troubled! - to be Accountant but not via local uni

[Imami]

verykiasu2010:

Big 4 has no preference between ACCA or B Acc either way


many of the Big 4 partners are also ACCA or ICAEW members

ICAEW is the so called \"Chartered Accountant\" from Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.....the most premere chartered accountant institute.....in the early days, it is VERY prestigious to be articled under a Chartered accouting firm as it must be done under in England or Wales. The Scottish and Irish chartered accountant are just as good. ACCA got its Royal Charter many decades ago liao.....but they are the most global, more than 100,000 students taking exams any time.....now even China has many people taking ACCA ....

Indeed so but it also depends on where you are. When I was in the private sector, I earned \"wah...\" when I dished out my name cards. Now in public sector, I am just another one. Being a fcca or even icaew membership did not earn me any more recognition than a local grad, who is not even a CPA.

[Imp75]

I came from BAcc from

Ntu and subsequently did my MBA in NUS. I started off my career like everyone else in school and I believe the big 4 only employ from
ntu or Aussie or uk grads but not Acca or cima. This is true even in today’s time where my sis told me. Of course, this is in the local context. The reason simply being that grads have been perceived to have undergone the necessary training to hone their analytical and problem solving skills. Once a fresh grad has gotten the relevant experience, in order to further the career, could choose to do CA which is more prestigious than the local degree. After a few years of experience, it doesn’t matter where you studied but where you worked at and what kind of experience you have.

[Imami]

Imp75:

I believe the big 4 only employ from ntu or Aussie or uk grads but not Acca or cima. This is true even in today's time where my sis told me.

Not true. I started off with one of the big 4s and I was not from Ntu/Aussie/uk grad. Also, this big 4 which I used to work for, reimbursed my exam fees and membership subscriptions for acca.

[Imp75]

Haha I am indeed myopic, perhaps only my firm employs ntu Aussie or uk grads.

[meinteel]

Im doing Bs Accounts & Finance with SIM UOL. SIM gives me more flexibility to arrange my timetable. I am therefore able to arrange my timetable to suit an accounting firm to gain experience for the next two years. I believe this would be beneficial as I would be working for an ACCA & ACRA recognised accounting firm, as well as directly beneath a CPA.


Besides, there are cases of SIM UOL graduates going to LSE and Oxford to do their postgraduate. To be frank, it is very difficult but possible.

At that end, I think whatever course you are doing it is best to be humble and take up as much experience as you can when studying. Upon graduation, get a post grad (Im aiming for Masters in Taxation & ACCA professional papers) before applying to the big 4 and/or banks.

[verykiasu2010]

Imami:

Imp75:

I believe the big 4 only employ from ntu or Aussie or uk grads but not Acca or cima. This is true even in today's time where my sis told me.

Not true. I started off with one of the big 4s and I was not from Ntu/Aussie/uk grad. Also, this big 4 which I used to work for, reimbursed my exam fees and membership subscriptions for acca.

big 4 (last time big 8, down to big 6 ... ) are also generous with study leave

[verykiasu2010]

Imp75:

Haha I am indeed myopic, perhaps only my firm employs ntu Aussie or uk grads.

yes indeed you may need lasik .... :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

[bebe]

When I was working, and recruiting for accounting staff, our firm gave priority to NTU or ACCA graduates, followed by SIM/SMU and Australian uni graduates…it seemed that NTU and ACCA graduates’ accounting foundation and concepts are stronger.

[Imp75]

Honestly having been through this, I wonder why would anyone wants to be an accountant? Would love to hear thoughts on this

[magiccastle]

My boss loves smu grad. They are versatile n marketing skill is good. They are outspoken n love to take on lots of CCa. The new acc bus n law grad n even our co scholars are from smu. Whereas for Ntu , they are better at research n more down to earth. For NTU acc grad, my boss selects only at least upper class honour .The recent one is a 1st class honour.

Well , there are different career path for a u grad n poly grad with Acca . The U grad will move faster in term of promotion .it is proven that U grad can write better n more analytical n can be stretched …even if they are relatively new. Comparatively, those with Acca poly grads who stay on in the co for a number of years yet their performance is not as good as the U grad. But occasionally do see a stellar performance from a poly grad.