optimal for personal career, dude. The much lauded 'steady progression' in big 4 is not as uncommon as u think in many other countries. plus you're starting on a very below-average starting base salary.

better to start at as high a salary as possible when you're young. especially when u're aiming to buy a house and get married and put the rest in investments etc.

Some poster above cited a double degree NtU top scorer who went to KPMG in 2015. i think he seriously made the wrong choice.

this dude is the 2021 NBS valedictorian for BBus & BAcc double degree. Bain & Co associate consultant. this should be the kind of roles tt top scorers should aim for. where the comp and exit options are commensurate with their talents:
s://.linkedin.com/in/chow-kai-jin