Hi, i just share about my Career Progression as an External Auditor.

I graduate from a Private University in Malaysia (4 Years Course).

Got My ACCA during my 1st Job. Details shown in below:

2016 (Started in Feb) Small Audit Firm: RM 2.5k
2017 (Promoted) : RM 3.2k (Finished my ACCA)
2017 (Move to a Mid-tier) : RM 3k (For Greater Exposure)
2018 (Promoted) : RM 3.8k
2018 (Move to a Small Firm) : RM 3.5k (Due to Family Matters, need to move back to Hometown)
2019 (Promoted) : RM 4.5k (Get my MIA and ACCA Member)
2019 (Move to one of the Big 4): RM 5.2k
2021 (Go to Commercial for Contractual work) : RM7.5k
2021 (Move back to Audit) : RM 6.5k
2022 (After getting my Audit Partner License) : RM 10k

My Career is keep on shifting from job to job due to incident happen around me.
I am lucky enough to some good Manager or Partner during the time which i climbing up to the Audit Partner post even though i am unsure about what would be my next promotion or even increment.

My Firm eventually could provide a high Bonus/Performance incentive around 3-4months.

Time is changing and so the industry. Don't wait for opportunity but snatch it when you have a chance.

Due to P&C Terms, i cant disclose the firms name

I am Currently work with a local home growth firm that involve in Public listed Audit.

Yes, if you wish to Audit Partner eventually you need to get the license before moving on.

Well, it do take quite a lot of study before you go for the license interview.

I could said that I am lucky enough to pass the interview for the audit license.

In the early time of my career, i do questioning myself whether Audit Partner will be achievable but thanks god my hard work do paid off.

This post has been edited by Jay.C1992: Jul 27 2022, 08:52 AM

You don't really have work-life balance in most of time whereby it's always work life integration which my boss always mentioning.

Yes, we do work on almost every weekend even you becoming an Audit Partner if your staff is not competent enough to ensure that the Financial statement which Partner signing is true and fair.

Not sure about other industry but it will also depend on the firm culture whether overtime working is required.

Yes, as Manager.
The increment is because of the Audit License obtained but also need to noted that any audit report signed will be held accountable to each individual partner who sign on it as such I would say that due to the risk that partner taking up, the paid increased.

Yes, you are right, it do take years for acquire skills and experience.
But it's seems to be a trend where people not satisfying with the current paid and then job hop to another company (seems a lot when auditing the payroll)

Nowadays, younger professional (my staff) also changing job quite frequently due to paid, work-life or perhaps job exposure.

There are a lot of talent out there but most of them work for large organisation, talent is hard for smaller organization.

My First Job, Life is quite easy, 9-6 job but work on Saturday for 4 hour. not much Overtime working and etc but i also realized that the Audit is not what being learned from the Text book or ACCA Paper.
Therefore i join into a Mid-tier firm to seeks for the exposure of the job.

2nd Job. During that time at mid-tiers, my life was wake up 7-9am at the morning and reach office or Client Place by 8-10am in the morning.
But no matters when am i, i will be Office during the night time and rushing the job until 2-4am or even not sleeping and showering for 33 hours (1 or 2 times during that period with the Mid-tier). This kind of life style remained for around 1 year and 2 months before i quit due to Family Matters which i need to go back to my hometown and take care of my parent. At least 14 hour per day during weekend and weekday. I work around 420 hours per months (some day i might be sick, car accident or what then i rest more, but average hour per month is 420).

3rd Job. So the Next job, i was held greater responsibilities to take care of the Branch after i join the firm 3 months later, all those Admin job like light bulk rosak or anything happen, i will also need to take care. In the same time, i need to review Junior files, check the collection, look for new business opportunity to expand the Branch and etc. So that time is not as tough as the Mid-tier where all is related to work but i still work at least 12-14 hour per day but can rest during some of the weekend. Around 320 hour per months which should be trackable as i maintained my own timetable and submitted to my boss for Replacement leave which later on burn off due to resignation.

4th Job. Big 4, nothing much to say with that cause everyone know what is the working environment. Long hour working which is similar to to the 2nd job, but i do arrange my time for some entertainment this time, so is around 380 hour per month.

5th Job is contractual job at Commercial (Contract - 6months), most relax job ever but i felt stuck so later on switch back to the Current firms.

Currently, work around 250-280 hour per month. Hell a lot of Meeting with Client and Internal staff or Management.

My understanding is Work when you needed, so meaning to say that if you have a well time management for each of engagement, your could also enjoy the life outside of the work.

E.g. All Meeting being Scheduled and Task being assigned, closely following the due date. Manage your Boss, staff and Client closely. Instead of saying that "I will provide you as soon as possible", gave an Actual date (a Promised) and don't FFK on your Promise.

So, sometime i might work very late at Nigh due to i have promised something to my boss, client or even staff.
Some time, i might reply you in Lowyat during this office hour as most of my work is properly arranged, so when i go vacation or shopping for grocery, no 1 really call me.

But still, Business is Business, if your boss know you are FREE, they will give you more Jobs. At my level, i will argue related to the risk assessment. Less Time, High Risk, you ok to take then remember that you will sign on the report and i cant give you assurance (A lot of things do need time, People who know will know what i am talking about). Anything you signed that without properly supported, you will end up be the next Serba or 1MDB , so they will Reconsider.

This question could be asked to Most of the Auditors, why work for so long hour?
For me, is the Exposure and Knowledge learned through out the task, there is always new Issue or Challenge you might faced during the Audit Work.
I learned quite a lot things through out the time when i am auditing my client, like Business perspective (Risk Management, how they overcome Covid-19 period and etc), Internal Control (Understand the Actual SOP of the Company, how the Company could improve by not increasing the cost and etc) and some interpersonal skills.

From my Personal views, it's always "How long you need to take to get your desirable salary range and get more work exposure through out the period" that really driven me.

My Believe is that "Your Worth based on the Competency and Capability", so as long as i am improving and my salary would reflect that. (Being the 10% Talent out of the staff pools which my boss always mentioned).
So 1st priority, is that learn those would be the value-added in your job and worry about the salary next.
But there are situation that, you think you worth more than that, then it's the time to let you superior know (Communication between both parties' expectation is important).

Everyone would wish to have easy life but easy life might come with slower career progression, low paid, repeatable daily task and etc.

So you didn't joined any other Company Secretary firm (External), all the while work as Internal Company Secretary?

By the way, thanks for the sharing.

RM 3.4k for Fresh Graduate is slightly higher than Previous years, Perhaps they do have some restructuring going on (If PWC).

Well, the allowance part is kind of low in compare with the other big 4 but still you are getting almost the highest paid in Audit industry (For Fresh Graduate).

Some audit firm outside (Small and Medium), offer from RM 2,500 to RM 3,000.

Anyhow, you just join into Audit industry, perhaps after a few months of working, you could understand the purpose of audit and how you could gain exposure from that.

Yeah, the fact is that, the Demand for Managerial Position is always in the Critical Occupations list.

https://www.talentcorp.com.my/clients/Talen...eport_FINAL.pdf

Therefore people are much more willing to pay for those position.

By acquiring years of experience, knowledge and exposure, there is always a chance for candidate to promote into managerial post. (Cross Finger, might depend on the Company that the person work with as well, larger size of Corporate do have more opportunity to promote as compare with SME).