forgive my ignorance, I have never worked for a big company leave alone the big audit firms - but where does the crazy workload come from when doing audits, no disrespect but I thought its just checking files and receipts and you funga job and go home when the company closes.
back when I finished college I viewed the guys who went to the firms as the definition of success, didn't know kazi ni mob.

I don't have a good answer for your question in its current form. However, here are a few points you might want to consider - if you haven't already.

The soundness of your decision is as good as the alternatives at hand. So maybe you want to re-frame the problem. What do you want? Money? Experience? Some time to spare after work? What's most important to you?

Secondly, expand your search space. What jobs are you qualified to do? Which among them would you most enjoy? Sometimes the one you'd most enjoy isn't the best paying in the beginning, but it often provides the most satisfaction in the end. That has been my experience.

PS: I think these so called Big Four audit firms are overrated. I think they pay less per unit of work done than alternative employers out there. If you do not like the job, don't take it because of the money. You will ultimately make more by focusing on what you are passionate about. If you do go there because you absolutely need the money, have a clear exit strategy in mind - which is not easy when you are working your butt off day and night.

Why?

Delloitte......workload a bit less compared tp PwC.

I may not be able to offer advice on the catch 22 but what i know corroborate what most of the guys here are alluding to.In the early 2000s my she cuz got a job with one of the two firms and her social life changed.Girl could put atleast 15hours, six days and despite the good pay and no immediate placement elsewhere , she didn't last long in that audit job.The burn out was too much. Luckily for her, the good papers and experience over the years have got her to places I can consider success.
LOL...Mawinder that's a different dimension