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Graduate Programme

  • 07-10-2019 5:30pm
    #1
    LeeBucke123
    Registered Users Posts: 10 ✭


    Anyone able to give me information in regards to graduate programmes?

    Which of the big 4 would a person most likely have an enjoyable time with the best support.

    Someone told me Deloitte aren't the best and EY organize great social nights out.
    I know this question is very broad but I'm really helpless.

    Are there any horror stories regarding a particular company and any success stories.

    Really it would be great to hear from people in graduate contracts and get to know what it's like.

    Best company in regards graduate programmes 15 votes

    Deloitte
    86% 13 votes
    KPMG
    6% 1 vote
    PWC
    6% 1 vote
    EY
    0% 0 votes


Comments

  • #2
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,421 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    LeeBucke123 wrote: »
    Anyone able to give me information in regards to graduate programmes?

    Which of the big 4 would a person most likely have an enjoyable time with the best support.

    Someone told me Deloitte aren't the best and EY organize great social nights out.
    I know this question is very broad but I'm really helpless.

    Are there any horror stories regarding a particular company and any success stories.

    Really it would be great to hear from people in graduate contracts and get to know what it's like.

    There is very little difference between the big four when it comes to the trainee experience and you are definitely not there for the social life. You are working full-time plus overtime, lectures in the evening and the weekend, plus study....


  • #3
    JackTC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 127 ✭✭JackTC


    I've heard some pretty bad things about KPMG.

    I know some people in EY and they say it's great.

    Don't know about the other two.


  • #4
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,421 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    JackTC wrote: »
    I've heard some pretty bad things about KPMG.

    I know some people in EY and they say it's great.

    Don't know about the other two.

    There are good and bad stories about all of the big four. It depends on the graduate, their attitude and expectations, the department you get assigned to, the clients you work on and the people you meet.

    For the most part the trainee experience is about the same.


  • #5
    TitianGerm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,354 ✭✭✭✭TitianGerm


    LeeBucke123 wrote: »
    Anyone able to give me information in regards to graduate programmes?

    Which of the big 4 would a person most likely have an enjoyable time with the best support.

    Someone told me Deloitte aren't the best and EY organize great social nights out.
    I know this question is very broad but I'm really helpless.

    Are there any horror stories regarding a particular company and any success stories.

    Really it would be great to hear from people in graduate contracts and get to know what it's like.

    You could consider the likes of Mazars, Baker Tilly, BDO or Grant Thornton either. Smaller firms but still in the top 20.


  • #6
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,421 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    TitianGerm wrote: »
    You could consider the likes of Mazars, Baker Tilly, BDO or Grant Thornton either. Smaller firms but still in the top 20.

    Why play in the second division, if you can play in the first???


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  • #7
    ggmad
    Registered Users Posts: 308 ✭✭ggmad


    Jim2007 wrote: »
    Why play in the second division, if you can play in the first???

    Or play in the premier league and train through industry...


  • #8
    TitianGerm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,354 ✭✭✭✭TitianGerm


    Jim2007 wrote: »
    Why play in the second division, if you can play in the first???

    Might suit someone better to work in one of the slightly smaller firms.

    Could be location for example, Grant Thornton have an office in Kildare. That would mean someone could have lower rents or less of a commute.


  • #9
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,421 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    TitianGerm wrote: »
    Might suit someone better to work in one of the slightly smaller firms.

    Could be location for example, Grant Thornton have an office in Kildare. That would mean someone could have lower rents or less of a commute.

    Not much of a reason, when comes to career advancement... it's only for a couple of years after all.


  • #10
    barneystinson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,685 ✭✭✭barneystinson


    Jim2007 wrote: »
    Why play in the second division, if you can play in the first???

    :rolleyes:


  • #11
    TitianGerm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,354 ✭✭✭✭TitianGerm


    Jim2007 wrote: »
    Not much of a reason, when comes to career advancement... it's only for a couple of years after all.

    Jim honestly not everyone cares about career progression, and either way if your good you'll rise anyway. To say someone's career will be worse off because they train in GT over a top 4 firm is a bit silly I think. If your happy in position that's what matters at the end of the day.

    Also you don't know what a person's circumstances are. Someone may have small kids or a sick relative and they may want/need to be home sooner and a commute just won't be viable.


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  • #12
    LeeBucke123
    Registered Users Posts: 10 ✭LeeBucke123


    I’m actually from newbridge in Kildare. Was considering the grant thorton office in newbridge but someone advised me against it. The commute to Dublin doesn’t sound pleasing ahahah


  • #13
    TitianGerm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,354 ✭✭✭✭TitianGerm


    LeeBucke123 wrote: »
    I’m actually from newbridge in Kildare. Was considering the grant thorton office in newbridge but someone advised me against it. The commute to Dublin doesn’t sound pleasing ahahah

    I know someone who worked in Deloitte, went to Baker Tilly and then GT. She was always complementary about them all but said she found the work life balance in GT the best. Now she was in her late 40s by the time she went to GT and lived in Kildare so staying late for overtime and commuting wasn't a priority for her at that stage.


  • #14
    votecounts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,624 ✭✭✭votecounts


    I did 5 years doing my training at KPMG and then stayed for a while when I qualified, it was great from a training and social point of view. Still have friends there while I have moved elsewhere, who I still meet when we are attending confrences, etc.
    Heard very bad things about PWC and EY, different strokes for diffent folks.
    Take your time as it a big decision:)


  • #15
    Bannerlad123
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭Bannerlad123


    Hi, I'm in my final year studying Accounting & Finance in UL. Unfortunately my grades are fairly poor atm and I'm trying hard to bring them up, I know working for any of the big 4 is out of the picture for me. What options should i look at next year? fairly worried at the minute about my QCA.


  • #16
    TitianGerm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,354 ✭✭✭✭TitianGerm


    Bannerlad123 wrote: »
    Hi, I'm in my final year studying Accounting & Finance in UL. Unfortunately my grades are fairly poor atm and I'm trying hard to bring them up, I know working for any of the big 4 is out of the picture for me. What options should i look at next year? fairly worried at the minute about my QCA.

    Apply for smaller firms or industry. Get your foot in the door and work really hard. Focus on qualifying first and worry about the rest after that.

    If your happy where you are once you do qualify stay where you train until you want a change. Nobody can tell you what's right for you or what will suit you best.


  • #17
    jonnybravo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 573 ✭✭✭jonnybravo


    I trained in PwC. All big 4 will be similar. If your interested in going into Industry and not Financial Services / Insurance and any of the big 4 definitely offered you their industry department that's who I'd chose. Not sure if any tell you until after you signed on though....


  • #18
    barneystinson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,685 ✭✭✭barneystinson


    TitianGerm wrote: »
    Jim honestly not everyone cares about career progression, and either way if your good you'll rise anyway. To say someone's career will be worse off because they train in GT over a top 4 firm is a bit silly I think. If your happy in position that's what matters at the end of the day.

    Also you don't know what a person's circumstances are. Someone may have small kids or a sick relative and they may want/need to be home sooner and a commute just won't be viable.

    +100 to this.

    Not everyone wants to be a big Swiss success like you Jim! In fact, it’s a necessity that most people aren’t, so that you can be... ;)


  • #19
    barneystinson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,685 ✭✭✭barneystinson


    TitianGerm wrote: »
    Nobody can tell you what's right for you or what will suit you best.

    Jim can. It involves Switzerland, I’m almost sure...


  • #20
    fishy_fishy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 452 ✭✭fishy_fishy


    I think the thing that will make the most difference on a practical level is the firm's policy on overtime. Not on whether you do any - you'll do plenty - but on whether you can put it on your timesheet... that's how you'll fund long periods of study leave and they don't all let you accrue everything you work.

    Socially, big client exposure, opportunities, type of people you'll work with? The same.


  • #21
    Alan_007_
    Registered Users Posts: 356 ✭✭Alan_007_


    fishy_fishy wrote: »
    I think the thing that will make the most difference on a practical level is the firm's policy on overtime. Not on whether you do any - you'll do plenty - but on whether you can put it on your timesheet... that's how you'll fund long periods of study leave and they don't all let you accrue everything you work.

    Socially, big client exposure, opportunities, type of people you'll work with? The same.

    That's something I've wondered about.

    Is the 3 months for study leave a standard thing or is some of that time in lieu?


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  • #22
    fishy_fishy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 452 ✭✭fishy_fishy


    Mixture. CAI require you to be given a set amount, most (all?) big 4 give more, then also give you the option to take more but you have to self fund through TOIL, negative TOIL (you owe them overtime), unpaid leave, annual leave.


  • #23
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,421 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    TitianGerm wrote: »
    Jim honestly not everyone cares about career progression, and either way if your good you'll rise anyway. To say someone's career will be worse off because they train in GT over a top 4 firm is a bit silly I think. If your happy in position that's what matters at the end of the day.

    First of all I did not say that someone's career would be worse because they did not train at a Big 4. I questioned the wisdom of passing up on an opportunity to do so when it is on offer. It's only for a couple of years and it definitely gives you better options afterwards.

    And as for career progression, you may be thankful of the possibilities when you need to pay a mortgage, pay kids college fees and save for retirement. I know thinking about retirement is not high on the list of issues for a 21/22 year old, but the reality is that they will retire in a time the pension system will have to be reformed and every where this happened people found there was a savings gap to be bridged.

    Don't make decisions now that may limit your options later for the sake of convenience, inertia or laziness. Grab every opportunity you are offered.


  • #24
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,421 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    barneystinson wrote: »
    +100 to this.

    Not everyone wants to be a big Swiss success like you Jim! In fact, it’s a necessity that most people aren’t, so that you can be... ;)

    You make a lot of assumptions... I resigned a week or two after qualifying at a big four and have spent most of the last 30 years as a freelancer. The fact that I had big four experience on my resume, got me a lot of work back in the day.


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