You make it sound like very difficult.

Wow even well qualified still can fail to go in, I've heard of cases like this too, my friend 3.9 and got rejected.

I hope i don't fck up the interview, any tips?
I already know basic interview techniques, just need interview techniques specifically for big 4.
Also, in case if i failed, can i shamelessly try again in next round?

Avoid russell bedford, very fcking lanci

Got rejected by KP, my qualifications are as follow:

1. ACCA, completed 4/5 Professional papers, pending Oct result for last paper.
2. Degree, 3.1 cgpa, pending Oct result and very sure will go to 3.2, which is their cgpa threshold.

The e-mail said my qualifications are not up to par with others, thus reject.
I made aware of the above info to interviewers too, but looks like it's no use, on the surface they said my qualification is ok, but seems like they actually want official qualifications.
Also, interview day itself, I know some people only have degree, I don't understand why my qualification is inferior, I did well during interview though, sigh...

I thought 4/5 acca papers is going to cover me, but nope.
Gonna try again after I officially hold both Acca and degree.

This post has been edited by Sasuke95: Oct 1 2017, 02:07 AM

I got a 4-months contract offer from 1 of the big4, is it worth going for it?
I understand I may get a full-time at the end but it is not guaranteed...

yeah you're right, I wonder why they're not getting perma staffs? knowing their short of staff situation.

btw they're not getting perma staffs any time soon? at least until what month next year?

ah i see.... so it's for their protection i guess, it means i should go for it.
If i cant take it, can leave after contract period, if can take it, will officially be perma staff, as simple as that isn't it?

I can't say if i can take it or not, but right now i'm in a mid-tier, the pressure is comparable to big 4 if i'm not mistaken, turnover is high i can see it from my eyes too, people are leaving, one by one told me their exit plan secretly.

Initially i can't really take it and wanna go home early, as time goes by, i won't look at the clock anymore, going back at what time doesn't concern me anymore, it's like i'm getting used to it gradually, i'm immune to long hours now.

go back to the mid-tier then, i'm sure they'll welcome me back

What's the reason behind?
For me they said my qualification not good enough, i wonder if you get the same answer.

If you're acca affiliate and still get this then i don't know what should i say.

I applied when I'm an acca finalist, now im affiliate but need wait 6 months to reapply cuz didn't get in last time using finalist status

I'm an acca affiliate now, but all my marks are less than 55.

I'm also a degree holder (commerce) with 3.30 cgpa.

In short although i officially hold both qualifications, the marks are not that amazing, look at acca, all barely passed, for my degree i got failed 2 subjects before, the ending cgpa just passed the big 4 threshold of 3.20.

Do u think my chances are slim as well? Since u said the results need to be extremely strong.

EDIT: Cocu not strong too

This post has been edited by Sasuke95: Oct 25 2017, 11:36 PM

The phone and f2f interview for ey are so stressful and invasive.

It is not easy to finish all acca papers, as well as getting a 2nd upper in degree, i failed just once in acca and twice in degree.

Yet all their questions revolving around why I failed.
How am I supposed to know? The important thing is that I made it at the end despite the rocky path of my studying life.

It is like asking "why you're a boy?", I just answered vaguely saying I have personal problems that time, and they want me to disclose. They also want me to disclose what offers do I have currently, dig very deep.

At the end got rejected, more or less I know the outcome already as I don't really know how to answer the interview questions. Just wondering don't they need people for the peak period? Have to be really picky to choose?