About the Anonymous Accountant
A budding accountant at a Big 4 office in Canada discusses what it’s like to work at one of the world’s largest professional service firms and his long slog through the arduous road to the Chartered Accountant designation.
This is amazing.
This is really a supurb job.
Thaks
Good Job anonymous accountant!
I like all the information and opinions in your articles
Keep it up and I’ll be back
[...] Kudos to the Anonymous Accountant [...]
You bring back memories that give me the “Heebeejeebees!
I’m going to link to you, if you could reciprocate, I’d appreciate it!
Don’t worry – Just when you think it can’t get any worse…. it does!
Seriously, if you really want to become a CA, go for it. I had to pay some dues, but did it at smaller, mostly mid-small CPA firms. I”m glad I did it that way, I pretty much did have a life, and got to enjoy my 20s.
Take Care:
Blog Name: CPA Blog | Marketing for Accountants – http://www.cpamarketingcenter.com/blog
Hey! Hmm i really want to know more about the accounting arena as i am stilla student and i’m in quite a dilema on what i should choose to study. Could you shed some light?
My email is balletstarzz@yahoo.com.sg
You may like my blog, Re: The Auditors.
Hello Anonymous! Really like your blog, I am currently studying to become an accountant (of sorts) and so found many of your comments useful. I found another website written by Canadians but with a focus on finance and banking, and very much favourable to accounting designations. The site is written in French but has sections in English when it describes the usual questions one can expect in banking for LBO roles or junior accountant roles in audit or taxation. Sweet, you say? Yeah, I thought so. Here’s the link, it might interest you readers : http://www.survivrelondres.com
Ciao
Hey is that your last post…??
Interesting indeed, I guess this profession is the same everywhere you go… tax accounting & audit are not really glamorous at all when you see the amount of marketing effort they put to entice us to become their ’slaves…’
Cheers from Australia
Anonymous accountant,
where are your new posts? Have you quit?
For those looking for new posts,
check out my blog at http://lifeofanauditor.blogspot.com
Hi People
Thank you for an interesting blog & I had fun reading a lot of comments here.
Just a question to you all.
Is anyone here doing Investment Research, more specifically “Equity Research” after doing their CPA ?
If so, would be great if you could post of any merits, de-merits, perks, your pay, etc etc.
I have been personally investing in stocks for a few years with a moderate success, and am considering a career change that would get me involved in value investment ( equities or commodities ) as one option. However, my experience is just a million miles away from Investment world, and I am considering spending a year or so to educate myself some finance skills.
Do you think it will increase the chances of entering investment research if I do get a CPA and it’d actually help ?
I’m actually offered a position in Operations / I bank now, has anyone moved from Operations to this kind of Eqty Research role ?
My strengths right now are strong global project facilitation / communications skills (Japa/English), marketing skills, etc.
Would be great if anyone can reply!
Thanks !
I am an auditor with a big four in the caribbean and I absolutely hate it right now. I hate deadlines and rolling off of one job to another knowing I still have work to finish. I hate clients who cannot give you a simple schedule that actually ties, I hate cash flow statements. the stress is unbelievable. It’s funny that the expats tell us that this is a welcome break from what they are used to, but I do not care. I am just trying to make it to Senior in June, coast during summer months and leave in December. I cannot take it anymore.
Great site for Big 4 Jobs
I have a question one of you might be able to answer.
It concerns one of the big 4’s overseas subsidiaries.
It recently came to my attention that a partner firm may had not acted with due diligence but the international HQ has no responsibility because, of course, the subsidiary is subject to
local laws not to the laws of the country the headquarter’s resides
in. The HQ can therefore claim no liability for any losses suffered by clients who have invested abroad (i.e. the investors live in the country where the HQ is based but have invested, via an escrow account, through a partner firm abroad.)
It appears that only 75% of the escrow monies were secured not 100%.
Is it ethical that a HQ has absolutely no powers to investigate an overseas partner or indeed that a HQ can duck responsibility by claiming that they are separate overseas firms which individually provide audit tax and advisory services,that the international HQ does not provide client services and does not exercise control over it’s mmber firms?
In this particular case we are talking about potential client (investor) losses possibly exceeding £50m or $94m U.S.
The General Counsel at the HQ of this big 4 company has already said it (the HQ) is not liable for any losses for the reasons stated above, the costs of litigation by investors against the partner abroad will be considerable.
The question I am asking is it ethical to a HQ to wash it’s hands of all resonsibility on the basis that it’s partner firm is subject to ‘local’ laws and as it (HQ) is based in another jurisdiction and it’s Rules prohibit it from exercising any control?
Please email me if you have any further thoughts
KarlK
Hello-
I am anxious and curious to read what you’re up to. Please write more.
I love your site!
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I wondered if you have an opinion on the Discrimination against someone who for whatever reason chose not to work for the “Big 4″.
It is extremely annoying that an Employer advertises that they will only accept applicants from a Big 4 background when in fact this does not guarantee the best candidates. In itself this is discrimination albeit it doesn’t fall under the normal accepted types, i.e. Age, Race, Sex, Religion and Sexual Orientation.
Do you or fellow readers have any thoughts on this?