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Mustafa%5Fcw
I have been working and having experience of 3 years working as a External Auditor in one of the Big 4 Auditing firm handling a clientele of varied clients. From January 2011 I shifted towards Internal Auditing into real estate sector and worked as Senior Internal Auditor having major emphasis on Financial Audit till September 2011.Currently I am searching a suitable Job.
Due to the zest of working as an Analyst in Financial Services or working as a Market/Equity/Industry Analyst I am thinking to change my career and trying to get employed with one of the Financial Service Industry firm where by I can get a chance to Analyze Company Financials and Trends in the market and report based on the finding.
During My career in Big Four audit firm and the present career I have regularly performed comparative analysis of Financials of Different period and have reported the findings in the Audit findings.
I would like to take help from expert commentators about how I would be able to switch over my career towards an Analyst from an Auditor and the required steps to be taken.
I’ll think about it if that helps.
i moved from being an auditor in a Big 4 for some 4-5 years into Equity research now. My personal experience:
1- Its even harder to move if u spend more and more time in audit
2- skill set is extremely useful as a starter but as you move up the ladder it is very different – ie equity analysis is very very different to comparing some financials of companies whilst in audit
3 – gone are the bonus days – so think carefully before u move
4 – its WORTH the move as I found audit to be absolutely no value add – if the recovery rate (u know what i mean) has to be justified you don’t get adequate staff and time to audit – there is absolutely no quality. I found audit to be absolutely crap role (even though i have spent many years doing so)
5- move is not at all easy – either take a pay cut or change industry (from being a Banks audit manager I know someone moved to a corporate to do investor relations role and now he is doing equity research)
The question is not whether you should move – the question should be how to move. If you decide to move – act fast else you’l be pigeon holed ……is all i can say !!
Hi. Unfortunately, this will be a struggle. Banks are currently laying off large swathes of equity analysts and – in the event that they’re hiring – therefore have a big pool of experienced analysts to recruit from before they need look at the audit community. In the past, banks have hired auditors into equity research roles, but they tend to be very fussy about who they take. Those who make it typically have a good degree from a top university, have only recently qualified as ACAs, and can talk eloquently around an investment theme. If you’re really really determined to do this, you could study the CFA and study an MSC in investment management and try getting in through the buyside.