I have a degree in Accounting and Finance and will hopefully pass all my ACCA papers within the year. What I've seen from the vast majority of ACCA graduates is that they will immediately seek a position in a Big 4 firm (usually audit line). There are other career options available such as graduate programmes, and other accounting/business-related positions in other companies but it seems that most ACCA grads are fixated upon getting a position in a Big 4 firm in spite of the infamy surrounding the work pressure... I guess I'd like some insight into why that is the case exactly. Is it because the experience gained from working in a Big 4 firm for a few years will bode them well when they want to jump careers to other companies in the future?


Also, I'd appreciate some general career advice. I'd be thankful for anyone willing to give any relevant input. Does my holding a degree in addition to an ACCA qualification perhaps leave me with more options compared to a person with only an ACCA qualification?

as you said stay in big 4 for 5 years then jump out to be manager somewhere.

any sooner you ll be stuck as senior exec

Well the straightforward answer is yes, degree+ACCA is better than only ACCA in a general sense. Yet you need to figure out your own path...don't follow those that are blindly going into audit. People go into audit because of a variety of reasons, but most of all its because of herd mentality. They don't know why its good, but everyone says its good so it must be good.

Graduate programmes are good for you to get a feel of different functions in a company, but before that you'll need to figure out which industry that you'd like to join.

big 4 has the best exposure with a clear direction to achieve Chartered Status..

definitely better chance compare to other...don't apply for sake of apply...think which field of account or finance u are interested with

thanks for the input. but why not consider straight away pursuing non-audit-related jobs after completing ACCA?

Thank you for replying. It's just that I feel like I'm doing something 'wrong' and perhaps wasting my ACCA certification to a certain extent if I don't follow the traditional 'Audit in Big 4 firm' path that ACCA grads choose to do. After all, there must be a good reason that so many people are choosing to do so right?

If you don't mind, could you elaborate on what further options you think degree + ACCA would provide me over ACCA only? I'm under the impression that employees would disregard my degree because the subject matter taught in ACCA and my Accounting and Finance degree pretty much overlap, hence employers would really only look at my ACCA completion because ACCA is perceived to be more impressive.

Tbh you didn't even need the ACCA in my opinion... accounts and finance is good enough. ACCA is gearing you towards audit, which is currently not the best profession to be in. Nonetheless, given that you're almost there with your ACCA, just go ahead and finish it, and then with the thing try to see if it adds further firepower to you in joining whichever firms that you choose.

Degrees are more broad-based, so they open wider paths for you; ACCA in the local scene is more audit-focused. Therefore, degrees may land you into an assortment of fields; whereas ACCA cannot. ACCA may give you a more pointed tip towards certain jobs and those jobs only, and are therefore more limiting in nature. Don't be so hung-up over what gives you an edge or not, just finish your papers and give it a long hard think on what you wanna do instead.

thank you very much, I am genuinely grateful for your help

From employer perspective, Working experience > qualifications

Education/ qualifications (theoretical) gets you the job. Converting your theoretical knowledge into real life application = learning on the job/ working experience which are more important to employers as your output will be assessed.

ACCA gets you the job. Your working experience will bring you to the place you want. Big4 is one of the few learning organisations where;
1) Hire fresh grad with good pay
2) Exposure and coaching
3) Good training/ education (professional qualifications)

Big4 don't get truck loads of graduates application for nothing even with the long working hours culture attached. Alternatively, there are other places but with even less placement like khazanah, IBs and consulting firms.

Spot on. These are the 3 main benefits of joining Big4. You will have the exposure, coaching and training provided that you put in the working hours. It's a sink or swim environment.

how much salary for fresh grad at big 4

Firstly, as an Accounting/ACCA graduate there is a few route for u to start your career path like the most general is Audit, Tax, Commercial Finance, IT Audit, Data Analytics, Company Secretary. After your years of study, I believe that u have found out among all the 4 general accounting subject Financial Account, Management Account, Tax and Audit which 1 you have more interest. The reason why all graduate choose for Audit field and big 4 because Audit can very fast to give you a big picture understanding of financial accounting and auditing. You will have a vase exposure of different industry which this cannot give you when you opt for Commercial Finance which normal start as Finance Executive. Furthermore, Audit will have a faster and stable career promotion compare with Commercial Finance.

However, bear in mind if your financial account and audit are not strong or you doesn't have a big interest in this two field. Your career life in audit will be very tough as the workload is tremendously a lot and the staff resources always not enough to cater for the firm's clients. If you know you doesn't have strong interest in Financial Account I hope you don't choose for Audit and Commercial Finance. If you have more interest in Tax you can just go ahead and don't worry Tax is it will be too specialized in one field and forever only can work in public practice firm. Tax still have a lot of small division like Personal Tax, Corporate Tax, Indirect Tax, Global Mobility Services, Transfer Pricing, Tax Dispute and Resolution. Some big conglomerates will have their own tax department, you even can switch to commercial if you bored in public practice firm.

This post has been edited by kentroy: Jul 26 2021, 08:05 PM

TS read kentroy's comment carefully. I am one of those who stopped at final ACCA paper and moved to IT audit, got my CISA and never looked back. I'm a IT security manager now. Interest is very crucial to keep you going in the mundane working world. I have only been in big 4 for the IT audit gig, the financial auditors seem soulless to me.

Agree with you. Interest really take a big part in our career. I can say myself is the victims of follow the general trend. After finish degree then continue in Audit and I knew myself doesn't have a lot of interest in Financial Accounting and have more interest in Tax. My audit life was tough when become SA and i quit it after gained 3 years experience. When the time I came to want transfer to Tax as same grade can say very low chances and I can't get it. This is always a regret of me to listen the experience adult to follow the general trend. We must know what we like then only can drive us to success more easily.

IT Audit is fun also I'm glad to being trained to performed some easy IT Audit test for certain engagements. I found out is very interesting especially in Data Analytics.

This post has been edited by kentroy: Jul 26 2021, 08:15 PM