How to get an articleship in the Big 4? Everything you need to know, from applying to preparing for the interview.

• In this article, we are going to discuss:
• How to apply to the Big 4 for articles?
• What are the common questions that can be asked in an interview?
• How many months of study leave will you get?

Articleship in CA

Articleship plays an important role in a Chartered Accountant’s journey. 

It is the first time you get professional work experience. You get to explore different types of work and can figure out which area you would want to gain expertise in.

You'd be eligible to pursue an articleship after passing your CA Intermediate exam (second-level of the CA exams). You can either choose a small/mid-sized firm or one of the Big 4 firms.

The Big 4 are the four largest professional services networks in the world, namely Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC. Doing an articleship in one of these firms is preferred by many as it gives you an edge in your future career path.

How to apply to the Big 4 for articleship?

There are many ways you can forward your resume to the HR of your preferred Big 4 firm.

However, the most common and effective way is to ask someone for a referral who is already an article or an employee at that specific firm. Connect with them over LinkedIn and request them to pass on your CV to HR Manager.

The second most effective way is to apply through a third-party website such as Naukri.com, Indeed.com, etc. There are also some WhatsApp groups you can join where people post about articleship vacancies. 

The third option is to apply to the firm’s official website. 

The ICAI’s notice board shows vacancies for CA articleship in the Big 4. Keep an eye on the notice board to get the latest information.

How do I prepare for Big 4 Articleship?

So your CV got selected, congratulations!

You’d soon get a call for the screening interview. They will ask you about your preference for location and some general questions.

Aptitude test: Thereafter you would have to give an MCQ-based aptitude test. It would assess a candidate’s capabilities and level of knowledge

The pattern of questions may vary from firm to firm but it mostly includes the following topics:

• Logical Reasoning
• Numerical ability
• General Knowledge
• Verbal Skills

Group Discussion: If you pass the test, either you would be asked to appear for a Group Discussion round or you’ll be directly called for an interview. Not all companies hold a GD round but the Big 4 does it to check your communication skills, leadership skills and confidence.  

Be confident and speak out your points.

The interview: After the GD round, you would appear for the interview. Here are some basic questions that they would ask,

• Your background
• Career Objective
• Why did you choose CA
• Your strengths and weaknesses
• Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years
• Why do you want to join them 

The interviewer will also ask questions from your Foundation & Intermediate courses. 

It is recommended that you research the company and the interviewer if you can. You can visit their website for additional information, such as who is their CEO, or CFO.

Ensure that you are well-groomed and dressed in formal attire. The ideal dress code for male students is full sleeves shirt and trousers and for females, it is Salwar Kurta or a suit as per the ICAI.

You can check out this youtube video that discusses some frequently asked questions in an interview at the Big 4 -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0sIeyEU7EA&t=2s   

How much stipend will you get during your articleship?

Stipends may vary across firms.

But there are some stipend limits fixed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). Every CA firm has to pay at least that minimum wage. 

As per ICAI’s regulations concerning the Payment of stipends, 

• For the cities/towns with a population of 20 lakhs and above, the stipend per month during the first year, second year and the remaining training period shall be Rs. 2000, Rs. 2500, and Rs. 3000 respectively.
• For cities/towns with a population of 4 lakhs and above but less than 20 lakhs, the stipend per month during the first year, second year and the remaining training period shall be Rs. 1500, Rs. 2000, and Rs. 2500 respectively.
• For cities/towns with a population of fewer than 4 lakhs, the stipend per month during the first year, second year and the remaining training period shall be Rs. 1000, Rs. 1500, and Rs. 2000 respectively.

Although there is a minimum amount of stipend that is to be given to the article, the employer can pay beyond that wage limit. Typically, the Big 4 accounting firms pay the most generous stipends to CA Articles. 

FAQ

Q. How many months of study leave can an article get for the CA final?

Articleship Leaves Policy differs from firm to firm. But generally, the Big 4 will give you around 5 months of study leave for CA Finals. 

Make sure to complete all your classes during your articleship. You should revise the study materials twice during those 5 months. 

Q. Is CA Articleship in the Big 4 worth it? 

The Big 4 undoubtedly provides significant networking opportunities to CA students. You would get to work with various clients. Also pursuing an articleship in one of the Big 4 firms will give you more options for mobility because of their worldwide reach.

Q. What is the salary of an Article in the Big 4? 

Typical the stipend in Big 4 firms ranges from INR 10,000 to INR 20,000.

Q. What are the timings of the Big 4 Articleship?

According to the instructions from the ICAI, the working hours for the articled assistants should not exceed 35 hours a week, excluding the lunch break. 

Q. Disadvantages of doing articleship in Big 4?

1. Long working hours and strict deadlines
2. Limited exposure to a variety of departments. i.e If you join their Internal Audit team you’d work there till the end of your articles.
3. Balancing study and work would be challenging 
4. Outstation audits

Are you looking to accelerate your career in finance? Fill up this form to talk to an industry expert