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I started on the ACA/audit graduate scheme of one of the Big Four.

About two years in, I really feel like I've made a huge mistake. I always viewed audit as a stepping stone, but I get the impression it is pretty hard to get into Consulting after I get the ACA. Is it as hard as it is made out to be?

I'm worried I'm going to be stuck in either audit, or a Finance role....

dont get too despondent EK-grad. The ACA is a gold standard qualification which will open doors for you through the rest of your career, and the career path in finance isn't bad at all...you could move into product control (there has even been a spate of hiring ACAs direct into FO roles), risk or internal audit in banking, finance functions themselves, route to CFO, the natural successor to CEO in most organisations...

you just need to look at completing your ACA as being stage 1 of your career, not the defining moment of it. a move into consulting would be entirely possible - if you are going to be working with finance functions the ACA will be almost pre-requisite anyway, and the reality is you'll be consulting in the 'advisory' model rather than full service consulting.

once you are qualified you will have plenty of options dont fret.

But that's just it... I *don't* want to end up in a Finance role, or internal audit..

EKGrad where do you want to end up? Or are you still exploring the various options?

There are consulting firms that do look favourably upon ACA professionals but it won't be strategy consulting. It will be more along the lines of turnaround, CF, and economic consulting. firms like FTI, Big 4, Alvarez & Marsal. Considering the current economic situation is less likely to change in the next few yrs the demand for litigation/turnaround consulting is expected to rise.