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I qualified ACCA on 17th July and received an interview call on 26th for a trainee position in a multinational telecom company. I can either join an audit firm or accept this offer. The company is a large enterprise and I don’t doubt that I won’t learn enough, and the pay is also going to be “very good”. I have little to no interest in auditing, should I take up the oppurtunity? What can be the pros and cons of both of these?
Hello asim, first of all congratulations for completing the ACCA exams.
You must consider a couple of factors before choosing between a firm or industry.
Firms provide with a wider range of experience and it is very much possible you won’t be getting an equivalent of that through working at a company. You will be providing services to a wide range of clients who will be operating under different circumstances therefore you will earn a broad exposure.
Secondly, audit is not the only service which firms provide. If you have interest in other areas such as consultancy, advisory etc you can easily approach these segments in a firm particularly if you are in Pakistan as ACCA’s are usually hired in these departments.
However, you might be aware that earning in firms at a trainee level is almost negligible but you will collect experience on the basis of which you can pursue industries later in your career i.e after membership
What I have gathered from people’s opinions who have worked in the firms is that they eventually want to join industry. Like I said, I have little to no interest in joining firms. Reason being, the firms exploit young professionals;paying them 5-6k, which is below even the minimum wage here in Pakistan. Secondly, I think working for a multinational outweighs the benefits you get in a firm, which are nothing but “experience”. This is a very vague concept which is used to exploit people in my opinion and I can’t afford to waste 3 years of my life getting 5k and then “hoping” I will get a placement in industry.
I do, however, agree that level of exposure is high in audit firms and for many people, that is the deal breaker.
This is just now that you have mentioned your lack of interest in joining firms altogether – your previous comment only mentioned about auditing.
I do agree the 3 years is one heck of a period in which the trainees are paid pennies compared to the work they are loaded with.
However, you must consider that working in industry isn’t a piece of cake either. Although it depends company to company, late sittings and overload of work are very much a norm in industries as well. Secondly you really should forget about earnings in the initial 3 year period as you cannot earn a significant sum during this time particularly in Pakistan.Lastly, it is unfair to use the word “waste” for those 3 years. The nominal pay and extra work burden aside, the experience of firm on your CV strengthens your chances of recruitment abroad – middle east to be specific. But this is only if you have any interest in having an aim to work there.
In conclusion, it appears as though you are very much inclined to join the multinational company and have made up your mind for that. You must follow what suits you as it is never the last time. All the best.
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