"Big Four" refers to four well-known accounting firms: Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (Deloitte), KPMG, and Ernst & Young (EY). According to UIC's Career Development Office, more than 100 UIC undergraduates have been admitted by the "Big Four".
Ching Ka-Lok at PwC: Move forward and broaden the horizon
When studying at UIC, Ching Ka-Lok set the goal to work in "Big Four". After graduating from middle school, he chose to study at UIC and left Hong Kong alone. He hoped to broaden his horizon and social circle here. It was a big challenge for him since it was his first time living a hall life.
Ching Ka-Lok
At UIC, Ka-Lok won a scholarship for three consecutive years and was awarded a first-class honours degree when he graduated. In his spare time, he worked as a peer tutor in the accounting tutoring class for younger students, which cultivated his interest in accounting and promoted his career development.
After graduation, he continued his further study for a Master's degree in Science in Business Information Systems Programme at City University of Hong Kong. After getting his Master's Degree, he successfully got admission and joined the Auditing Department of PwC Hong Kong. It has been seven years since Ka-Lok worked in PwC, with his steady career development.
According to Ka-Lok, staff have to participate in several projects referring to different industries simultaneously. In contrast, each auditing project takes one to three months. Therefore, he could learn a lot about other industries and develop himself in a short period.
In the future, Ka-Lok expects himself to participate in different IPO projects to strengthen his understanding of the capital market. Besides, he also wants to participate in PwC's official secondment for further self-development.
Ka-Lok said that there is no shortcut to entering the "Big Four". He suggested that UIC students strive for their goals step by step. Students must learn well and prepare for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification examinations, apply for an internship, and broaden their horizons.
Jia Shiyu at KPMG: Learn to take responsibilities
Jia Shiyu, one of the first cohort participants of UIC's Professional Accountancy Conversion Programme (PACP), got the HKICPA Certificate after passing the qualification examinations and started her career in accounting. Currently, she has been the audit manager of KPMG China's Shanghai Branch. During her undergraduate study, Jia Shiyu used to work as an intern at a local accounting firm in Zhuhai. After that, she decided to prepare for the CPA exam.
Jia Shiyu
In 2011, UIC launched the Professional Accountancy Conversion Programme (PACP), allowing non-accounting students to learn about the core knowledge of international accounting. Jia Shiyu seized this opportunity in her third year. Since she completed the PACP during the holidays, she had fulfilled the access requirements to take the HKICPA Qualification Programme (QP) Module Examination.
In 2015, Jia Shiyu got the HKICPA Certificate. Jia Shiyu earned a Master's degree at Hong Kong Baptist University and joined the audit department of KPMG Hong Kong in 2013. In 2019, she started her secondment to KPMG China Shanghai Branch.
Jia Shiyu likes to go cycling in her spare time.
Recently, Shiyu took part in a Hong Kong IPO project with a tight schedule and a considerable workload. In addition to communicating with customers, colleagues, and boss, she needed to cooperate with third parties, including security brokers and lawyers. She said that it was pressure in such a situation, but it also allowed her to develop stress management ability.
Jia Shiyu expects to get promoted as a senior manager in the coming October. She also plans to complete the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CICPA) examination this year, facilitating her to work on projects based on Chinese Accounting Standards.
Yang Chenxi at EY: Strive for growth
Yang Chenxi's had excellent academic performance in UIC. She got awarded UIC's Full Entrance Scholarship in her first year and renewed it for the rest of her consecutive years. She graduated with a first-class honours degree. Chenxi got an internship at Deloitte during her third year and got the offer to work as a tax consultant in EY Guangzhou Branch after graduation.
Yang Chenxi
Since 2012, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) has established the mainland's first QP Resource Centre Contract in UIC. UIC's Accounting Programme and the PACP has been certified by the HKICPA.
According to Chenxi, QP is helpful for practice in the workplace, including cases related to the transaction among Hong Kong companies. Students can take advantage of resources provided by UIC and gain better development in the field of accounting. Besides, the liberal arts education, the excellent study atmosphere, and the students' great prospects attracted Chenxi to choose UIC for her undergraduate study. She said UIC had changed her life. The university life at UIC has motivated her a lot.
Chenxi has been working at EY for the past six years. She has already passed the QP examination of HKICPA, the professional stage of the Chinese Certified Tax Agent exam, and the professional stage of the CICPA exam. Now, Chen Xi plans to register for the comprehensive stage examination of the National Uniform CPA Examination this year. She said she would strive for growth.
Yao Jie at Deloitte: Always the best to focus on the present
In 2019, Yao Jie joined the tax and business consulting department of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (Hong Kong) through school recruitment and was mainly responsible for tax-related work. At the beginning of 2020, Yao Jie successfully passed all examinations of the QP for the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA).
Yao Jie
At Deloitte, in addition to accumulating professional knowledge and learning from the best practices, Yao Jie also observed the different working methods of other colleagues and reflected on her own working pace. She said that it was customary to be busy at Deloitte. However, she still gave herself time to relax, learn guzheng, play the guitar, or practice piano in her spare time.
Yao Jie's attitude of focusing stems from her time and experiences at UIC. In UIC, doing group projects, presentation and assignments are daily tasks for every student. These experiences also enhanced Yao Jie's ability to resist pressure and learn quickly. She mentioned that her current job required her to learn about an industry in a short time, and she has already grasped a quick self-learning ability in UIC.
Yao Jie (right) enjoying the weekend with a friend
Yao Jie participated in the QP Case Analysis Competition of the HKICPA and won the QP Mainland University Scholarship of the HKICPA. She said that UIC's curriculum and rich practical activities had laid a good foundation for her future accounting career. She is also very grateful to her teachers in UIC, giving her encouragement and support when she encountered setbacks and difficulties.
Yao Jie suggested that students participate in more internships and practices, try different things, and explore their own preferences for a career. She also indicated that, for a future full of unknowns, if plans are hard to make, it is always best to focus on the present.
From MPRO
Reporters: Du Jiewen, Xia Meng
Editors: Samuel Burgess, Zhang Fan
