So I have recently received an offer from one of the big 4 in an advisory (risk) role where I would be studying for the ACA. It’s a good offer but what I really wanted was a consulting position. I’ve been rejected from various consulting applications at different stages. Before anyone asks, I completely understand the differences of the two jobs in question.My question then is: if I accept this offer can I continue to apply for consulting positions (I’m currently in the early stages of the application process for ACN and another one of the big 4 for consulting roles). This is obviously deemed unethical, is there a chance my offer could be revoked if they find out?What are the chances of me being able to switch from the risk role to consulting internally after completing the ACA?I have limited time to accept the offer and there is no way I will find out the outcome of my other applications before I accept.All advice welcome,Thanks

It is hard enough gaining a job offer in this economy without rejecting the ones you do receive. Whilst it is deemed unethical, I am pretty sure it is common practice (for graduates in particular) to accept a job offer and continue applying for other firms where the job role is more desired. I'd say the likelihood of you being "found out" is extremely low as long as you stay away from social media - rival firms don't interchange information with each other.I would advise you to accept the offer and continue with your applications, but be warned you may be burning some bridges with the current firm in the event you decide to later reject it due to success elsewhere. This isn't a problem if you don't plan on applying again in the near future.I will leave talk of the ACA etc to the more experienced professionals of the forums, although I'd imagine as long as you network well enough, you could easily move within departments in a firm.

Look, don't want to be mean or sound like I'm coming down with the flu (which I am), but I'm sick of hearing on this forum "what are the chances I can switch / move / get this, that and the other".Put simply, you can - in this big, faceless corporate world of Consulting do ANYTHING you want - especially in the early stages of your career - if you're smart, a good networker and have potential. Literally anything. You create your own opportunities in these places.There is no workflow which you trigger, there is no mail to send, it's an amorphous journey through a hazy matrix which you, and only you, can guide. No one else gives a rat's ass about your career except you.So, rant over. In your case I would say you should accept the offer. Better to have your foot in the door as a new graduate than risk of nothing. If something better comes along, recind the offer graciously, politely and quickly. Some other poor sod will have the "opportunity" of studying for the ACA whilst been worked like a donkey. Take it from me, these organizations are behemoths. You will be a bottom feeder, known only to HR. You are not losing anything to hedge your bets.Arby

I echo Arby's sentiments entirely and add the following:What exactly do you think consulting actually IS? A role in Big 4 in risk advisory isn't advising on risk management and regulatory reporting for the Big 4 itself, so it must be working for clients...There is something encapsulated in the OP the is really, really starting to p1ss me off. You have an offer from one of the world's most prestigious advisory firms, it will sponsor you through the world's premier business qualification, and in an area which not only affects the very infrastructure of the modern world at a fundamental level, but it one of the most challenging, complex and stimulating areas you can be working in currently. Did the causes of the global recession pass you by entirely?But no, you have to fixate on some amorphous path which is the only thing you can happily accept and everything else is just second rate. You personify why Generation Y is - frankly - borderline unemployable. It's not a lost generation, its a generation of the entitled, the spineless and the whinging.This is a fantastic opportunity. Take it and commit to it. In 4 years time while consultancy track grads are on here bemoaning their lack of specialism and how hard it is to get past x level with generic project management skills, you will be a recognised expert in risk management with a premier qualification under you belt, and able to negotiate a position at a significant pay step up from Big 4 in a bank.And yes, like Arby Im coming down with the flu.

Mars - one of the best points I've seen made on this forum about you made about the generation of the entitled, the spineless and the whinging.When I joined Consultancy many, many years ago - I was the one who felt privileged to have the brand-name(s) on my CV. I wasn't kidding myself, there were many great brands out there, but my sense of entitlement was almost non-existent. On the contrary, I felt proud that this company had chosen me out of all the hundreds of highly qualified applicants who had applied. I can still remember the telephone call I got congatulating me with the offer - I went straight home to tell my parents and my mother even cried. My dad slapped me on the back and told me this was the start of a series of experiences that I would never forget and how lucky I was.I threw everything, EVERYTHING into this job. And I really mean I went through the mill. I gave up relationships that could have happened, friendships that could have lasted (obviously I kept a core group - I'm not crazy) and if the firm said "go", I would go. In return the firm invested me in every stage of my career. I saw thousands being spend on my development and training and I really felt that whatever I wanted to achieve, I could do.Now - as a senior profile in a large firm, I see a complete mind-set change in the new people arriving. Suddenly it's all too much trouble for them to stay late, work weekends, travel more than the normal commute from home. Work is sloppy, expectations are completely one way (what should the firm do for me!) and this drives commoditization and turnover rates and, honestly, makes people at my level be very cynical towards the new hires.Obviously there are notable exceptions, but in general this generation is the ME, ME, ME generation.... But be warned, it is those notable exceptions who will be promoted, get the deep skills, be the successful ones....... sent from my man-flu enabled death-bed....

[quote]I echo Arby's sentiments entirely and add the following:What exactly do you think consulting actually IS? A role in Big 4 in risk advisory isn't advising on risk management and regulatory reporting for the Big 4 itself, so it must be working for clients...There is something encapsulated in the OP the is really, really starting to p1ss me off. You have an offer from one of the world's most prestigious advisory firms, it will sponsor you through the world's premier business qualification, and in an area which not only affects the very infrastructure of the modern world at a fundamental level, but it one of the most challenging, complex and stimulating areas you can be working in currently. Did the causes of the global recession pass you by entirely?But no, you have to fixate on some amorphous path which is the only thing you can happily accept and everything else is just second rate. You personify why Generation Y is - frankly - borderline unemployable. It's not a lost generation, its a generation of the entitled, the spineless and the whinging.This is a fantastic opportunity. Take it and commit to it. In 4 years time while consultancy track grads are on here bemoaning their lack of specialism and how hard it is to get past x level with generic project management skills, you will be a recognised expert in risk management with a premier qualification under you belt, and able to negotiate a position at a significant pay step up from Big 4 in a bank.And yes, like Arby Im coming down with the flu.[/quote]Well said, Mars! One thing though. ACA is not as good as ACCA :pI just don't bother giving proper responses these days. I don't know if this is a UK thing or something more global, but I have to say, the young people/young hires that I meet in the Sao Paulo office, in Mexico, in Singapore, in Malaysia, in DE, etc. are not like this. Lol, then again, maybe it's just me, putting in place good people who then go out and hire similarly good people. - haha.Still, it's fun to visit this site (for the unbelievably random banter - lol).BEP's been a bit quiet. Also, DC is missing!

Not to highjack this thread, but this paragraph is EXACTLY why "generation Y" is feeling like they do:[i]I threw everything, EVERYTHING into this job. And I really mean I went through the mill. I gave up relationships that could have happened, friendships that could have lasted (obviously I kept a core group - I'm not crazy) and if the firm said "go", I would go. In return the firm invested me in every stage of my career. I saw thousands being spend on my development and training and I really felt that whatever I wanted to achieve, I could do.[/i] The problem is, firms now do not invest as much as they used to. I have experienced it first hand having joined a global, prestigious firm (as a grad a few years ago) only to have been told that I will have no training budget, no qualifications pathways and no graduate programme/community. However hard I worked and networked, this stance did not change.

[i]Now - as a senior profile in a large firm, I see a complete mind-set change in the new people arriving. Suddenly it's all too much trouble for them to stay late, work weekends, travel more than the normal commute from home. Work is sloppy, expectations are completely one way (what should the firm do for me!)[/i]Who can blame them? They saw what the Baby Boomers did to Generation X and they're not going to let it happen to them too.

I believe Smithy has hit the nail on the head. When I mention commoditization, probably you're right to suggest that it us this that drives the attitude rather than the other way around. Firms now have grown so big that the investment is now in quantity, not quality.So - I do agree with both Smithy and BEP and it's a good thread to the discussion....

[i]The problem is, firms now do not invest as much as they used to. I have experienced it first hand having joined a global, prestigious firm (as a grad a few years ago) only to have been told that I will have no training budget, no qualifications pathways and no graduate programme/community. However hard I worked and networked, this stance did not change.[/i]Is it written in your employment contract that the employer will be responsible for making every stage of your career a success? That they will continually train you and promote you, etc.? I think it's utter nonsense that you say this!Almost all consulting outfits have an alumni network. They have something like a "young consultants' network", etc. The provide you will ample opportunities to gain knowledge and exposure.I actually feel that this is a direct result of the effed up education system, where people are essentially spoon fed. So, they get into this mindset of having things handed to them.If you go back to the OP's post, he clearly states that he will get to do the ACA. Is this not investing? The OP will get a solid qualification, together with top-notch experience. If his manager is good, he will also get a mentor. What more do you want? I'm sorry to say this. But the youths of the UK (and the US as well) are just plain spoilt. No more, no less. Employers do invest - but they invest in the right people. The last MC outfit where I worked, they sponsored MBAs, etc. So there! Finally, as I wrote in a different thread, you really have to take charge of your own career and 'promotion'.

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/09/why-generation-y-yuppies-are-unhappy.html

[b]@Anonymous1[/b] - You appear to have an offer from a world renowned organisation willing to invest £thousands into giving you a qualification that will set you apart from the more generic consultant. It will allow you to build a foundation from which to be incredibly successful. I would advise you to accept, use the time spent there wisely - head down, graft, take every opportunity that comes your way then emerge from the trenches once you have qualified. No doubt it's going to be tough with long hours but nothing gets gifted nowadays. Absolutely zilch.To the guys above who very recently helped me out with advice on a thread here, I am also going to join you in having a mini rant. Predominantly because I feel strongly about the topic at hand but also because I recently went through the education system that is in place today. I'll start by also echoing Arby's sentiments.I firmly believe the generation I am a part of expect far too much for far too little. I have also (in my brief career thus far) given up friendships that could have happened and when the company has also said 'go' I have gone (e.g I have been sent to countries at a few days notice for a month or so at a time). I am also entirely fed up of being part of pub/bar conversations with individuals banging on about how the previous generation let us down. How about we try and bl00dy fix the issue instead of wallowing in self pity? These things happen in cycles, it's just an unfortunate fact that we happen to be next in line. The future is decided upon whether my generation removes their head from the sand and starts to look at ways to change things for the better which so happens to go hand in hand with working our back ends off.I have been lucky enough to witness one of my parents start a company from scratch when I was a child and I think this is one of the best sources of career drive I could ever have wished for. You get to observe first hand, through the early years of your life, what it takes to make a successful company out of nothing - the stress, patience, never ending networking/selling, average 18hour days and pure graft. A life lesson that no Harrow or Cambridge/Oxford-esque education establishment in the land could have taught me. I wish everyone my age could have gone through this experience.Coupled with the above, I also happened to, on a late Friday evening during my university placement, be part of a conversation in the office with two partners from two different Big 4 companies. They were deeply annoyed at the amount of graduates coming through their doors 'expecting'. From my perspective, I don't know who to point the finger at here, whether it is due to universities building up false hope of rediculous CEO-esque type graduate roles, the outstanding sales pitch from recruitment campus teams supported by company promises out there on the internet or genuinely a completely different mindset of the generation to which I belong. It's difficult to pin down and to be honest, they could all play a part of the same equation. An equation which sadly leads to batches of graduates entering the working world with rose tinted glasses on dreaming dreams of getting somewhere in their professional career off 8 hour days at an office 5 minutes from their house doing their perfect job whilst being paid 6 figures to do so.drives.me.insane.On a brighter note, it's Friday and a beer couldn't come quick enough!Tacitus1

I LOVE BEER!I am Beer.

Thank you for everyone's commentsTrust me when I say that I truly appreciate the offer. Having done more research let me explain my doubts a bit more about the role, and again, I respect everyone's opinions. Initially I wanted to do more of a general management consulting role where I would have a lot of exposure to different departments within consulting before specializing.The role is "risk consulting" but is labelled differently under each big 4 as "risk assurance" or "audit advisory" "advisory - risk". Which means that it is more related to audit than consulting. (A mix of IT, internal audit and consulting) Specifically internal audit, controls testing and regulatory compliance etc.My doubts and questions:- Since the role is more IT audit the main fear that I have with this role is that it will pigeonhole me in the future for IT advisory and will leave me with limited exit opportunities and a narrow career path.- Can anyone shed some light on the exit options for a role of this kind? - Can anyone shed some light on what different exit opportunities would apply in this case when compared with external audit given that in both roles you study for the ACA.There simply isn't as much information online about this role and the career progression opportunities when compared with other service lines and any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

Has anyone actually done Internal Audit (which is a lot of what the Big 4's Risk practice is about)? This is not financial risk modelling. This is testing business/systems controls and process.Let me tell you, it's not fun and in my opinion doesn't even compare with 'traditional' consulting work. It commands lower fees, lower pay and for a career consultant is quite boring.To answer the OP's original question - yes, sure you can transfer to a consulting role, but you may have to start from the bottom. From my experience internal auditors have some transferable skills, but nothing that 'turns on'consultants.In terms of exit options, especially for IT internal audit / risk professionals, I've only been aware of people going to a company's internal audit function or moving to another IT audit/advisory firm. Keep in mind, IT Risk is quite specialised.In contexts of the situation however, if all of your consulting applications have fallen through, then you may need to start getting 'realistic' on your career path expectations. Starting in IT Risk isn't bad and it can open up doors and you need to see this as your best option right now.

Hi Anon,I understand your desire to work in a broad variety of different business areas on a range of projects before specialising. However you should note that it is precisely this broad experience that can leave many consultants feeling like generalists with limited exit options. At the extreme, these people find the only exit option available to them is another consulting firm. You'll probably lag behind consulting with regards to salary for a few years. But after 3-4 years you may well find that you welcome the specialism you've had. Providing of course you go in to it with a reasonable belief that the role will engage you - but that is true of any role. (i.e. don't go in to an IT advisory role just for the exit options if you have absolutely no interest in IT whatsoever!)Others will be able to explain the exit options available better than I can, but banking risk / governance audits or finance operations in various industries still represent strong paths to the top of industries. And the ACA will be great for you.I'd also add that, certainly in consulting, exit options from the big4 are not really influenced by the engagements you've done in the first 3-4 years. More important are your transferable skills, ability to demonstrate continuous development and enthusiasm for whatever role you're targeting. Some knowledge and experience in the chosen industry is also helpful. I'd suggest you continue your other applications and hold on to your offer. At the same time, get on linkedin and get in touch with some people who have been doing the job for a few years to find out more about it. With regards to generation Y in general - I'm joining this quite late. However, I think it's worth noting that consulting has changed a lot even during my relatively short time in it. Therefore it's not too surprising that the type/attitude of graduates coming in to it have changed too. Graduate salaries haven't moved in 10 years and for a range of other reasons it's generally less attractive than it used to be when compared with other industries.The 'sense of entitlement' arguments sound a bit like 'grumpy old men'! This is a group who have been let down by an education system that rewards money over merit, politically motivated grade inflation that makes it impossible to distinguish between the best and who have faced applying for jobs during tough and uncertain economic times. Whilst there may be some truth in the general point, I don't think the original poster's comments point to it at all.