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Mike Hoxbig
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Still way too mind numbingly boring. I'm an SA, and the pay might be a bit less (not that much less), but the work is far more interesting...
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In my experience, how interesting a position is usually correlates positively with pay. High pay usually means that the job is challenging, and/or that the skill set required is rare, which in turn means that there tends to be a lot more flexibility in the role as well. A combination of both of these tend to elevate the level of interest.
If one is being paid R85k, after tax, it's not because the role is so boring that no one else would do it for less.
If one is being paid R85k, after tax, it's not because the role is so boring that no one else would do it for less.
Hamster
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Fix printersWhat do developers do again?
Isn't accountants being paid well pretty much proof of you being wrong?In my experience, how interesting a position is usually correlates positively with pay. High pay usually means that the job is challenging, and/or that the skill set required is rare, which in turn means that there tends to be a lot more flexibility in the role as well. A combination of both of these tend to elevate the level of interest.
If one is being paid R85k, after tax, it's not because the role is so boring that no one else would do it for less.
Completely agree on rare skillset. This can be either because it's tough, or niche to the point that not many people want to learn it.
Isn't accountants being paid well pretty much proof of you being wrong?
Completely agree on rare skillset. This can be either because it's tough, or niche to the point that not many people want to learn it.
Nope. Read some of these answers:
https://www.quora.com/Is-accounting-the-most-boring-profession-to-go-into
I also expect that in accountancy, those making 30k/m are doing far less interesting work than those doing 100k/m.
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In my experience, how interesting a position is usually correlates positively with pay. High pay usually means that the job is challenging, and/or that the skill set required is rare, which in turn means that there tends to be a lot more flexibility in the role as well. A combination of both of these tend to elevate the level of interest.
If one is being paid R85k, after tax, it's not because the role is so boring that no one else would do it for less.
There are two reasons to be paid well:
1) The skills are so scarce, very few can do it.
2) The job sucks so much, very few want to do it.
HavocXphere
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You'd be surprised. e.g. Today I spent most of my day today reading notes from a group of venture capitalist on what they mobile app ventures they think will succeed & why. Think Dragon's Den except its real. Pretty fascinating seeing the mindset etc.Isn't accountants being paid well pretty much proof of you being wrong?
Its a little like saying programming is boring because you need to memorise all that dry syntax for multiple programming languages...its missing the point 100% (and then some).
Arzy
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The higher I've climbed (salary wise) the less actual accounting I've done. Just saying.
I work in investment banking. I'm surrounded by accountants all day, every day. I wasn't completely serious when I said they're boring (something take it super seriously when I say that) and in my experience, the more senior they are, the less actual accounting they do.
I sit in on some project presentations from vendors and such, along with the finance/accounting guys, and I personally find that quite interesting.
HavocXphere
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Yeah I know it wasn't entirely serious...just annoys me that that is the "image" to the point of being the most readily available example. Every time I compare notes with my mates I conclude the exact opposite & that actually concerns me as to my next move.
Still can be boring I guess...being fin manager at a smallish company for example looks frightfully boring.
I get something similar from my friends and coleagues in the tech industry - "Oh, you moved to finance - that's too boring for me, I'm going to work on Ooglemooglenoodle(tm) at Google.", where in reality, I get exposed to so much more different technologies, maths, and new things (to me), such as finance, trading, etc.
Stefanmuller
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Yes, like auditing. Boring and no money unless you own the firm or make partner. Then the work gets more interesting with a significant increase in pay. Else the partners are getting rich selling your billable hours. For the average CA who does not own his own audit firm, the money is in corporate, and generally the work gets more interesting/rewarding (or so they say, I am at that crossroads at the moment).
Also curious on that but I think u looking at it completely and utterly wrong. From a degree level point of view getting a Master's later in career means bugger all in science subjects..
Getting an MBA on the other hand means something when combined with experience and management exposure as it should propel you to exec level faster than those doing it straight out of varsity.
Uhm I'm thinking it would add about 30-50% bump if changed jobs and was already in/entering management. If not then the bump will be higher, if no role change then 20-30% in existing role and that would suck unless ok without changing things.
MBAs though are not about money though and more about enabling you to engage at a higher level or start things from scratch where others would struggle.
OrbitalDawn
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TheBadMadMan
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HavocXphere
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No comparison was made?Would venture capitalists appreciate being compared to accountants?
I was pointing that out as an example of what someone on an accounting track does. e.g. Me currently:
Last week was stuff for the German tax authorities. This week its this mobile app stuff I mentioned above. Next week its Scottish private equity structures. Two weeks after that - don't know what I'm doing but....relocating to another country for a couple months probably (dunno which - hoping Ireland). Its subjective I guess but to me that is all very non-boring & because of the fast cycle it stays fresh.
Nope. Thats the price of access to interesting stuff...NDAs.
+1. Recently attended a Stellenbosch Business School presentation for their MBA course and they basically stated this. I'm currently saving to do my MBA full time in the hopes of working towards ManCo/Exco level in 5-6 years time.
Also, your international career opportunities grow exponentially.
Partners are glorified sales reps. The only real work they do, especially those at the established firms, is do research, create and pitch products and services and sign off on the odd reports (and charge R4k for it). Even senior managers are driven by sales targets (billable hours).
Working for a corporate is also more rewarding than an audit firm; you get much more exposure to the business and can (hopefully) see the impact of your work.
If you want interesting work, go the IT/IS Audit route. There are so many areas which you can specialise in - from infosec to project governance to BI type of work. Haven't been bored in my 8+ year career yet. Pay is generally more than that of your general auditor as well.
Alton Turner Blackwood
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Now... Back on topic