My last article focused on how to prepare for interviews in big 4 in general and in this article I would basically want to highlight the pointers which you should focus on while appearing for big 4 interviews for audit profile - internal, statutory or forensic.
Audit is something which requires you to have basic knowledge of every subject you came across in CA Final exam so appearing for an interview in this profile requires you to prepare for a lot of things which I would highlight below:
- Forensic audit - this is that sub-branch of audit where most of us are deprived of practical exposure since this is conducted majorly by big 4s and some very selected CA firms so if you are applying for the forensic audit, there is a publication on this by ICAI which I would advise everyone to go through. (You can google it and download, it's easily available in pdf format)
- From my experience and what I have heard from other fellow candidates, you would be badly grilled on each an every word that you write in your CV and since you are applying for audit profile so the questions would be more focused on different kinds of audit you were involved in during your articleship tenure.
- The latest in the market is IFRS and you are obviously expected to have basic knowledge of the same since practical experience in this cannot be expected from you at this point of time. The area to focus on in IFRS is the carve-outs and the difference which it has with IND AS.
- Ind AS is also another area which can be explored by the interviewer so you should also prepare briefly on that as well.
- You could also expect a few questions based on auditing standards.
- The latest amendments in companies act or the famous provisions of the act can also interest the interviewer and hence you should be ready to face the same.
- You might even be asked questions regarding the current issues which are happening in our country which directly or indirectly involves our profession.
- Then there are some questions which can totally be unexpected like something related to economics. This should not be very technical unless you have done your graduation in economics.
- You might even be asked about latest developments in GST and you should also prepare briefly on that.
- You might be asked direct questions or a case study based question where you would be asked to analyze a given situation and give your opinion on the same.
The above-mentioned points are only for reference and it’s not an exhaustive list of questions which you would be asked since there are a plethora of questions and you just cannot prepare for everything under the sky.
The first and the foremost thing after preparing your CV is to start brushing up your knowledge regarding IFRS, Ind AS, SA and briefly about other subjects.
If you want to crack the interview you have to prepare for it in advance. At the level of freshers, you are not expected to know everything under the sky but you should be well versed with whatever you have written in your CV and the subjects of CA Final.
You have to be confident and don’t act confused since you would be put in a situation where confusion will crop.
Preparing well in advance is something in your hands and what questions are thrown at you is completely out of your control.
So start preparing for the best to avoid facing the worst.
Best wishes !!!
CAclubindia
