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Hi, I am wondering if anyone can offer me some career advice on what type of career I should consider next.
I am an ACA qualified accountant, with experience in both a top tier firm based in London, and a small practice outside of London (< 100 employees). I am looking to make the move away from practice into industry or something similar, but I am not sure what role would be best for me.
I am fairly academic and confident, but I am also aware that I am dyslexic and not the most technical of accountants (although my performance at my last job was solid). I am a hard worker, but I know from experience that I struggle in a fast paced corporate environment, where there is no sense of a work / life balance, as I can become burnt out.
I am not afraid of work hard but I need something that will allow me to learn on the job and develop my skills at my own pace, which was something I struggled with at the larger firm. For example, I failed most of the first 6 or 7 ACA exams on the first attempt whilst with the top tier firm, but once I moved to a smaller practice, I passed all of the (much harder) remaining exams with good grades (65-75% range) on the first attempt.
I know that I can do really well if I get a role which is right for me, so any advice would be really appreciated.
Thanks
I am an ACA qualified accountant, with experience in both a top tier firm based in London, and a small practice outside of London (< 100 employees). I am looking to make the move away from practice into industry or something similar, but I am not sure what role would be best for me.
I am fairly academic and confident, but I am also aware that I am dyslexic and not the most technical of accountants (although my performance at my last job was solid). I am a hard worker, but I know from experience that I struggle in a fast paced corporate environment, where there is no sense of a work / life balance, as I can become burnt out.
I am not afraid of work hard but I need something that will allow me to learn on the job and develop my skills at my own pace, which was something I struggled with at the larger firm. For example, I failed most of the first 6 or 7 ACA exams on the first attempt whilst with the top tier firm, but once I moved to a smaller practice, I passed all of the (much harder) remaining exams with good grades (65-75% range) on the first attempt.
I know that I can do really well if I get a role which is right for me, so any advice would be really appreciated.
Thanks
Last edited by Rawlc; 2 weeks ago
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#2
(Original post by Rawlc)
Hi, I am wondering if anyone can offer me some career advice on what type of career I should consider next.
I am an ACA qualified accountant, with experience in both a top tier firm based in London, and a small practice outside of London (< 100 employees). I am looking to make the move away from practice into industry or something similar, but I am not sure what role would be best for me.
I am fairly academic and confident, but I am also aware that I am dyslexic and not the most technical of accountants (although my performance at my last job was solid). I am a hard worker, but I know from experience that I struggle in a fast paced corporate environment, where there is no sense of a work / life balance, as I can become burnt out.
I am not afraid of work hard but I need something that will allow me to learn on the job and develop my skills at my own pace, which was something I struggled with at the larger firm. For example, I failed most of the first 6 or 7 ACA exams on the first attempt whilst with the top tier firm, but once I moved to a smaller practice, I passed all of the (much harder) remaining exams with good grades (65-75% range) on the first attempt.
I know that I can do really well if I get a role which is right for me, so any advice would be really appreciated.
Thanks
Hi, I am wondering if anyone can offer me some career advice on what type of career I should consider next.
I am an ACA qualified accountant, with experience in both a top tier firm based in London, and a small practice outside of London (< 100 employees). I am looking to make the move away from practice into industry or something similar, but I am not sure what role would be best for me.
I am fairly academic and confident, but I am also aware that I am dyslexic and not the most technical of accountants (although my performance at my last job was solid). I am a hard worker, but I know from experience that I struggle in a fast paced corporate environment, where there is no sense of a work / life balance, as I can become burnt out.
I am not afraid of work hard but I need something that will allow me to learn on the job and develop my skills at my own pace, which was something I struggled with at the larger firm. For example, I failed most of the first 6 or 7 ACA exams on the first attempt whilst with the top tier firm, but once I moved to a smaller practice, I passed all of the (much harder) remaining exams with good grades (65-75% range) on the first attempt.
I know that I can do really well if I get a role which is right for me, so any advice would be really appreciated.
Thanks
I qualified with a top 4 company many years ago, even if it doesn't seem like it, and know how pressured one can feel in that kind of work environment, BUT they do offer the best technical support available, something missing in the smaller firms, where your weaknesses are just that, and the ball stops with you. I would be tempted to say that accounting at ACA level is not for you. I may be wrong, but you give the impression that you panic when things get stressful. Have you thought about more administrative roles where accounting knowledge is a definite plus, but it's not necessary to know all the ramifications of changes in tax law etc For example big private schools love having ACA's as bursars or estate managers, or you could look into a career with a headhunting firm that specialises in recruiting for the financial sector. The qualification is a great preparation for most careers today, so take a step back ans see what you enjoy doing. Most of my friends that qualified with me have changed direction completely.
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Those are some interesting suggestions, thank you. I wouldn't say that I panic in a stressful situation, I think that I handle things well at the time, but the pressure wears me down over a longer period, and leads me to suffer with insomnia etc, which then means my performance suffers. This is why I feel that maintaining a healthy medium between hard work and still having a life is important. I function better at a slightly slower pace than the Big 4 would allow. I am considering a management accountant, as I did love studying for the ACA, and enjoy what I do.
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#4
(Original post by Rawlc)
Those are some interesting suggestions, thank you. I wouldn't say that I panic in a stressful situation, I think that I handle things well at the time, but the pressure wears me down over a longer period, and leads me to suffer with insomnia etc, which then means my performance suffers. This is why I feel that maintaining a healthy medium between hard work and still having a life is important. I function better at a slightly slower pace than the Big 4 would allow. I am considering a management accountant, as I did love studying for the ACA, and enjoy what I do.
Those are some interesting suggestions, thank you. I wouldn't say that I panic in a stressful situation, I think that I handle things well at the time, but the pressure wears me down over a longer period, and leads me to suffer with insomnia etc, which then means my performance suffers. This is why I feel that maintaining a healthy medium between hard work and still having a life is important. I function better at a slightly slower pace than the Big 4 would allow. I am considering a management accountant, as I did love studying for the ACA, and enjoy what I do.
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