1. What is Big Four?
KPMG, Ernst&Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte. These companies specialize primarily in audit, consulting, valuation services and have offices in more than 100 countries.
Salary for start varies from company to company and country to country. For example, in Russia entry level salary is in range $1200-1500 per month. However, most graduates choose Big Four not only based on salary offered, but based on high speed of career growth offered by Big Four firms. As a result of such growth you easily can reach level of manager in 4-5 years with fixed salary of $5K+.
3. What are other advantages offered by Big Four Audit Firms besides salary and career growth opportunities:
- professional education financed by employer (ACCA, CFA, etc)
- young and proactive colleagues
- growth of your value on labor market in financial sector (premium for Big Four experience)
4. What is audit?
A financial audit, or more accurately, an audit of financial statements, is the examination by an independent third party of the financial statements of a company, resulting in the publication of an independent opinion on whether or not those financial statements are relevant, accurate, complete, and fairly presented.
5. Who the tests are aimed at?
Tests are aimed at graduates and young professionals willing to pass application process and get a desired job-offer in Big Four Audit Firms.
6. Requirements (not those advertised by Big Four firms, but rather those which really matter)
- Age of 18-35 y.o.
- Recognised Degree (BA, BSc, MA, MBA)
- English - Advanced level (if your native language is not English)
- Ability to operate basic arithmetic functions (+, -, *, /)
7. What is payback period of the money invested in tests?
Assuming entry level salary in your country of $1200 per month you can easily calculate that the money is earned back in just 2 days!
8. What are steps of career ladder in big four?
- Intern
- Assistant
- Senior
- Manager
- Senior Manager
- Partner
Duration of work at each grade depends upon the company as well as upon you personal and professional qualities.