Q: Big4 - Yearly salary increment

Hi all, is it hard to get promoted from associate to senior in audit? What are the requirements to be promoted to senior if say i join as A2 straight out of sch?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi all, is it hard to get promoted from associate to senior in audit? What are the requirements to be promoted to senior if say i join as A2 straight out of sch?

Wait for 2024. It is that simple

Hi I'm the poster from NUS with a FCH..

I just spoke to my career coach from LinkedIn, she said that it's indeed a road less traveled but there are massive rewards to be reaped at the end of the journey. For example, partnership is lucrative in a mid tier and big 4. Therefore, why not take the road that maximizes your chances of entering partnership with lower calibre competitors? I have always heard that the Big 4 is a scary place, especially since there are extremely competent people (mostly from Malaysia and Vietnam)

Is fresh graduate vs experienced hire w less than a year having the same pay for associate1?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi I'm the poster from NUS with a FCH..

I just spoke to my career coach from LinkedIn, she said that it's indeed a road less traveled but there are massive rewards to be reaped at the end of the journey. For example, partnership is lucrative in a mid tier and big 4. Therefore, why not take the road that maximizes your chances of entering partnership with lower calibre competitors? I have always heard that the Big 4 is a scary place, especially since there are extremely competent people (mostly from Malaysia and Vietnam)

You, or your career coach, are delusional. The assumption about being a big fish in a small pond does not hold true because the traits necessary to become a partner, in a small firm no less, are quite different from the traits that enabled you to obtain your FCH.

Mid tiers and small firms are also extremely insular and idiosyncratic. So what if you are a technical expert? They will forever dangle the prospect of partnership in front of you. Meanwhile, the partner's son or son-in-law comes in and immediately leapfrogs you for the spot.

To forego an objectively better starting employer, based on your flawed assumption, is very unwise.

The more logical choice as a fresh grad would be to get into the most prestigious and highest calibre employer at the outset. Because your career options expand significantly down the line.

Also, the competency of Malaysians in Big 4, is just lol.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi I'm the poster from NUS with a FCH..

I just spoke to my career coach from LinkedIn, she said that it's indeed a road less traveled but there are massive rewards to be reaped at the end of the journey. For example, partnership is lucrative in a mid tier and big 4. Therefore, why not take the road that maximizes your chances of entering partnership with lower calibre competitors? I have always heard that the Big 4 is a scary place, especially since there are extremely competent people (mostly from Malaysia and Vietnam)

Mid tier senior over here. Can only tell you FCH from NUS doesn’t mean anything in mid tier once you joined. I myself came from a private u but I have peers from the same batch, coming from big3 uni, that don’t get promoted and remained as associates. Some of them are even working under me now. Also, keep in mind that the bond in mid tier will make you miserable. You can’t quit as and when you want.

The mid tier that I’m in is mostly packed with jhk. You’ll be feeling like an outsider in your own country. You think it’s easy to climb up when their whole kampong is here?

Think again if you want to come to mid tier.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You, or your career coach, are delusional. The assumption about being a big fish in a small pond does not hold true because the traits necessary to become a partner, in a small firm no less, are quite different from the traits that enabled you to obtain your FCH.

Mid tiers and small firms are also extremely insular and idiosyncratic. So what if you are a technical expert? They will forever dangle the prospect of partnership in front of you. Meanwhile, the partner's son or son-in-law comes in and immediately leapfrogs you for the spot.

To forego an objectively better starting employer, based on your flawed assumption, is very unwise.

The more logical choice as a fresh grad would be to get into the most prestigious and highest calibre employer at the outset. Because your career options expand significantly down the line.

Also, the competency of Malaysians in Big 4, is just lol.

Very true. A good start is very important (if you can). Dont self pwn.

Audit is a common dumping ground now. Go get a better job. Will mid tiers pay u 2.8?

My market research is jhk less than 2.5k. U want to compete? Local u fch.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi I'm the poster from NUS with a FCH..

I just spoke to my career coach from LinkedIn, she said that it's indeed a road less traveled but there are massive rewards to be reaped at the end of the journey. For example, partnership is lucrative in a mid tier and big 4. Therefore, why not take the road that maximizes your chances of entering partnership with lower calibre competitors? I have always heard that the Big 4 is a scary place, especially since there are extremely competent people (mostly from Malaysia and Vietnam)

Your career coach from Linkedin? You are sure you are from NUS accounting? Why are you listening to some coach / recruiter that knows nothing. If you are, and as your senior from NUS Acc, just listen to the friendly advice here.

Ignore whatever crap you have heard from your linkedin coach. I am not sure how you get your FCH when you have such poor listening and reasoning skills.

Go speak to NUS bizcareer advisors. The career advisor team is arguably the best among the three unis, as NUS Business School has its own career services (away from NUS) unlike business school in NTU and SMU which is using the same career services team for the whole schooll. I am not sure why you are seeking help from some linkedin coach when you have the (arguably) best team at your service. And you are FCH, they are more than happy to help you and get your interview coach and case study coach. But you need to engage them and let them know what you are looking for and what help you need.

3 things that you can and should do:
1. Apply for the audit or other roles at big 4 instead. If those roles are not available publicly on big4 websites for this cycle, seek it via the bizcareer services. They will be able to pull some strings for you.
2. Apply for other roles outside big 4 instead. You would have missed the cycle and have to join the cycle for next year. Think of what else you want to do. Speak to bizcareer services and see if it makes sense to apply for next year cycle or it will be an issue
3. Potentially, delay your graduation. Go do a 6 month internship or two 6 month internship in other firms (depending on your interest). If you think you like investment or IB, see if you can try to get the Lazard, State Street or other 6 months internship that are available. Use that to build portfolio and get another job instead.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Mid tier senior over here. Can only tell you FCH from NUS doesn’t mean anything in mid tier once you joined. I myself came from a private u but I have peers from the same batch, coming from big3 uni, that don’t get promoted and remained as associates. Some of them are even working under me now. Also, keep in mind that the bond in mid tier will make you miserable. You can’t quit as and when you want.

The mid tier that I’m in is mostly packed with jhk. You’ll be feeling like an outsider in your own country. You think it’s easy to climb up when their whole kampong is here?

Think again if you want to come to mid tier.

Being sub par will do. Dont try to stand out.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi I'm the poster from NUS with a FCH..

Is this what happens when the cut-off to enter business school drops off? Even FCH quality is poor.