Ignore the following if you think this is anything else other than just well-meaning thoughts: Seriously, what's a few hundred dollar differences (or thousands per annum) if you are competent enough to contemplate career choices between professional or financial services (such as accounting, tax, banking or consulting) or executive civil service positions (such as with the ministries or statutory boards).

Some scales start low and go up fast (big 4) to compensate after hurdling the learning curve and long hours while others start high (commercial banking or civil service), but with generally more comfortable working hours. Just find what you enjoy (or at least don't hate doing) and each route should eventually have their own payoff period / day in the sun.

Always had difficulty understanding the narrow mindedness of deloitte vs ey or dbs vs ocbc or merrill vs goldman .. bcg vs bain ..mti vs mof... Seriously dudes..