KPMG or PwC?

The_Hustler

I know that many would be very happy to have to make this decision, and I am, but I am having a difficult time deciding which of these two companies to go with.
I have been offered a masters position in tax with both firms. I hope to get both the ACA and AITI qualification.
Both companies are offering the same salary etc. the only difference is the book allowance which is extremely minor.

At the moment I am leaning towards KPMG. But one advantage Pwc has is that it will have its new building at Spencer Dock.

Can anybody give me some advice on this decision? All the Big 4 seem so similar it's hard to distinguish between them. Anybody have some experiences they can share with me?

Which would you choose given this decision?

After the masters I'll be exempt from everything but the FAEs and Part 2 and 3 of the AITI exams, and you can't do the FAEs until Year 2 of the contract, but one thing I find fairly major is that I've been told Pwc make you wait till after the FAEs to do any of the tax exams whereas KPMG let you get Part 2 out of the way in Year 1. Can anyone clarify this?

Running Bing

Id say the main thing would be what did you think of the people from each firm you met and what do you know about the cultures of each firm. If you know this it should be pretty handy to see where you would fit in best. I have very little knowledge on the subject but a lad I know works for pwc and he says that they have a good laugh and you can do a fair bit of messin there but kpmg is more staid and strict and less messin goes on. Not sure how true that is but if it is true i know which one would suit me better. Info like that should be pretty handy to find out.

Red Alert

Also bear in mind that some of these companies and jobs involve contracts requiring a commitment of a number of years to the company - so you're on the ball doing a bit of research.

Raskolnikov

PWC were voted best company to work for in 2006 in a survey by The Times. That was in the UK though.

damnyanks

What you have to bear in mind about that survey is they ask students in their final year who they think would be the best place to work for.

In actual fact it has no bearing on how great it is to work for them

My ex-employer is pretty high up there and I can tell you now they do **** all for graduates after their first 2 weeks.

Kinetic^

Either or really

chubba1984

The_Hustler wrote:

Pwc make you wait till after the FAEs to do any of the tax exams whereas KPMG let you get Part 2 out of the way in Year 1. Can anyone clarify this?

Both let you do the Part 2s in Year 1 of the contract.

I was in the privilaged position of being offered a job by 3 of the BIG4 last year, took the Deloitte offer and am doin a M. Acc. in NUIG at the minute.
Good luck with whatever decision you make but personally out of the two firms above I'd trump for PwC, I believe the work ethos in KPMG to be far more intense, just from speaking to people who did co-op in UL with both firms.

The_Hustler

Thanks for letting me know that, the interviewer gave me the wrong impression. I better ring them to make sure.
Thanks for the help everyone!