How to land a job at the Big Four

Standing out from the masses requires specific skills and the right mindset, says UNSW alumna Katrina Iannella.

Katrina Iannella speaks at the UNSW Business School welcome for undergraduates.

Each year KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers open their doors to a flood of applicants vying for a spot in one of their renowned graduate programs. PwC alone received thousands of applications for only 400 vacancies in Australia for its 2018 graduate program.

The real test of endurance when approaching the Big Four is the application stage. With multiple interviews, an assessment centre and a logical reasoning test – to say the screening process is rigorous would be an understatement.

Luckily, UNSW alumna Katrina Iannella, Audit Consultant at PwC, is here to spill the beans on what it takes to not only land a job with the Big Bad Four, but how to thrive in the workplace.

Choose quality over quantity

These firms look for well-rounded individuals, but when it comes to extra-curricular activities I recommend quality over quantity. Avoid joining clubs to simply boost your resume - it’s better to take on a leadership role in one club so that you can develop soft skills like conflict resolution, time management and communication.

Learn about UNSW’s clubs and societies.

Embrace communication skills

Like a doctor diagnosing a patient, auditors evaluate symptoms to understand the root causes behind business issues. This can be achieved by discussing key problems with clients, analysing company data, and scrutinising business processes. Easier said than done.

Finding a way to convince clients that our aim is to optimise businesses rather than point out mistakes is always a challenge. Some clients take it personally when you establish issues in their accounts. It’s important to pitch your findings in a way that makes them realise you’re here to help them, not criticise them.

Prepare for hard work

With work station treadmills, Lego rooms and an annual scavenger hunt, you’d be forgiven for thinking that working as a graduate for the Big Four accounting firms is all fun and games. But working for one of the world’s biggest accounting firms is not without its challenges - long hours and tight deadlines are an unavoidable part of the job.

I was once required to produce financial statements in three hours as a team to meet a deadline set by a Japanese listed company. You need to develop ways to solve problems quickly to optimise your time.

Do what you enjoy, not what looks good

Having a job in the Big Four is an exciting prospect for many students, but it’s important to remember to pursue job characteristics that will engage you, instead of a flashy job title. After I graduated from UNSW Business School, I had no idea what she wanted to do as a career – but I did  know I wanted it to have adventure, caring individuals, flexibility, clear opportunity for career progression and support for my passions.

I am a traveller by nature and therefore I exclusively applied only for companies that had opportunities for travel within the first five years of employment. I’m also an avid flamenco dancer during the week, so a firm that allowed me to balance my flamenco dancing and career was very important to me.

Lastly, master the Excel beast

A strong understanding of Microsoft Excel will give students an edge in their application. In my job, I use Excel on a daily basis, more so than any other Microsoft product.