Which Accountancy Firm has the Best Graduate Jobs?Which Accountancy Firm has the Best Graduate Jobs?

When you first begin your job hunt, your mantra would most likely be “research and apply, research and apply, research and apply”. After all, you need to find out if a prospective company’s right for you, starting with commercial goals, growth, products and services, workplace culture, as well as the general development of the industry the firm is in. And then there’s still figuring out if you have the necessary qualifications and skills, and if you can really contribute anything.

If you’ve done all that, congratulations! But unfortunately, that’s only half the research you have to do (and half the battle won).

Because while these are important factors to keep in mind, just showing (and trying too hard to impress) recruiters with what you can offer isn’t necessarily going to land you the job you’re gunning for.

Instead, you can add to your advantage in the recruitment process if you can demonstrate that you’re “right” for the firm – and the firm’s right for you! So, spend some time thinking on these following tips before you determine which accountancy firm is the best fit for you, and you for it!

The size of the firm

The Big 4: It’s safe to say that most, at some point or other, you’ll try to find employment with the Big 4: Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC. As global key players, they are also the most well-known employers within the international accountancy sector.

What you need to know: Because of the weight their reputations can lend a resume, their intakes are very popular with interns and graduates alike, for both internship programmes and full-time positions. So if you’re interested in working with them, you’ll need to start preparing your applications early.

However, keep in mind that because larger companies can afford to allow employees to deep dive into a particular area of specialisation, most remain solely within their job descriptions. So, if you do land a role in one of the Big 4, there may not be many cross-departmental opportunities.

There are payoffs to this, though, such as the chance to travel overseas and work in a range of countries, as well as experience different cultures.

Other firms: Apart from the Big 4, Singapore’s accountancy industry is also populated by other robust small and medium-sized practices (SMPs). Some names include BDO, RSM Chio Lim, Foo Kon Tan LLP, Grant Thornton LLP and PKF-CAP.

What you need to know: Working with medium to smaller firms usually yields opportunities to gain a wider range of experience, rather than in only one area. As such firms usually have less employees compared to the Big 4, you’ll be asked to assist in a variety of tasks and duties outside of what was shown in your job description.

A few words of advice: Before you start shooting off applications to prospective employers based on size alone, take the time to consider if you want to work in the public or the private sectors. Because, just as how the size of a firm can affect the kind of benefits that you get as an employee, the type of sector that you work in will also influence your remuneration, the exposure you’ll get and your working environment.

During the interview process, be sure to ask plenty of questions about company culture and the type of people you’ll be working with! The questions will show your genuine interest in the company, for one. More importantly, you’ll need to work well with your co-workers and superiors if you want to succeed in your new workplace – especially since a large portion of accountancy work requires you to work in teams.

Last but not least, don’t be taken in by the stereotype that bigger always equals better. Different-sized firms offer varying forms of benefits and compensation, so determine what kind of benefits you can get first, and then open negotiations if you wish.

Training

What is it: Known as one of the most important criteria that you should consider while applying for employment, read up on training and development programmes that potential employers offer. To drive home its importance, gaining the necessary professional qualifications and fundamental skills is vital during your first few years as an accountant, as these will determine your work excellence and career advancement.

What you need to know: Find out how much a prospective company is willing to invest in employee education. These come in a few forms, such as a willingness to pay for all exam and tuition fees as you work towards chartered accountant qualifications. Others include partial funding support, but compensate with significant periods of study leave during exam periods.

Aside from external qualifications, check out any on-the-job training programmes that are on offer as well. As these programmes are geared towards employees, they’re more closely aligned to the company’s mission and vision. As such, you may have the chance to pick up skills specific to a particular firm!

A few words of advice: It’s true that larger accountancy firms (like the Big 4) have the resources to offer more appealing training packages. But there’s a trade-off! They may have higher expectations in terms of exam results, and may even expect you to qualify on a tighter timeline. Most will also require you to be bonded to the company for a certain period of time.

On the other hand, although smaller companies aren’t able to offer such attractive training benefits, they typically make up for it by offering greater flexibility. This ranges from tailoring your study programmes to personal preferences (like studying for six months on and six months off), to allowing you to accumulate industry experience to supplement theoretical knowledge. It all depends on what you’re willing to commit yourself to!

Job fulfilment

What is it: Job fulfilment can be a vague notion – different people see it differently. In general, though, a fulfilling career means that you’re able to engage in work that you enjoy and are good at, and also encourages you to make positive contributions to others. This can be internally (such as helping the new employee in the office), or externally (like mentoring at your alma mater, or addressing issues for clients).

Additionally, a fulfilling career never leaves you stagnated – professionally speaking – for too long. In other words, you should expect to grow and take on more responsibilities over time.

What you need to know: Your research into a company’s background should give you a rough idea of the job fulfilment employees have. Also, make it a point to speak with others from a variety of firms when you attend career fairs and networking sessions (both physically and virtually). You’ll get better insights into their working lives, as well as the satisfaction and fulfilment that they have.

A few words of advice: Before you run off to the next career fair or networking session, consider drawing up a list of important benefits that are essential to you. Some examples include pursuing further education, career advancement and even travel opportunities (despite present difficulties). Then, do the necessary research to find out how well each firm addresses these.

Alternatively, you could also ask your interviewer during the recruitment process. Use your list as a checklist to determine how interested you are in working with the prospective company in the long run.

The size of the firm

Training

Job fulfilment

Other questions to think about