New Meat for the Big 4

rathmaniacal

Hi,
A couple of the Big 4 have recenltly offered me a graduate position in their audit departments. First, they want me to do a PDA and then, I begin my training. My background is decidedly non-accounting, though I am finishing a business post-grad at a well-known place in Blackrock.
If I do the PDA, will I be pretty much left to my own devices until I graduate, or do the companies generally keep tabs on their "investment"? Does anyone have experience on a PDA course, and if so, does anyone have any tips on how to approach the study? Are there any books or materials worth looking at in order to give me a head start with my study?
I hear its a tough slog when training but I also hear its pays off long term. Any thoughts?

Jivin Turkey

Do a MACC over a PDA. The PDA will not give you exemptions from the Prof 3 exams and the MACC will. The MACC is probably a tougher course as a result but you seem to be genuinely interested and willing to put in the effort and it will be no problem to you. The company will pay for this too. The fees are something like €10,000 out in Blackrock.

They won't be keeping tabs on you or your performance really either throughout your time doing the course. Some people even fail exams and carry them through to their employment.

Kinetic^

MACC is definately the way to go. I've a few friends that went that route and they said it was defo the right choice.

rathmaniacal

It is clearly some excellent advice, but I doubt I would qualify for entry to an MACC course. So I am stuck with the oul' PDA for now!

Jivin Turkey

Well just be sure that you are not eligible before you decide not to apply. Someone I know finished the course in the Summer and his background was also non-accounting. He did commerce and German in UCD but did not specialise in any accountancy subjects.

In general what I found is that if you are being sponsored by a Big 4 firm you were obviously good enough to meet their requirements and hence are suitable enough for the MACC. The college don't really care how you do in the course once you pay your fees, which the company will and up front.

kluivert

What is PDA and MACC

Jivin Turkey

kluivert wrote:

What is PDA and MACC

They are both post-graduate courses. MACC stands for Master of Accounting, and PDA is Professional Diploma in Accounting as far as I am aware.

Kinetic^

rathmaniacal wrote:

It is clearly some excellent advice, but I doubt I would qualify for entry to an MACC course. So I am stuck with the oul' PDA for now!

Seriously check it out and apply anyway. They might need an extra person or two to make the numbers so could be worthwhile.

Pythia

You really need to check with the university running the M.Acc itself. When I was interested in doing an M.Acc after college, the Big 4 company I was working for wasn't sure if I was able to do it having done the degree I had.