Starting this september in a big 4, have lots of questions

MrMatisse

Starting this september in a big 4 . have no exemptions so have to sit all the exams. Is there anywhere i can obtain the course materials for the exams i will have to sit at the end of my first year so i can study them over the summer and get a headstart?

Whats life like whilst going through a training contract i.e Do you have one?

What can i exepct to earn in my second year if i pass my first year exams ? The money in my first year is awful!

Is there much scope for overtime within the top 2 firms?

Why do so many people leave the big 4 firms after they qualify?

any help is greatly appreciated.

Running Bing

**DISCLAIMER:Take what I am about to say with a pinch of salt*

Ok since nobody has replied I'll give it a shot but this is only based on chats I have had with a friend who works for a big 4 firm.


"Whats life like whilst going through a training contract i.e Do you have one?"

Definately. Most of the time he seems to work 9-5, but this obviously increases a bit during busy season. Goes out plenty and does lots of things so there does not seem to be a problem there. Social life seems to very good within the firm. You also get pretty generous study leave when the exams are coming up.

"Is there much scope for overtime within the top 2 firms?"

Plenty of scope for overtime if I'm not mistaken although I think the extent of this will depend on which division your in. I have a passing acquaintance with another lad at the same firm and he seems to do loads of overtime. He works in the division dealing with mid size companies iirc and they are relatively short staffed so there is plenty of overtime.

"Why do so many people leave the big 4 firms after they qualify?"


Well I asked my friend this and the answer he gave me was, it is'nt the best place to work for life. Dont get me wrong it's a great place to start(I'm a student at the mo and hoping to go into big 4 btw) but he said that as you move up there is too much overtime and there are better places to continue a career, like in industry. Newly qualified accountants are in high demand so there is no problem finding work after you become qualified. A fair few newly qualified accountants also seem to go abroad to get some international experience.


Like I said this is all based on second hand info, and I'm learning myself so do not take any of this as gospel. Just what I have been told/observed. Hope that helped a bit. And btw this is all regarding audit. I am clueless about tax.

Also what is the starting rate at a big four firm? Fully understand if you dont want to answer btw.:)

MrMatisse

23-25 if you dont have a masters. a little higher if you do. NOT GREAT!

Kinetic^

holyrood85 wrote:

NOT GREAT!

Well you should see what people outside the Big 4 start on then :rolleyes:

Running Bing

Not great when you have to take rent and bills and stuff out of that but most grad jobs start of about the same dont they? The range is usually 23-28 with anything over 28 being unusual I always thought.

MrMatisse

I know in the whole scheme of the accounting world its not bad. M currently studying in the U.K howvere where the starting salary is 27 sterling plus a 2k signing on bonus but the lure of the oul sod has brought me home. Most U.K cities are no more expensive than dublin any more either i think its time for a rise across the board.

Running Bing

BTW my mate is in his third year there(I think it's his third year, he has his final set of exmas coming up in may) and he gets about 16 quid an hour he said. So thats just over 33K a year, which is'nt to bad I suppose. Then you will obviously get a big jump when you qualify as well.