Anonymous wrote:
Hi Job Doctor,
I'm currently a part qualified ACA, with the view of qualifying by the end of 2009. Unfortunately, I do not have first time passes, with 2 retakes in professional stage and obtained a 2:2 at university.
I'm training with a small local 6 partner firm, and would like to move on to one of the Big 4 (Advisory - Corporate Finance/Forensic/Restructuring) in London once I qualify. What are my chances of potentially getting a job with them, especially with the current economic climate?
Would my experience in a small firm hinder my chances, would I increase my chances if I opt for other areas i.e. Audit instead?
Thank you!
An Associate Director at WH Marks Sattin replied:
In a word this will be a tough. The main reasons is that, in the current climate, the Big 4 are making redundancies rather than hiring at your level . Their grad schemes are still firing but at the newly qualified level the number of vacancies are down.
You mentioned that you would like to get into corporate recovery and Forensics however if you do not currently work in this area this will be really hard to get into as, while firms are recruiting in this area, they are looking for people with this experience, exceptional academics or looking to move people internally/from other top 4 firms.
There is good news though, when the economic climate improves the Big 4 will need to look outside the current parameters and start interviewing people from smaller practices. For this reason your logical next step will be to move up the food chain somewhat. After qualification you should look at some larger firms, 20 partners plus, to gain experience in dealing with bigger clients and different issues that will act as stepping stones towards your ultimate goal.
All the best
WH Marks Sattin
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3 comments:
Hi
I currently work in the Transactions advisory/services arm of one of the Big 4, having previously been Big 4 ACA qualified with good academics supporting these. I am now not at all keen to pursue a career further into the M&A/IB side of things. I was wondering what realistic options would be open to me in Commerce & industry that would not let the financial analytical skills and acumen developed in Transaction Services go to waste?
Hi,
I have recently been offered an ACA training contract at a top 50 accountancy firm, and will be working on not-for-profit audit where this firm is pretty specialist and have clients ranging from large, well-known, international aid agencies down to smaller religious orders. At the same time I also have a final interview for an ACA trainee role at a top 5 accountancy firm based regionally (unlike the previous role which is based in London).
My problem is that I have decide whether or not to take the first role before I have the opportunity to go to the latter final interview. First of all do you think its sensible in this current economic climate to turn down the first role for the interview at the latter role, even though it is possible I may not get the job, and I would be quite happy training at the first firm. My only fear in taking the first role is for the longevity of my CV; or is this thought ridiculous. And secondly given that I get 1st time passes in my ACA, and with my current academics of having a 2:1 undergraduate masters of science in a physical science subject from a top 5 UK university, A-levels of 320 UCAS points, and non-financial work experience at a FTSE 100 company; would my work experience in not-for-profit audit hinder one of my possible aspirations of moving into a commercial/industry role as a business analyst/financial controller after qualification. I was thinking specifically on the latter note, that a move to the big 4 after qualification might help with these objectives, are upwards moves like this feasible with work experience from the first role.
Many Thanks
Hi,
I currently work in audit for a top 20 accountancy firm and have recently become part qualified. Is there any chance for me to find a role in audit in one of the Big 4 and complete my ACA qualification there?
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