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07-15-2014, 09:28 PM
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#1 | | MiX iT Up!
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| The Financier/Accountant Thread
A thread for people in finance/accounting field to discuss the industry and maybe even network. NOT a thread for DIY'ers to seek help, sorry.
so, who works in the finance/accounting field on RS? Thread idea credit goes to MindBomber for "The Tradesperson Thread"
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Sometimes we tend to be in despair when the person we love leaves us, but the truth is, it's not our loss, but theirs, for they left the only person who couldn't give up on them.
Make the effort and take the risk..
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't." - Eleanor Roosevelt | 
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07-15-2014, 10:22 PM
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#2 | | HELP ME PLS!!!
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looked at thread title, knew OP would be tiger_handheld
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Last edited by sexyaccord on 69-69-6969 at 69:69 PM | |
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07-15-2014, 11:01 PM
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#3 | | Rs has made me the man i am today!
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I've been in various accounting positions since graduating with from BCIT in 07, BTech in 09, maybe someone with more experience can give insight on having a designation vs. not having one...
Also day trade / swing trade in the morning....
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07-16-2014, 09:03 AM
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#4 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
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have a designation, don't not.
if you want a job/career working for someone else (as unattractive as it sounds, sometimes the money can be magnificent), you will not get taken seriously without a designation in this day and age.
unfortunately it's all CPA now, which I feel really bad for new people in the industry, totally dilutes the CA name. heck, most CMAs i know think it was a dumb idea.
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07-16-2014, 05:39 PM
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#5 | | MiX iT Up!
Join Date: May 2006 Location: vancouver
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I echo what 4444 said... without a designation no will take you seriously unless you claim to be a 'bookkeeper' and not an accountant.
What sector are you guys in, public practice, industry, academic?
__________________
Sometimes we tend to be in despair when the person we love leaves us, but the truth is, it's not our loss, but theirs, for they left the only person who couldn't give up on them.
Make the effort and take the risk..
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't." - Eleanor Roosevelt | |
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07-18-2014, 07:49 AM
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#6 | | Rs has made me the man i am today!
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver
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always have been in industry
I did "firm work" for a 3 month contract and absolutely hated it. Boss pushed for billable hours only and must be within budget, and I did really shitty work.
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07-22-2014, 12:15 PM
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#7 | | Rs has made me the man i am today!
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CMA here, designated for about 6 years now. Work in industry. I enjoy it.
Without a designation I would think one would reach a ceiling in terms of career progression.
Kev
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07-22-2014, 03:40 PM
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#8 | | Rs has made me the man i am today!
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Work in a CPA firm that is family owned. Don't have a designation yet still working on it. I am more in the managing position of the offices and the work load for each accountant. I have tons of experience..would say close to 15 years now. I have trained people that have had PhD's to Masters in Accounting. I have even helped out CGA/CA students in understanding public practice accounting. A lot of them I find are good in terms of the books in school but when put in a public practice situation they find it hard to adapt. Especially if the client is sitting in front of them asking questions.
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07-22-2014, 03:41 PM
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#9 | | Rs has made me the man i am today!
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Oh and definitely if you have designation the potential to earn is a lot greater. I am in a unique position which may not relate to much to the actual work being done currently.
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07-22-2014, 07:54 PM
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#10 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
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I've been looking for an accountant familiar with SRED. Feel free to PM me for details.
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07-22-2014, 08:26 PM
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#11 | | RS has made me the bitter person i am today!
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CFA here. I left finance and went into consulting. It's a way nicer life.
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07-22-2014, 09:52 PM
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#12 | | NOOB, Not Quite a Regular!
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CFA here. I have a pretty outgoing personality so I clearly made the wrong move. Don't ever use what I learned even though I'm a PM.
Hate my industry but love the money.
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07-23-2014, 12:30 AM
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#13 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
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A PM?
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07-26-2014, 09:08 PM
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#14 | | Need my Daily Fix of RS
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Aspiring CPA here! Currently working as a junior tax accountant while I finish off my degree @ BCIT (started as a co-op). Probably wont start PEP until Fall of 2015.
Sad about the combination of the three designation. Was looking forward to getting a CA designation.
Excited for the adventure ahead!
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07-26-2014, 09:17 PM
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#15 | | MiX iT Up!
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For the folk in industry..why did you pick industry and not a firm?
For the guy thats in "consulting" .. what exactly is that?
I myself am in public practice. Will switch to industry once I get bored..
Here is another question to cause a debate...
Do you guys think a person in public practice is "smarter" than "industry"? Reason I pose this is, it seems public practice, you need to know a lot for various situations. Whereas industry, just know the basics and what relates to that industry.. true? false?
__________________
Sometimes we tend to be in despair when the person we love leaves us, but the truth is, it's not our loss, but theirs, for they left the only person who couldn't give up on them.
Make the effort and take the risk..
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't." - Eleanor Roosevelt | |
| | |
07-26-2014, 10:02 PM
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#16 | | HELP ME PLS!!!
Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Death Star
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by tiger_handheld 
Do you guys think a person in public practice is "smarter" than "industry"? Reason I pose this is, it seems public practice, you need to know a lot for various situations. Whereas industry, just know the basics and what relates to that industry.. true? false?
| True, public practice exposes you to many different finance/accounting situations (and best practices), whereas in industry, you'll only learn 1 way of doing things, unless u keep switching jobs.
anyone from the big 4 here? hows it like? and how hard is it to get in?
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Last edited by sexyaccord on 69-69-6969 at 69:69 PM | |
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07-27-2014, 12:07 AM
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#17 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by tiger_handheld For the folk in industry..why did you pick industry and not a firm?
For the guy thats in "consulting" .. what exactly is that?
I myself am in public practice. Will switch to industry once I get bored..
Here is another question to cause a debate...
Do you guys think a person in public practice is "smarter" than "industry"? Reason I pose this is, it seems public practice, you need to know a lot for various situations. Whereas industry, just know the basics and what relates to that industry.. true? false? | Having worked in industry and big 4, I can confirm there are idiots in both. Clearly the barriers to entry for big 4 are higher than industry, so probably more idiots in industry, but nonetheless, idiots everywhere.
I also found those that stay in public practise until partner are usually either slightly weird, or not great and are scared of change. Going into industry is a big change but can be very very rewarding. Equally, it can be a career killer, especially in vancouver's job market for accountants, with all the Mickey Mouse small companies.
As for getting into big 4, it takes a lot of skill, ability, experience not bring a dweeb, and luck - u must have good interpersonal skills to even start the process.
If I were unfortunate to be going through the CPA process, I'd still go the public practise route, I swear there will be favouritism in industry for big 4 CPAs over industry CPAs, as in industry, unless ur at say telus, u will start in some ap or ra job, and stay there until there's a position open, which may take a long time.
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07-27-2014, 06:53 PM
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#18 | | RS Veteran
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by 4444 A PM? | Project manager
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07-28-2014, 10:55 AM
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#19 | | Rs has made me the man i am today!
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My anecdotal experience hiring people from public practice experience is that they have had trouble transitioning to positions that require them to execute. They are extremely skilled at having a critical eye towards existing processes, however, when it comes time to execute they are not as careful or efficient as staff I have brought on with industry-only experience.
Once again, my anecdotal experience but just wanted to respond to the question of idiots in industry versus public practice.
Kev
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07-28-2014, 11:10 AM
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#20 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by Roach My anecdotal experience hiring people from public practice experience is that they have had trouble transitioning to positions that require them to execute. They are extremely skilled at having a critical eye towards existing processes, however, when it comes time to execute they are not as careful or efficient as staff I have brought on with industry-only experience.
Once again, my anecdotal experience but just wanted to respond to the question of idiots in industry versus public practice.
Kev | def. agree with you, but it makes sense, as your internal guys know your industry and business through and through, someone from public practice is more of a generalist, and they need time to get comfortable in a specific industry, which you, understandably, don't want to pay for as an employer
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07-28-2014, 12:53 PM
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#21 | | I keep RS good
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Originally Posted by 4444 A PM? | Quote:
Originally Posted by bcrdukes Project manager | or portfolio manager
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07-28-2014, 04:46 PM
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#22 | | Rs has made me the man i am today!
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It's just different, coming from industry to public practice, I didn't like having to track and bill my hours, working on a different company every 1 -3 days. Sometimes you do really shitty work when the boss only gives you X amount of time to finish.
In industry I understand the flow of information a lot better, what is important to the company, and can make suggestions to improve certain processes. In public practice you see the company waste resources and you see their inefficiencies, but you just go along and finish your own work.
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07-28-2014, 04:55 PM
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#23 | | RS has made me the bitter person i am today!
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by tiger_handheld For the folk in industry..why did you pick industry and not a firm?
For the guy thats in "consulting" .. what exactly is that?
I myself am in public practice. Will switch to industry once I get bored..
Here is another question to cause a debate...
Do you guys think a person in public practice is "smarter" than "industry"? Reason I pose this is, it seems public practice, you need to know a lot for various situations. Whereas industry, just know the basics and what relates to that industry.. true? false? | I'm a management consultant - I work with executives of companies to improve their companies. Anything from management training to restructuring to financial controls. It runs the gamut.
There's smart people in public and there are smart people in industry. Conversely, there are dumb people too. Industry can get very complex especially when you're dealing with multinationals. If you're working with a dinky firm, then not so much.
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07-28-2014, 05:00 PM
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#24 | | RS has made me the bitter person i am today!
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Originally Posted by 4444 A PM? | Portfolio manager as per the BC Securities commission. You either need your CFA or CIM. https://www.bcsc.bc.ca/Securities_La...Rescinded_(1)/ | |
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07-28-2014, 05:57 PM
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#25 | | RS controls my life!
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hmm I assume you work for MBB?
May I ask how did you get into the field? undergrad or experience?
I'm very interested in the consulting career path before family priorities take over.
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