Placement year advice for an aspiring accountant

[Cluelessbutwilling]

I don't know if education is the right place for this thread and I'm also not sure exactly what I want from the thread so I'm doing well so far!
DD is in her second year on an Accounting and Finance course and third year is a placement year. University have told students to apply early and suggested for those who would like to be an accountant then to apply to the big four. They have also said there is a 4% acceptance rate.
Anyone gone through the process with their DC or themselves and have some advice? Are there other well rspected accountancy firms that anyone could suggest? In case it looks like I'm driving this and it should be her, she has made her CV and thought about what to include in a covering letter if that is required on individual application forms. She can live in London for the year.
Any advice or even a hand hold appreciated.

Look at Top 10 rather than just the Big Four. I think the training at firms 5-10 (and certainly 5-7) is better than Big Four and it’s slightly less competitive.

(I trained at mid tier and now a director at Big 4).

There should be no need to move to London unless she wants a really niche role, which I wouldn’t recommend for a placement year and London is usually more competitive.

She should research any firm she interviews with, be able to articulate what she likes best in her degree, have plenty of examples of situations showing how she has demonstrated the values and competencies of the firms she is applying for.

If she has any more specific questions, I’m happy to help!

Thank you @PosteriorPosterity that is very helpful.
i was speaking with her when your message came through and she says thank you so much - she is looking up 5-10 as I type.
When I say she can live in London - that's where we live so it would be ideal for her to be here. I have passed all your comments on and I'm sure we'll be in touch with individual questions. Much appreciated.

Would something like this suit her?

https://www.brightnetwork.co.uk/graduate-jobs/pwc/undergraduate-work-placements-with-pwc-autumn-2024?search_id=b7c7703f7f69f6beb58b3af88914223a&search_position=3

That would be ideal. Thank you @TheSquareMile I will forward it on.

A possibility here too:

https://trainees.grantthornton.co.uk/our-programmes/12-month-placements/

Lots of accounting and finance departmental big multinational companies offer placements in their account and finance departments too.

Thanks again @TheSquareMile
That's a good point too @Mummynextdoor I'll suggest she looks at some of the bigger companies as well.

I hate when people start threads and never return so an update.
DD has secured her industry year and is very happy with her choice.
Thanks all for the advice.