The Student Room Group

Big 4 Audit vs Finance Graduate Scheme at a bank

I am deciding between two offers for my first job post university. The first is big 4 audit and the second is the finance graduate scheme at a bank. Both would pay for my ACA and allow me to qualify as a chartered accountant. The pay for the finance scheme is 43% higher than my big 4 offer and would probably result in me working less hours.

I am worried that basically starting in industry, working within accounting at a bank would narrow my experience and be harder to break out of. On qualifying from the big 4 I would leave into industry and hope to eventually become a financial controller in a couple of years for a decently sized company. Would my narrow accounting experience only within a bank dampen my chances, this isn’t as much of a well trodden path and so it is hard for me to visualise. Basically, would the 3 years in big 4 audit on lower pay, even though it would be a grind, be better for my prospects in the long run? I am worried that the role in the bank would pigeonhole me too early in my career.
If you are in this position always go for big4 get qualified and leave to finance in industry, you’ll go in at a higher position, get promoted faster and you’ll have an ACA/CA.

There are significant intangible benefits to having Big 4 on your CV, don’t underestimate it, look at the guys that start in industry vs those in big 4 and see where they end up. Especially in Accounting.

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