Next 2 week should be peak season for stocktakes, brrr. Solo again.

And next year becos earlier CNY date for 3 Feb 2011............dont want to think about it.

Obsolete stock I guess.
Normally its deep discount or vouchers lo.

Peak allowance not really sure but reason could be they anticipate lots of people leaving on 2011, so its for those that chose to remain. Salary revision only affect juniors I heard. Technically I rather have more eligibility of my annual leave claim than the allowance. Manager book staff like there is no tomorrow. Sigh....

---

Added on December 25, 2010, 11:19 pmEven within big4, there is different layers one. Some dept or team suffered more than the others especially dealing with additional stuffs like tight deadline reporting, "problematic" clients, "tight" partner/manager,......etc. Not to mention for additional work like IPO, M&A, special purpose, liquidation,......etc. Big4 many fanboys will say its a place where they train you not only for free, they pay as well. But can you stomach it ? Egoistic asians will most likely say with a big YES.

Oh big4 does not pay well for salary / hour ratio. Even worse than McDonald workers.

This post has been edited by Topace111: Dec 25 2010, 11:19 PM

Actually that is right. But isn't there an assistant finance manager that helps (normally experienced). Its because finance manager directly reports to financial controller/CFO like budgeting, forecasting, analysis of GP, .......etc. And AP/AR/GL,...... normally got their own accoutant to supervise which reports to finance manager, s(he) only have to review it for significant movements or errors. I think most MNC have shared service centre ? then its even easier transition.

Problem is commercial and audit is quite different. Auditors have a very specific line of responsibility but commercial is undefined. The worse part of commercial is you need to get your hands dirty and roll up your sleeve. Some if not most very into auditing will find this difficult to stomach.

---

Added on December 25, 2010, 11:37 pmAmbience is quite ok but food average lo. I think almost everyone spend lavishly to "sell" themselves.
Its just that the principle of working hard = spend hard and play hard also.
Definitely not a "cheap" dinner by any means, especially from the feminine point of view.

This post has been edited by Topace111: Dec 25 2010, 11:37 PM

You maybe right on that, but just curious.
What is the difference between a financial accoutant and management accountant in the first place ?

---

Added on January 1, 2011, 11:28 pmEmm technically I prefer to work from after normal office hours. Thats why I like outstation jobs. Factory close sharp at 6pm and have to work from hotel whereas in KL, most organization can stay until midnight. Feels more motivated to work in 2 different environment. Of course its easier said than done. But if that staff can deliver her work even if she leaves at 6pm, I dont mind such people also.

---

Added on January 1, 2011, 11:56 pmHa ha ha, you summarized them quite well and "honestly' too .
I also want to add some flavor too :
1) Work late hours is expected but it could be due to several reasons :
- Inefficiency : happens a lot during my first few months.
- workload : the quantity aspect will really take a toll as this is where your multitasking skill will be tested.
- analysis : the quality aspect which depends on individual, this depends on the company audited. Some are easy, some are not.
- time cost : every auditor dislike this one except the partners and client.

2) Steep learning curve :
A junior needs to know a lot of things about audit (theory + practical) before they can even start audit. Vouching and sighting is just the very brief surface of audit. And most must swallow their ego on these. I get tons of beating and scolding during my probation period as I come in with higher expectation maybe due to age or education or whatever. Once adjusted and adapt accordingly, things will get very natural. My "eureka" for audit comes quite quickly hence I face less problem as the period progressed compared to others.

3) Logic
This is mainly can be seen from analytical review (internal) and interview (external). For me this is my forte area compared to my technical side, to me its important to be prepared and arm yourselves with sufficient ammunition. In short you have to start learning to "cover your act". One of the most important weapon of any auditors. I always try to be friendly with client if possible (which can enlarge your networking)

4)..........
I really hate this part, watching departures....... Just recently I watched half of my team left just before peak period.......... This is the part that Big4 will start to get into you. Quite funny or irony that everyone I saw, they left with a smile on their face.

Now waiting for the year end MA to be released and its hell all over again

This post has been edited by Topace111: Jan 1 2011, 11:56 PM

Emm highly depends whether you are working under a she or he. Acca = 3 years. TCE is basicly a rojak industry. The 3 biggest client makes up the T.C.E name.

---

Added on January 2, 2011, 11:42 pmTheir argument is, how can you recognize only 60% of our effort ? A lot will leave soon and I think this will be the easiest exit interview.

This post has been edited by Topace111: Jan 2 2011, 11:42 PM

I thought labuan tax is either Rm20000 or 3% of audited net profit whichever is lower ? Dont know about all la but sound straight forward to me compared to MYS tax. Of course its harder for them to convert into MYS tax.

---

Added on January 5, 2011, 12:07 amThat is Singapore standards for all big4, hence many jump there ady. Salary revision only effective on month of January 2011. Either way, if anyone decide to leave, the money won't change much especially the seniors.

---

Added on January 5, 2011, 12:12 amBonus is not obligatory but many doubt its sincerity.

Meal allowance is easy to claim and approved but just adequate.
OT is easy to claim but on the part of approval, highly depends on the booking schedule and the engagement.

This post has been edited by Topace111: Jan 5 2011, 12:12 AM

Can and willing to stay.
Happy peak period everyone. Mine start next week.

Internal audit is audit done for the purpose of management. Meaning in lay man term, Me (as a boss) hire an internal auditor to check where my operations has gone wrong and rectify them. I determine their scope of work and what to check. They report to me. As such internal audit is rarely outsourced to other companies being nobody will do such a thing due to nature of job. Its rather they just hire the staff straight into their internal audit dept. Those firms you hear like Big4s are more into external auditing.

But internal audit is a non-obligatory job and if its part of the firm's offering it may fall under advisory.

Advisory is basicly a value added service which centres on advising client what to do, rectify problems and offer solutions. The post are normally suitable for experienced people as they are more mature in thinking and experienced in daily life and work. Do you want a 25 year old telling a 40 year old what to do even if he is a MBA graduate ? Some people can but due to egoism, this is quite difficult. This is where art of communication comes in which are advisors / consultants forte.

One advisor once told me what is like. Imagine a datuk/director/CEO ask you something like "What will happen to my company's profit if I implement this or that?" Consultants will need to think of something in less than 5 seconds and come out with an answer. Real time reaction he called it or bluffing skills. Act as though you know eventhough you may not know. A popular insider jokes circulating among consultants is the word consulting comes from the word "con".

And the first thing to become a good advisor/consultant you also need to be a good researcher. Your attitude evidently is uninspiring at the moment but things aren't easy anyway.

I think I have to bring my laptop to my relatives house during chinese new year ady. And I will ask the young ones to do casting for me, mua ha ha (evil laugh).

My tips for interview. Go in with a prepared but open mind. Dont memorise your answer and just answer accordingly. Be truthful cos no point lying to yourself so you can get the job and suffer horribly later. When people asked whether can you work late or willing to travel and you answer passionately yes but later failed to do so, it will leave a bad stain.

From most of the advisory freshie collegues, they tell me their job for first few weeks / months is quite relaxing and easy. Its when you reach senior level then work gets interesting. Anyone can correct me I am wrong though

---

Added on January 16, 2011, 9:39 pmYou seriously wants to stay at Damansara heights area ? If you not willing to pay > RM 1,000 rental forget about it. And like thanatos said, find out who your client is and find a place there if its a major recurring engagement. 90% of my time is spent at client place which is the opposite direction from HQ.

This post has been edited by Topace111: Jan 16 2011, 09:39 PM

In oversea (especially western countries), auditing is purely audit work.
In Malaysia, auditing is audit + everything else. Just see how we treat our maid you will get a rough idea.

How is the experience leading someone older than you ?

First 2 hours RM6, Rm3 per hour after that standard KL parking charges. I hit RM40 before during one peak period last time due to memory lost.

---

Added on January 26, 2011, 5:53 amBig4 will still accept if you hold the qualification but of course if you never failed it does help speed up the interview process. If they only accept straight passers, the assurance team will be heavily understaffed. Results aren't everything when comes to work.

This post has been edited by Topace111: Jan 26 2011, 05:53 AM

If you can talk like snake, this will be a bonus.

1) Expectation deviation :
When you never experience it, its very easy to say you can brush through it. Working long hours is ok for few days but for prolonged weeks ? And work from 9 to 5 is depressing enough. Travelling is ok but highly depends, jam will kill you sometimes. Matrix reporting to client and superior is the hardest of all. You cannot be too nice to either one, the balance is not easy to maintain. Being friendly or cruel is easy but tactful is not.

2) Ego
During interview its very easy to get carried away to boasting and self illusion.

If you can perform so well they have to double promote you, if not unlikely. Unless you jump to a better company immediately when you reach 3 years, then yes.

The working hours depend on culture one, normally most stay because they want to stay to finish their work maybe due to incompetency or dedication. Salary wise, its actually quite ok but once compared to responsibility and hours of work, it becomes incomparable.

Fear of the unknown is the biggest factor for those decided to leave.

---

Added on February 15, 2011, 8:47 pmPartners are naturally risk takers.

This post has been edited by Topace111: Feb 15 2011, 08:47 PM