Having failed to secure a consulting offer (ops or strat) it looks like I'll be taking up an audit position in one of the big four. 3 years of horror ahead...How difficult a move is it to make once I'm chartered? Are many of your colleagues chartered accountants? I will be choosing one of the following service lines and may gain some relevant experience:- Funds (lots of excel).- Consumer Products & Services- Telecoms, IT & Entertainment

Which one of the big 4?

PWC.

hmmmm. You should be okay to move. The thing is, you probably wouldn't want to - after an ACA you will have a lot of options open to you - I reckon Consulting will be the furthest thing from your mind - particularly with the allure of City work. I wish I'd done an ACA. In fact, I still might. Only thing is, I might kill myself during the course of the three years. Options options.

Exactly, 3 years is a long time... well 2 more for me as my post grad exempts me from some. I know ACA is a great qualification but life is for living, not studying! Gotta do what you enjoy... no one enjoys audit!

Exactly, 3 years is a long time... well 2 more for me as my post grad exempts me from some. I know ACA is a great qualification but life is for living, not studying! Gotta do what you enjoy... no one enjoys audit!

I'm doing the ACA and am getting sick of it. First time passes so far, but how would an employer few someone who drops out of it? I've already got a good postgrad qualification behind me. Surely once I pass Financial Reporting I could move on, as long as I give good reasons for doing so?

view not 'few'

I'm about to join the D&T risk management function which also puts you through the ACA without having to do (as much) audit. What sort of exit options would be available after 3-5 years, should I want to leave?

All kinds of stuff. Seriously. Lots of options.

Steve,Of course, it depends on your situation. But the ACA is such a strong qualification that, if things are going well, you could really regret giving up at this point. I guess the most important question is, do you have anywhere better to go? And unless it's MBB or IB, you'll probably be better staying put and completing the syllabus. If you quit halfway through, it will all count for nothing. Either you're an ACA or you're not. OK, so you and Casio are unlikely to end up in marketing after gaining an accountancy qualification, but you'll have, as others have said, plenty of (narrower but lucrative) paths to choose from. Go to e-financialcareers.co.uk and type 'ACA' in the search box.