Looking for advice (UK)

Hi all,

I’m two months away from graduating with a 1st in Accounting and Finance and already have a graduate/training contract in place with a management accounts team at a large local company. They’re funding my ACCA, and I already have two years of experience with them.

The issue? I really want to try audit—ideally at a Big 4 firm—but I’ve been rejected for their September intake after reaching the assessment centre stage. My only current alternative is an offer from a Top 100 professional services firm, but I’m unsure if it’s worth leaving my current role for.

So, I’m looking for advice:

How easy is it to pivot to a Big 4 audit role after completing ACCA in management accounting? Would it be better to stay in my current role, start ACCA, and reapply for Big 4 in 2026? Is taking the Top 100 firm offer a good stepping stone, or too much of a risk?

I’d love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation. Thanks in advance!