The firm does not appreciate you even though they think they are
Pros
- Have many diverse opportunities to work on audits from different industries - Chance to watch sunrise as you go home from work - if you have intention to stay long in audit (eg. reach partner level) and the bosses favour you, you can have a smooth promotion track provided you dont screw up - Amazingly, the culture of the ground level stuff is generally okay considering how much everyone is suffering (depends on team)
Cons
- the diverse experience counts for nothing as many commercial firms don't even know this company, even though it is supposed to be the "biggest outside the Big 4" - the firm thinks they are appreciating the employees when all they do is take up all your time for work, and give you stingy little occasional perks to remind you how much they "appreciate" you. As they know they are unable to offer a salary competitive to the Big 4, they just that the emotional connection is enough to make you want to continue to slave for them while the company reaps the benefits - the bond and bonus structure is ridiculous; the bonus is considered higher as compared to the rest of the mid tier firms, but thinking about the annual package as a whole, they are essentially witholding a portion of a salary and giving you back the next year. Do note that if your bond ends in September and you decide to stay to stay for the bonus before leaving, you will be completing substantially another peak period as bonus is around February - Old school mentality. Many bosses don't trust you to work from home and only considering you to be working when they see you physically in office. Have heard of colleagues working in office every single day for months despite the government's laws of working from home by default; they will tell you to give excuses if there are any checks conducted to say that there is work that is essential to be performed in office. - Their motto is "Clients first". I think that says enough.