From Funds to auditing?

phunkymonk

Been working in funds for nearly two years now and getting bored with the same routine day in day out...just recently started thinking about moving to an auditing firm in the financial services side of things...just wondering has anybody been in this position or has anyone any thoughts about it?

For me the advantage from auditing would be your getting the exposure of the whole process to finalising and analysing the financial statements. thoughts anyone?

MastiffMrs

In funds for over 5 yrs. Met many people who did auditing and hated it, and the money is worse than in funds (from what I've heard). But maybe you'll like it! Not many like funds either but it's not the worst ever. Maybe try internal roles for a change of scenery?

Lurker1977

I worked in funds for approx 18 months before moving to a mid-tier audit firm and mainly audited funds etc. Qualified and left in 2009. Moved to a big 4 and now live in Channel Islands, life is pretty sweet over here as well.

Brewie

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I couldn't help it.

Lurker you are in the Channel Islands, how do you like it?
I'm thinking of upping sticks to there in January/February 2013. You'd recommend it? I'm looking to get back into Auditing. (I'm qualified).

Work life & Social life is good? Good place for a single mid 20's fella to move to for a few years?

Pauvre Con

I've only visited Guernsey which is lovely - but wouldn't be an obvious place for mighty craic. Can be pretty difficult to get a housing license if you don't qualify as a local though. Either that or you're forced to pay exhorbitant rents in shared accomodation.

Lurker1977

Brewie wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I couldn't help it.

Lurker you are in the Channel Islands, how do you like it?
I'm thinking of upping sticks to there in January/February 2013. You'd recommend it? I'm looking to get back into Auditing. (I'm qualified).

Work life & Social life is good? Good place for a single mid 20's fella to move to for a few years?

Yea, Channel Islands. Been here 3 years and bought a house but live in Guernsey which has strict housing license laws so you need to be in a profession such as qualified accountant to qualify for a local license which will likely last 5 yrs tops. My other half and daughter are here too, with the missus working full time and the little one in primary school. Both of them love it too.

If you are interested then drop me a PM and I can forward your CV on to HR. Although that is the beginning of busy season so I would recommend waiting till April to start so that you don't come in at the worst time of year workwise!

As for social life, its a small island, limited places to go out so getting off the rock at least a couple of times a year is recommended just to put off the cabin fever but socially speaking, it ain't difficult to find a group to go drinking with any night of the week.

Pauvre Con wrote: »

I've only visited Guernsey which is lovely - but wouldn't be an obvious place for mighty craic. Can be pretty difficult to get a housing license if you don't qualify as a local though. Either that or you're forced to pay exhorbitant rents in shared accomodation.

Guernsey is stunning and incredibly safe:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-19583896

See above re:housing license, but I know some of the guys who house share for £600 per month for a large room in a sweet house. Depends on who you know/how lucky you are.

Pauvre Con

Yeah, you're preaching to the converted - I'd love to have the opportunity to move to Guernsey. I think I was partially motivated to register with the ACCA in order to have a better chance at qualifying for the housing license - otherwise it's an expensive alternative for a couple. Sure, if you're on your own and are prepared to house share you could be lucky but I think you've got to be in the right place at the right time as the open housing stock is so limited. My other half is in funds (non-qualified) and has been for years and had two telephone interviews and then one in person for a job there but ultimately the company wasn't in a position to offer the license so it was a no-goer. They are pretty picky these days about giving them out.

Hackysack

OP, considering your background in funds, if you went to an auditing firm you do realise that it's exceptionally likely that you'll be assigned to the audit of funds - would that bother you?

It's not clear from your post whether it's funds that bore you, or the routine that you're doing around funds that bore you - and if it is the routine just be aware that auditing to a great extent is all routine routine routine.

Either way, moving to an auditing firm would not be a bad move as there's a lot of room to expand on your skillset. I don't know how easy or likely it is to do this, but I wouldn't say it's a bad move - the biggest drawback imo for you would be a reduction in your salary