QUESTION & ANSWER ON FRM, CISA, ACCA & GETTING JOB IN A BIG 4
Dear Jarus,
I only got to know about your blog this year and I’ve been wondering where I have been all this while. Keep up the good work sir.
I am a 28 year old working in one of the first generation commercial banks in Nigeria as a Customer Service Officer (the grade is less than entry level but I’m not a contract staff). I intend to take a step in my career by either:
a) joining one if the specialized units in the bank e.g. risk, foreign operations, audit, etc or
b) getting a placement with one of the big 4
I forgot to mention that I’m currently taking my ACCA exams and it will take me till 2017 December/early 2018 to complete the program by my estimation. I intend to do a one-time certification like Financial Risk Management, CISA, PMP, etc. (actually CISA is my preferred option and internal audit/control is my preferred unit in option a) above.
Sir, I want to know if getting CISA certified now and then continuing my ACCA journey will make sense and give me some leverage in respect of my goals above.
Number two question is what do I need to do this year to help me stand a chance of getting a job with one of the big 4?
Number three, I heard about FRM and CISA some times ago. I want to know how relevant they are in getting placements. Real life examples from friends and colleagues will be helpful to me.
Joy
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Dear Joy,
Thanks for the kind words about our website.
1, It is absolutely in order to pause your ACCA and write a one-time certification. CISA is great. So, please go ahead.
2, First, being 28 years old, you’ve already crossed the line for entry level age limit for the Big 4. You may be qualified for experienced hire in these firms if you have your CISA, ACCA and quality experience elsewhere. But most of them prefer hiring their experienced hires from other Big 4 – e.g PwC recruiting someone with experience in KPMG, EY hiring someone from Deloitte etc, or top law firms, or top banks. I’m not very sure your customer service experience will be attractive to the Big 4. I will advise you take the route of crossing to a more challenging and intellectually richer department in a bank, like risk, foreign operations, audit, credit risk analysis that you mentioned.
3, Both FRM and CISA are cool certifications. I have a friend (see his LinkedIn profile) that is an IT guy but after writing and passing CISA, got moved to System Audit, a better position, in his company. I have a couple of friends that have FRM too and are not doing badly. These certifications on your CV widen your options. They are definitely okay to have.
I wish you all the best.
Jarus
I am a lecturer with BSc & MSc in Economics . 25 years. I want to pursue CISA Certificate because I had always wanted to in the finance world. Although am taking my ICAN. Would MSc Economics and CISA be a good combination. I need to know. Thank You
This is good.
Dear Jarus, please I need your professional advice. I’m a 300L student studying Economics and statistics. An AAT graduate, I’m currently at the last level of ICAN(Professional) of which I intend writing by May 2018.
I intend working with the big fours once am out of the university. I’m 22yrs now and I might likely leave school with a first class by the special grace of God.
I need some clarifications on what I need to do before I graduate to better my chances viz- a-vis other professional certifications I can add to my bag once I qualify as an ACA come may 2018.
I have an eye on the following certifications:CFA,ACCA,MBA,CIS,CISA,CIPM. please advice me on the next I could take now before my graduating from school to better my chances of getting to EY, KPMG, PWC etc
Response here: https://www.jarushub.com/tips-for-getting-entry-level-jobs-in-kpmg-ernst-and-young-pwc-and-deloitte/