Leaving Big 4 Grad Scheme to do ACA qualification

Hi everyone, this is my first post. Any advice/opinions would be appreciated.

I started a Big 4 grad scheme in September 2022, coming from non-finance/accounting background. My aim is to become a qualified accountant and hoped that joining a big4 firm would allow that. The firm offered me a place in a department which is not accounting-centric and therefore does not offer the ACA (but instead offers a different qualification which is not accounting specific). Upon asking around, i found out that offers are given out depending on where there is a requirement for resources.

I had not applied elsewhere so accepted the offer, knowing it would allow me to gain invaluable experience from a big4, despite not offering the ACA. I have completed almost 10 months at the firm, and although I like the firm, I know the career it is developing me for, is not one I want. I don’t want to spend 3 years on a grad scheme to feel like I’m back at step one and looking for an entry opportunity to begin qualifying as an accountant. I have spoken to managers at the firm and they have said there’s no real guarantee to have the opportunity to do further study after the 3 year grad scheme (but it could happen).

I have an offer from a top 6/7 firm within Audit for September where I can do the ACA.

I am quite conflicted between: Leaving a big4 firm after 1 year to start my journey of getting qualified (while taking a pay cut) vs staying at the big4 with better pay but not getting qualified as an accountant after 3 years of putting in hard work.

If I was to leave, in 2 years time when I would have finished my grad scheme, I could already have completed 2 out of the 3 years on my new scheme and be part-qualified.

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks