This year, the four major accounting firms—Samil, Samjong, Anjin, and Hanyoung—are expected to hire a total of about 800 people.
According to the investment banking (IB) industry on the 25th, the four major accounting firms each held a preliminary orientation for successful candidates that day and had attendees sign employment contracts. Typically, applicants first submit documents to each accounting firm, then, depending on the results of the second test that follows, attend the preliminary orientation of the firm they prefer among those where they passed. In other words, it offers a gauge of the actual hiring size after filtering out overlapping acceptances.
Samil PwC drew the most, with 272 people at its preliminary orientation that day. The figure includes a new track launched this year to recruit applicants with digital capabilities. A Samil PwC official said, "We hired a double-digit number of people through the digital track, and women made up 43% of all successful candidates, higher than in previous years (around 30%)," adding, "We actively recruited talent across diverse fields."
Samjong KPMG decided to hire 244 people based on this year's preliminary orientation results. Samjong KPMG for the first time this year recruited new accountants in the consulting department. A Samjong KPMG official explained, "In the past, new accountants were mainly assigned to traditional accounting and tax advisory work, but as digital transformation and data-driven management accelerate, understanding of IT systems and data analysis skills are being required."
Deloitte Anjin's preliminary orientation drew 130 people. That is slightly higher than last year's hiring figure and the estimate (around 120) shared with The Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants this year. A Deloitte Anjin official said, "Our leadership in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation appears to have appealed to trainee accountants."
EY Hanyoung plans to hire about 150 people this year. That is about 25% more than the 120 hired last year. An EY Hanyoung official said, "Global-level training programs, overseas work opportunities, a flexible and horizontal organizational culture, and career growth opportunities seem to have been attractive points for new accountants," adding, "We are actively supporting growth into professionals with a global mindset based on the EY global network."
Accordingly, the four major accounting firms are expected to hire about 800 people this year. That is roughly 400 fewer than the final 1,200 people who passed this year's certified public accountant exam. Still, the figure is about 130 higher than initially planned. In particular, Samil PwC hired about 70 more than the estimate it provided to the association and financial authorities, and other accounting firms also added about 10 to 30 each. Earlier, the expected hiring by the four firms was around 670, which was forecast to slightly exceed half of the applicants.
Behind the accounting industry's focus on the hiring numbers of the four major firms is the issue of "unassigned" accountants that surfaced last year. As the number selected for certified public accountants rose sharply for the first time in four years last year (1,250), about 250 people passed the exam but could not find a place to receive practical training. Exam passers must complete at least one year of practical training before they can work formally as registered accountants. This year as well, even factoring in hiring by local accounting firms, simple math suggests that 200 to 300 unassigned accountants will emerge.