Big 4—Leaving Certificate

biglawstudent

I have been wondering if big 4 firms do care about, and if so—to what extent—about Leaving Certificate scores. Could anybody advise me on this matter, please?

They did when I applied, they ask for your grades in the application form. I applied in my late twenties with a degree and a professional diploma under my arm, my leaving cert was a long distant memory at that stage. I had to spend a day rooting around my parent's house for my scores! Ridiculous IMO.

Pawwed Rig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058243233/big-4-leaving-certificate

They have a minimum amount of points that are required. When I applied it was 420. Not sure what it is now.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058243233/big-4-leaving-certificate

Well back in the day, and it is a long time ago… it was important because it goes to consistency of performance. When you have the opportunity you are better off betting on those who regularly deliver rather than the occasional performer.

i have no idea how it is now, but back then when it was the big 8, it was really just the Dublin big 8 and apart from tax, it was unusual for trainees to be able to regularly attend lectures, so it was important to have people who were very self disciplined about their studies. Most of us spent a lot of time down the country. For my finals I probably attend less than a handful of lectures as I spent almost a year living in a hotel down south working on a liquidation.

biglawstudent

Thanks, guys, for your answers... So, truth be told, I study law in the Netherlands, but here the grading culture is different. My marks weren't excellent, but weren't bad, either. I'm just wondering how it would be viewed and affect my application? I'd like to move to Ireland and complete my Master's in Taxation at the University of Limerick.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118978212#Comment_118978212

Again my experience is from a long time ago, but we used to ask for advice from the local firm on foreign qualifications, if we could not find a reference to them in the TCD entry requirements - at that time it was the post extensive source, no idea of what the situation is now.

There are also plenty of other well regarded firms out there to consider.

Pawwed Rig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118978212#Comment_118978212

I am in a mid size firm and at this stage due to the lack of credible candidates we would interview anyone with a right to work in Ireland and a CV that shows that there is some level of qualifications. An interest in tax is a plus.

I hired someone last year with well below the 'normal' threshold of LC points for example. Big 4 tend to be slightly more choosy than us but not hugely so.

biglawstudent

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118979774#Comment_118979774

Thanks again! But does it mean that that many firms ask for matriculation results? Don't get me wrong, I'm just quiet culturally shocked; it never happens here, in the NL. It is quite inconceivable to be asked for such results while applying for a job. Well, I will try my luck when the time comes!

Pawwed Rig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118980628#Comment_118980628

What are matriculation results?

biglawstudent

LC.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118981404#Comment_118981404

Matriculation is the process of being admitted into university. I don't know how it is now, but back in my day Leaving Cert results were 'translated' into matriculation exam results. And it was even possible to sit matriculation exams, I know two guys in my class took both in the hope that they'd do better in on than the other. But that is all I remember about them.

Cyrus

The usual things they look for are degrees at certain universities, Commerce in UCD, B&L UCD, Acc & Fin DCU, Law and accounting UL etc etc, it would mean that you would have had to have secured a decent LC to get in in the first place.

If you have studied abroad it will probably make it more difficult for them to ascertain.

biglawstudent

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118984462#Comment_118984462

I suppose that I wouldn't have got into any of them since I hadn't even taken the required number of subjects at extended level. But I'm planning on Master's in Taxation at UL. But, again, if my LC results are going to hold me back in my career, then I don't know whether the juice is worth the squeeze...

biglawstudent

OK, I calculated it and according to the conversion tables, I got 480 points in LC. Not as bad as I thought.

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119197338#Comment_119197338

Any business degree in the main universities to be honest.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119197338#Comment_119197338

The most important thing is that you demonstrate a track record of delivering consistent high results. Audits are not conducted in a vacuum, it’s helpful to have maths graduates around to look at the models being used in insurance or finance, legal backgrounds for title deeds and law suits, engineering graduates to look at production facilities etc…You can’t take everything you are told at face value, you need to have your own people who at least know the basics.

So firms will always be interested in looking at candidates with good results in areas such as law, various engineering disciplines, science etc…