Which is better-articleship at Big4 or a local firm for chartered accountants in India?

It is quite logical and expected for a CA student after clearing CA Foundation | CA CPT/CA Intermediate | CA IPCC when he/she is in search of articleship training to get confused with what you are as in Which is better-articleship at Big4 or a local firm for chartered accountants in India Every decision has its prons and cons. The following is my personal opinion: If you do articleship from big fours - you would get exposure of say 5-10 big corporate house. Same repetitive and monotonus audit profile would be there If you do articleship in small and medium firms you would get exposure of 100s and 1000s different types of audits. I have seen people who has done audit from big 4s are unable to file their individual returns.

Everything has its own pros and cons. There is level of standard of exposure that u get at the level of firm where u undergo ur training. What I have alwaz observed is people going in Big4 or that size companies have alwaz been working in 1 or 2 areas only in whole there articleship period. But if u go for articleship in a local firm PROVIDED its has good client base in that local area then it would help u more. Because in such case u wont b sticked to or limited to any particular work. As and when a work comes it will be handed over to u thus giving u variety of work daily in hands and thats what this profession actually demands especially if u want to practice in future. But if u want to go for job in future then big4 would give u a better future because the stamp of big4 experience will ease ur job profile and opportunities to grab. At the end the all it depends on U what u want to go for in future and that same kind firm u should go for. Also I suggest U that if U r going for Local firm then choose from top of ur area also considering no.of employees or articles there. If they are less in number ur exposure to various areas would be more in number. So alwz keep this in mind, U would have to work more in such case but thats the real thing needed to learn is to face the work. more the work at ur disposal more u learn

Hi Rashmitha, It is quite logical and expected for a CA student after clearing CA Foundation | CA CPT/CA Intermediate | CA IPCC when he/she is in search of articleship training to get confused with what you are as in Which is better-articleship at Big4 or a local firm for chartered accountants in India Every decision has its prons and cons. The following is my personal opinion: If you do articleship from big fours - you would get exposure of say 5-10 big corporate house. Same repetitive and monotonus audit profile would be there If you do articleship in small and medium firms you would get exposure of 100s and 1000s different types of audits. I have seen people who has done audit from big 4s are unable to file their individual returns. Whether you should do articleship from big firms or small firms would entire depend on the question is what you want to do in future. If you want to start your own firm, then join small and medium sized firms.

Its straight and simple Rashmita, 90% of the students in big4 will be trained in a particular sector or skill.It is very rare that you get an all round exposure. So if you believe in specialization then big4 is the option for you. If you wish to gain an all round exposure about audit,taxation,compliances, etc. then join mid size firm. Ofcourse,earning wise big 4 is recommendable.**strong text**

Hie Rashmitha, Well this is a debatable question, whether to do your articleship from one of the Big4 or the Local mediocre firms. All I can do is write down the PROS and CONS of being an article in a Big4 or in any mediocre firm. **Big4:** Pros- - These days if you go in for specialization in any field, then Big4s are for you. - You get to work in a department you like and get the in depth knowledge of the working of the department. - The audit procedures are systematic. Cons- -The working hours are extensive, you hardly get any time for your studies. - There is hierarchy, so you have multiple seniors who then report to the ultimate authority. You have to guess where you fit in the whole picture. - The holiday patterns are rigid. - You don't get the practical knowledge of areas of subjects other then your department. **Local Firm**: Pros- -The Job timings can be adjusted. - We get to learn everything that a chartered accountant in practice has to do. - Some manipulations that are done at the local level are best learnt here.(I didn't say that) - There is hardly any problem with getting holidays from the office. You can get adequate exam leave. Cons- -Sometimes, the workings do not abide by the law, there are loopholes that are not explained to us, but then again your curiosity comes in the picture, you have to get it out. - The working of the office may be mis-managed. But then again you are the one who has to keep things tight. In my opinion, a local firm would not pay you well after you become a chartered, A big4 will. I look at these things from the experience point of view, so I would recommend going in for a local firm for articleship and then working at a one of the Big4s for experience. UNLESS YOU ARE PLANNING FOR SPECIALIZING IN A CERTAIN FIELD, and if a local firm specializes in that field, it sure is a cherry on the cake. :)

Dear Rashmitha, The journey of CA course truly starts with the practical training i.e.Articleship where a student gets to gain the practical knowledge required in the CA course.Its all about gaining practical knowledge and exposure which is of utmost importance to become a successful professional. So,i would suggest that if you get a chance in big4 firms namely;Delloite,Pwc,KPMG etc; then it is like a dream coming true for a ca student. The bigger the firm will be,the more knowledgeable you will be. Therefore,big 4's are strictly recommended. Wishing you all the best for youe future.

Hello, To decide whether to join the Big 4 firm or local firm it depend upon on the what you have to do in the future. If you are going for the employment then join the Big 4 firm and if you are going to practice then you should join in local firm which will give you exposure to the overall field and you will be able to do well at the time of practice and at time you can build your some client. So hope you decide soon and join good firm

Dear Rashmitha, Its depend upon you, where you want to go in the near future ie. practice or industry. if you want to join industry than big 4 and other big firm is best option to you. but if you want to go in practice than you must join local and middle level firm so that you get knowledge of all areas which is help you to set up your own practice. All the best for your best selection for your future Any other query feel free to contact us Writer CA Chitranjan Agarwal