Worked as a finance manager for 8 years in this co. Trouble is during the MCO, my boss placed me in a dead end job nothing to do with accounting and i did this job for the next 6 years. Destroyed my accounting career.

Whole day I do nothing but cut cost from other department. Hated this role. Told my boss many times that I wanted to out from this role, but my fault being too good at negotiating budget reductions that he retained me there.

I tried applying out of the company, but with this 8 years experience of doing this sampah job, no co wants to hire me. Making it worse, I am already in my late 40s.

I was too honest in my cv, didn't change it. Felt so demoralized, application after application kena rejected in jobstreet and almost zero response from linked-in.

I have another colleague in a similar predicament as me. He also was made to do dead end job nothing to do with accountancy, and he is a finance manager in my co. He got some job recruiters to "paint brush" his cv to make it look like he does closing work, budgeting, financial analysis, accounting software solutions, audited accounts compilation, internal controls, etc. But when he got his new job, he got caught by his new employers, as he struggled to proof that he could do those work, they investigated him and found that he lied in his CV, and buang kerja him.

So because of this, I am very careful not to lie in my CV and still use that dead end job description that I am currently doing to apply for work.

Still, I managed to get job interviews (not many), but I struggled when hiring manager asked me what I did in my current work. I tried to pitch my past job experience, but they were more interested in current experience. WHen they heard what i was doing is too operational, they just wasn't interested in my application.

And there was those that were interested to hire me: I did a background check on those co, and found that they were making losses, have cash flow issues, in net liability position. I didn't join them as I was concern about my long term prospects as those co show a big worry over how long they can last as a going concern,

And then there was one or two good companies, but they wanted me to work 7 days a week. I didnt' want to work like that.

Just saying, if you have kids or you are going to uni, please don't take accounting degree. I really envy those people in operation. They can so easily find jobs. My colleague even after he retired, because of his experience, his past colleague recommend him to new job. Accountants? Nobody bother to recommend us. We have to apply for jobs if current co no prospects. And then there is that dreaded finance closing. If you enter new company, new industry, you have to figure out how to do closing. Worse of all, if you have to handle finance staff everyday complain to you they want to resign because lack of prospects. When they leave, nobody else know how to do the work, understand the accounting system (so many system out there Oracle, SAP, etc). So you have to placaid the staff. Then every month closing have to stay back until midnight sometimes work in weekend. WHile you see your operation colleagues go back home at 530pm. Then finance environment also not so happy place to work, mostly women environment. I see operation people can go out to see clients, don't have to clock in to office. Everyday go into office have to clock in. Sigh...

So this is story of my life...late 40s stuck can't get out of this dreary company. My CV looks like crap because I have been doing dead end job for 8 years,, no company wants to hire me for my accounting expertise. Sigh...this is my rant.

I also want to add:
Other people in operational just look to tomorrow don't have to worry about yesterday.
Accountants? we have to worry about things 10 years ago. Why? Because suddenly internal audit or external audit will ask you things.
Have to clear in suspense account: legacy left by your predecessors to clear shit.
Sigh, again don't join accountancy, you have to clean shit years ago. And if IT don't design Oracle or SaP properly more shit will come out.
Worse of all, internal audit everyday press why this why that, then finance have to be the police other departments show black face at you.

If youre near late 40s juz stay on for few more years then can retire lo

dude your experience now is cutting cost.. that's your job, your bread and butter.. why you neglect that.. when you say your honest most likely your putting it in your cv in a negative way, try to make that as your selling point instead.. sometimes cutting cost is about cost avoidance, cost optimization. don't get them mix up. it's so important in today's world to ensure companies are sustainable.

i hope your selling this in your cv as well.. that's what required in every org. someone acting as the displinary board, ensuring consistency is there to meet audit, the standards and what's more important the quality.

i have no idea but just don't yolo and quit and do ehailing while looking... u gonna get stuck an even worse position

What are your qualifications? If you are qualified and has been performing, there is no reason why you cant get better deals elsewhere considering that as FM you have the most versatility.

Bro, be contented you still employed.

ya wo, i'm sure many companies would hire want to hire someone like you especially during times like these

Company dont really prefer to hire late 40s employees..

So just suck it up.. Dont think about it too much.. Just think it is just a job to get money at the end of the month

Also, dont downgrade yourself going to small or loss making company. Been there, not fun at all not getting bonuses and zero increment

This post has been edited by adamhzm90: Jun 7 2025, 08:58 AM

Stay until retire

I see nothing wrong. Why not just work until retirement?

Ts, how much your current salary?

I wish I could relate... It sucks

bit contradictory when TS mention can’t get new job but need to keep own staff because no one know how to do their role. yr boss might view you the same. maybe time to ask for higher pay instead? or talk to boss to explore job scope expansion so you can transition?

about outside opportunities, might be TS salary expectation too high already? it also does sound like you have opportunities but don’t want to risk jumping. 8 years is a long time and the anxiety is understandable. but it’s rare to jump from something you hate directly to something you love. often takes a few moves.

gd luck! doesnt sound too bleak or dead end.

Rebrand your job title to “Finance Business Improvement Specialist”

More sexy for recruiter or hiring manager to call you up

Agree. accounting career is a dead end job

told my kids, don't study accounting or work with a bank

my only advice to you bro, is hang on to your job until retirement

ppl our age, unless you carry minimum HOD, or CFO minus one, very difficult to find job

I thought working in bank kinda lucrative and stable? Banks profit every year got bonus for staff?

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Can't u upskill yrself by learning those courses online?