If you're dreaming of working with big and respected accounting firms like the Big Four or other top-notch Chartered Accountancy (CA) firms, you're in for an exciting journey!
Getting an Articleship in these firms is a crucial step towards becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA), and it also gives you valuable hands-on experience.
But, let's be real – the competition is tough. This guide is here to help you navigate the process and make sure you stand out among the crowd. We'll break down the steps, share some insights, and give you practical tips to boost your chances of landing an Articleship in these prestigious firms.
One of the best career opportunities for someone with a degree that can open up many more opportunities is chartered accounting. Networking and trust are the cornerstones of this profession. Individuals and businesses can use the services of chartered accountants.
The Chartered Accountant offers a variety of services, including auditing, tax preparation, accounting, and financial services.
First, the Big 4s are:
- Deloitte
- Ernst & Young (E&Y),
- PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and
- Klynveld The Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG)
Let's get started on making your CA dreams a reality!
What is Articleship?
Articleship is a mandatory training program for individuals pursuing the Chartered Accountancy (CA) qualification. It is a practical training period where aspiring Chartered Accountants gain hands-on experience and exposure to various aspects of accounting, auditing, taxation, and financial management.
Qualifications
The Big 4 CA firms accept students for articleship who have only finished one group or students who have average marks in the exams and have attempted to pass the exams multiple times, in contrast to what students and coaching faculties believe and believe to be true.
Even though they prefer to accept students who have performed well on the CA Intermediate or IPCC exams, they do accept other students as well.
- No matter how many times you try, all you need to get an articleship in one of the big 4 CA firms is to pass at least one group with a good grade (let's say, around 500).
- Good communication skills are also necessary for the Big 4 CA firms. Both speaking and understanding English are required. How is it assessed? through tests and the interviewer observing how naturally and fluently you speak your response.
- Be assured and aware, and keep abreast of recent changes in the sector.
- The ICITSS course must have lasted four weeks.
- Any regular course with a graduation degree (not required) enhances the value of your resume.
- Which department you want to join—Taxation or Audit—and whether those departments have requirements is a further criterion.
When to Apply
If you are certain that you will pass the CA Intermediate/IPCC exams, apply for the pre-results placements as the Big 4 companies begin their recruitment drives.
The majority of students wait until they receive their CA Inter results before applying, but by that point, the Big 4 firms have already chosen half of their articles. Applying earlier is therefore better for you.
Procedure
The Big 4 CA firms each have a unique selection procedure. For your convenience, we have listed the typical selection procedures below:
- Online application for the CA articleship.
- Students who apply for articleships should take the online test as their first step. It is a simple test to determine your general aptitude and subject knowledge.
- You will advance to the following round once you pass this aptitude test.
- A few are chosen for a group discussion in the following round based on their performance. In the group discussions, questions are raised on general subjects and current events.
- After being selected for further consideration, you will probably receive an interview call. Research the company, practice common interview questions, and dress professionally to be prepared for the interview.
- Be open to working in different places because Big4 and Top 10 CA firms have offices spread across several cities. This might raise the likelihood that you'll be chosen.
- Finally, submit applications to several companies. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Keep your options open and submit applications to several companies.
Advice for Obtaining
In the Big 4 firms, your resume is typically the first thing that recruiters see. Therefore, you must make sure that your resume adheres to a few guidelines:
- Include your name, contact information, educational background, employment history, extracurricular activities, and technical and computer skills.
- Only use headings in capital letters and bold; keep the font legible.
- Keep the style clean and contemporary.
Points to Remember to Break an Interview
- Maintain extra copies of your resume at all times.
- Reach ahead of schedule. Even though you arrive early, people will still notice when you arrive after a certain time.
- Look professional. Everything about you should be neat, clean, and formal, starting with your face and hair and moving on to your clothes and shoes.
- Revise your notes before going for the interview.
- Keep up with current events. Consult English-language newspapers.
- Don't start counter-attacking everyone to make a point when you go for the GD round. Mention it if you agree with someone. Your professionalism and sense of cooperation are evaluated. Utilize the conclusion period as much as possible.
- Even if they are minor changes, you must be aware of them.
Frequently Asked Questions in Interview
You will be asked a variety of questions during the interviews. Here are a few illustrations of the typical questions asked. You can use these to learn how to obtain a Big4 articleship. Be ready to respond to anything. Your technical, analytical, communication, and teamwork skills are put to the test in the interviews.
- The Big 4, and why KPMG?
- Why did you decide on CA?
- What department are you interested in joining?
- Are you comfortable putting in long hours?
- What long-term career goals do you have?
- Who is KPMG's current CEO?
- Tell us about the new Companies Act in response to question 7.
- How will you organize your studies, articleship, and tuition?
- Please introduce yourself.
- Why Deloitte, not PwC and KPMG?
Top 10 CA Firms
1. Deloitte
The world's largest professional services network in terms of revenue is Deloitte. It is the biggest professional services network in the world based on the number of professionals as well.
Deloitte is renowned for offering financial advisory, enterprise risk, accounting and taxation courses, consulting, and audit services to more than 200,000 professionals in more than 150 countries.
They serve as advisors to many of the most admired brands in the world. According to the theory of "Providing practical perspectives and solutions to queries," consulting services for industries operate.
2. PwC
PriceWaterhouseCoopers, one of the Big Four auditors, is neck-and-neck with Deloitte, EY, and KPMG for the title of second-largest professional services network in the world in terms of revenue, according to a survey conducted in 2014.
It was a global network of professional services. The Firm is dedicated to finding opportunities and assisting in the resolution of difficult problems. Entertaining people come from all walks of life, including the arts, business, economics, engineering, finance, health, information technology, law, and more.
3. EY India
Stands for Ernst & Young, a global professional services company with headquarters in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the four largest audit firms and has been ranked as the third largest professional services firm in the world in terms of revenue in a 2012 survey.
4. KPMG
KPMG is one of the biggest professional services firms in the world and has its global headquarters in Amstelveen, Netherlands. Along with Deloitte and EY, it is one of the Big Four auditors.
KPMG has 162,000 professionals working for them, and they provide three services: audit, tax, and advisory. The company further categorizes its tax and advisory services into different service groups.
5. BDO International
When it comes to having the biggest accounting network in the world, BDO International comes in at number five. It is among the top public accounting firms and has a global network of professional services.
It is capable of serving both domestic and foreign clients. According to a 2014 survey conducted in September, BDO has member firms in 151 nations and takes pride in employing close to 60,000 partners and staff members across 1,328 offices worldwide.
6. Grant Thornton
The UK-based company Grant Thornton has offices in nearly 125 nations. This company is renowned for producing extremely high revenue—more than 4.5 billion dollars. It offers services to advisory, tax, and assurance firms.
Additionally, Grant Thornton is well known for offering services in taxation, assurance, and other financial consulting. It has been running for a century. Organizations with the potential to expand and do business internationally have benefited from the valuable services Grant Thornton offers.
7. RSM
RSM is the seventh-largest audit, tax, and advisory firm in the professional services network. It takes pride in being the sixth-largest international provider of tax services. In 111 countries surveyed in September 2014, it has fully independent member companies and correspondents. 35,396 people work for the member firms of RSM International, including 3,221 partners across 718 offices.
8. SS Kothari
The fact that this firm has been around for more than 55 years is its best quality. One of the most well-known companies in Delhi, SS Kothari has branches in more than one hundred other nations.
Through the development of a network that includes 6 offices and 20 associates and covers almost the entire country, it has established a strong national presence. Nearly the entire country has been covered by a combination of Partners and Associates.
It provides services in a variety of fields, including BPO, tax advisory services, mergers and acquisitions, statutory audit services, corporate laws, and more.
9. Lodha & Co
This is another established business that dates back to 1941 and has locations all over India. Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai (Madras), Hyderabad, Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, and Jaipur are among the places where they are active.
Lodha & Co. is skilled at offering professional services to numerous corporate clients, including public sector corporations, central banks, banks, insurance companies, etc. They are active both domestically and abroad.
10. SNB- Sahani Natrajan & Bahal
Delhi-based SNB is a national Indian firm that offers its services in the fields of audit, consulting, accounting, and related fields. It was founded in 1981 and is now regarded as one of India's top firms. They have a New Delhi headquarters and offices in Bangalore and Mumbai.
The firm has remained committed to its goal of offering services of the highest caliber that add value to each of its clients in a professional, impartial, and moral manner.
Once you are certified as a CA, the discipline and knowledge that are required during the articleship training will assist you in choosing your career path. The top CA firms in India are experts in a variety of areas, including finance, auditing, international taxation, merger & acquisition, and other areas that are hard to find in other firms.
Important Links
https://www.jobaaj.com/recruiter-branding
https://www.jobaaj.com/job-posting
https://www.jobaaj.com/candidate-pool
https://www.jobaaj.com/consultancy
FAQs
To secure an Articleship in Big Four CA firms like Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG, candidates must have passed at least one group of CA Intermediate exams with good marks (around 500). Additionally, good communication skills in English and completion of the ICITSS course are essential. Firms value technical knowledge, along with the ability to perform under pressure, and interpersonal skills.
It's recommended to apply for Articleship placements in Big Four firms before the CA Intermediate results are declared. Applying earlier increases your chances since these firms begin their recruitment drives ahead of results. Pre-results applications help secure your spot early, as half of the spots may already be filled post-results.
The typical selection process for Articleship in Big Four firms involves an online application, an aptitude test, a group discussion, and finally an interview. Candidates are evaluated on their general aptitude, current affairs knowledge, and technical skills. It’s crucial to be well-prepared, dress professionally, and research the firm thoroughly before the interview.
During your Articleship in top CA firms, you may join departments such as audit, taxation, consulting, or advisory services. Each department has its own specific requirements and focuses. For example, joining the audit department requires a strong understanding of auditing processes, while the taxation department demands in-depth knowledge of tax laws and regulations.
To stand out during your Articleship interview, ensure your resume is neat, updated, and highlights relevant skills. Be punctual, dress professionally, and stay confident. Stay informed about current industry trends and recent changes in the sector. Practice answering common interview questions like why you chose CA or why you want to work at a specific firm like KPMG or PwC. Good communication, team spirit, and a proactive attitude will impress interviewers.
