20k to 25k for SM!? hahaha... big 4 pay scale is quite transparent, it shouldn't be difficult to get the data from the Robert Walter and Kelly Services.

So many people trying to act smart here..... 20-25k for SM, what a joke....

Depends on whether he meant SM grade or SM title. SM grade is possible but SM title its too high.

Is the starting salary and progression for the first 4 years for the other departments such as transaction advisory, financial advisory, corporate finance and actuarial similar to that of tax and audit?

either same or slightly higher. big picture no diff.

Isn't that very un-competitive since consulting firms or middle market banks offer much more for those services? Are the working hours in the Big 4 significantly better or something?

Low pay, long hours.

That sums it up for Big 4.

Is it competitive vs consulting firms or banks? OF COURSE NOT. But ask yourself if you can get into consulting firms and banks first. If you can't we all know what the next choice is.

Anyone who has worked in high finance before knows Big 4 is not in the same league compare to real management consulting firms or banks. Only fresh grads or people outside finance industry think Big 4 is prestigious. It is mostly a sweat shop for people who join below partner level.

People in MBB or international banks will feel quite insulted whenever some layman say things that imply Big 4 is their peer.

I can go on to show u more ppl that are top FCH in the cohort working in big 4

see below:

s://.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-hoe/3a/26a/214

Valedictorian 2014 for both business school and mechanical engineering school in NUS working in pwc.

There are a lot of Magna and FCH so don't anyhow mislead ppl.

somemore :

s://sg.linkedin.com/in/terryngsimyee

FCH in NUS +dean's list for all semesters.. etc.

many more of these kind of ppl... just do a linkedin search la....

Wow that's one ugly dude