Came across this article on the online Straits Times website:

Banks boom, talent jumps

PAY in the financial sector is rising so fast that large numbers of accountants are jumping ship to join banks, a key industry body said on Friday.

The bank jobs boom is generating huge oportunities for experienced number crunchers but it is also creating a talent squeeze at big accounting firms, warned the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore (ICPAS).

Accountants with three to six years in the workforce can lift their pay by as much as 30 per cent by changing sectors.Banks are embarking on a massive recruiting drive after the financial crisis forced thousands of lay-offs and wage freezes.

Accounting firms are feeling the effects, particularly the Big Four of Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC), Ernst & Young and KPMG, which are prime hunting grounds for banks, said ICPAS president Ernest Kan.

In a bid to retain their best and brightest, many accounting firms gave out an unprecedented additional bonus at the start of the year. Bonuses, which range from two weeks' to three months' salary, are usually paid in the middle of the year.

For their part, banks are noticing more accountants apply for jobs. OCBC said it has received more applications from accountants this year in line with more applications across the board. But pay may not be the clincher for all accountants. Some will accept lower salaries in favour of flexible working hours, according to a guide from ICPAS and financial recruiting firm Robert Half.

This is like so demn true lar. Given the opportunity, who in the sane mind will still want to work as an accountant/auditor/tax. Like seriously, accounting is 1 of the lowest pay among all the other degree programmes in NUS/NTU/SMU. That aside, I realized that to me, working hours are probably more important than salary. Working until past midnight every now and then is like @#$%^&*. But with my pathetic result, seems like I dont have much choice but to resign to fate next time. Haiz.