Usually, the common practice is either a bond, or you refund what they paid in the last 6 months if you resign. Different firms have different policies on this so if you want specifics, check with the specific firm's HR to confirm.

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Added on November 29, 2011, 9:25 amVouching, bank confirmations, fixed assets sightings, stock takes, amendments, photocopying, stat audit. Simple things that need minimum supervision with minimal risk of error lol

This post has been edited by CKJMark: Nov 29 2011, 09:25 AM

From my point of view, I would join the Big 4 in Malaysia then subsequently apply for an internal transfer to a sister firm in Singapore after a few years.

If they don't inform you, no harm for you to call up and ask.

The options are:-

- corporate tax compliance
- individual tax compliance and employment services
- international tax advisory
- business tax advisory
- transfer pricing
- indirect tax
- transaction tax (due diligence work)

If he wants to start a career in tax, join corporate tax compliance. That is the basic place to build your experience and knowledge. The other teams are specialised areas.

Also, if you opt to leave the firm later, being from corporate tax compliance gives you better marketability than the other sub-divisions in the commercial world.

Exposure to foriegn tax laws comes over time depending on your assignments. The reason I wouldn't advise new people to join teams like International Tax is because these are consultancy/advisory teams. The subject matter is quite dynamic and a fair bit of the work is based on experience. Newbies will have a steep learning curve, and may have a hard time keeping up. For example, how will a newbie give advice on international tax structures when they don't even have practical experience doing basic Malaysian tax structures?

Corporate tax compliance is not a dead end, and its not 100% local. Depending on your cilent mix, you will have opportunities when you are senior level to experience and participate in advisory projects. If you work on MNCs then you will have international tax exposure too. Otherwise, you can also apply for a transfer later on.

Having international tax exposure is good, but its not key to your career if you plan to leave the firm. Not many companies need that experience in-house. Even international shared service hubs in Malaysia don't need people with international tax experience as a must. Corporate tax compliance is the basic first, then decide to branch out. Not jump into a specialisation thinking "this sounds interesting" then three years later find out there isn't much future outside the firm.

Indirect tax is focusing more on service tax, customs work and GST. It's a growing field now and would be interesting if GST is introduced in Malaysia after GE, or if you are in a import/export heavy industry, or a service based industry like Telco. It's a growing field and if GST comes, there will be a sharp demand for people with this expertise.