Time for a change

[Cujo]

Hi 

 

I hope people don't mind but I need a wall to bounce a question against and it also sounds better once a person writes out what one has on mind. So to stop over thinking things as I do would value someone's insights.

 

 I have worked in Australia over 4 years (4 years and 10 months to be exact). In that time period I have worked for a small accounting firm in audit. I have recently applied for a position for one of the big4 firms also in audit and it seems virtually certain that I will get a position at the firm. It has been a life long dream to work for one of the big4 for various reasons. The position that they have allocated to me is a more junior position due to my experience in the SME sector and  not being in the larger enterprise space. Stepping down as such from an audit supervisor to a position is not ideal. No one would want to take a step backwards in their career path under most circumstances. However the way I see it is that I want to progress to a manager level if possible over time at the firm. The decision that I have made came after I concluded that I don't have adequate options available both at my current employer and in the general market as I want to move into the larger company space. In my head I have it all sorted out; work myself up to manager in 3 to 4 years and then hopefully progress from there onwards. But I have self doubts and I don't think an opportunity like this will come my way again.

 

So the long and short of it is do you think that it is crazy for a person to take a step backwards salary and position wise to hopefully build up a better career in the future? Worse case scenario I reckon that I can always change jobs in the future if it doesn't work out. 

 

Thank you kindly 

Shaun 

 

[zamunda]

Hi Shaun

 

I see absolutely nothing wrong in taking a step back (in the shorter term) if it means a better outcome for you in the long run. 

 

Once upon a time I was in the audit field too and did exactly what you are thinking of. No regrets. From there I moved on to work for a client of the firm I was with. Then got tired of the corporate, number crunching, nine to five world. So took the biggest back step in my life. Quit my job and got into doing a business in the complete opposite side to auditing/accounting. Initially it was hard and at times even questioned my self if I had made the correct decision. Twelve years down the line - best decision I ever made. I still don't make the same amount of money I made in the finance world, but a heck of a  lot happier. 

 

I wish you well. 

Edited December 21, 2016 by zamunda

[Riekie]

With any long term goal there is often some sacrifice.  As long as you know that your long term prospects are better, it may be worth taking the risk. Have you asked this new employer what the pathway to your current role would be and how long it would take?

[Cujo]

Thanks Zaumda I wasn't sure if people have done this in the past and if it was the norm or whether the partner wanted only to maximise the profit in the firm. Your comment makes me feel better about what I want to achieve. Thank you. 

 

Thanks Riekie for your feedback. No I haven't asked them that question but I will definitely. The initial feedback came via HR. I did do some read up on Glassdoors which gave a mixed but overall high reviews. 

 

I guess it it can be seen similar to immigration in that a person needs to be determined and focuses to succeed no matter what point of direction you take. 

 

I am am in RSA on holidays at the moment. It was the first time that I stood in the non rsa visa queue. The passport official was very friendly on arrival and I had no problems. I found the scanning of fingerprints interesting. I hear from family that they now scan in your fingerprints everywhere even at the banks. It makes me wonder how Australians would feel about their private data collected by institutions and how in South Africa everyone accepts it as normal. But I guess with such high levels of corruption a system has to be worked out. As long as they don't steel your finger prints too. 

 

I hope everyone have a wonderful Xmas. 

[rozellem]

Couldn't see where in Aus you are living, would also be interested to hear how big your family is, if you have one. To figure out cost of living and how many dependants you have. But, my gut instinct is that you should take the leap, the sooner (younger) the better. 

 

Ps. My husband is considering taking a pay cut at work, to go permanent. Its a bitter pill to swollow, but sometimes its just not about the money. 

[Cujo]

Hi rozellem

 

Yes you are right it's not always for the money. For me it's how I see my career/self employment in the next 20+ Years and the experience and network that I want to build up. 

I don't have any dependants and I love in Canberra. Accounting is becoming an even more specialised area and technology is having a great impact on the profession. 

Lim in my early 30s and have seen how laptops and cloud computing transformed the landscape. With AI and SAP things will even change more and I want to be on the side that uses the new technology and not become redundant because of it. 

There has been a trend among accounting firms to outsource tax work to the Philippines just as an example. 

An area that I want to get involved in is computer auditing and SAP. It's truly an exiting time to work in the industry.