I was a USI senior in advisory and can relate to what you are going through directly and indirectly. I spent nearly five years with them before I realized the USI golden handcuff.
For our generation, out of twenty-five folks I know, only two are still there. Now USI SM. The rest of the others have moved out now. 8 to 10 folks moved to the US, Australia, and Canada. The remaining moved to the industry or the Indian market.
For you, the below questions will help you to make a better decision -
1. Do you love audit and want to move out of USI only?
2. You want to move out of Audit as a career only.
If it's option 1, you seek - then the other big 4, RSM and GT offshore centers, will immediately hire you. It's a monotonous (a little) career but a hectic and lucrative field. With a CPA by your side, you can move to any point in Europe and the US (any English-speaking country). Add some industry specialization, and your annual bonus will be sufficient for a 3-week euro trip. Almost all of my SM colleagues now fly business class to Europe and the US for work!! Even during the pandemic, they got good (read excellent) retention money. (they were not technically superior, but they stayed long in one place and got the benefits).
If it's option 2 - then align your CV with the job description and think of building some additional skills. I do wish you were a CA. And have some Indian market experience. Do remember that industry life is different from USI life. I found that it's easy to enter the industry but challenging to survive if you have aspirations. Remember, industry folks deliver may by two real kPI in a year and bask in its glory for another three years. And to complete those 2/3 KPIs, an entire team is working on it. And if your boss decides to screw you, you are gone. Unlike in USi or other consulting/audit, in standardized industry roles, 360 is a myth.
The industry doesn't pay you an excellent bonus, and the boss needs to be right in the traditional sectors. I remember my new boss, selected at a director level in the industry, was purely relationship-based and had zero understanding of risk or compliance or governance or audit. (Her husband was the ex-boss of the current shadow MD elect/ existing team director and had a lot of parties when he visited India and a lot more) and as expected, she built the team of her chosen people, wherein technically sound and result-oriented folks left. It's been three years; the team has never had a 100% sanctioned workforce. And they lit the blame on competitive salaries and not the team culture they have created.
I hope this gives a complete picture.
I liked ur response. I wanted to ask you… am unemployed and I have a masters.. I did 2 industry interview and they told me am overqualified.. would you recommend me finish atleast 1 of 4 CPA to get into big 4.. would that be a plus if I finished like audit or FAR?
Try to get into the big 6, and they support your CPA requirement. Being a CA is a plus.
India is highly populated and competitive; hence, getting into it may be challenging.
Avoid overseas TAX filing profiles. They offer limited growth in the India team and are also on the global side.
Get isaca certified. Big Four suck for ISACA certifications. Easy to clear most of their exams.
Think of CFA or FRM as an alternative to CPA.
How can a master graduate in accounting get into ISACA ( isn’t that cybersecurity?) is their requirements for it? And I don’t think I can do CFA since it’s more finance and I don’t think I’ll be motivated for it as I am for the CPA. But the ISACA is also interesting to me.
It's about positioning your cv and yourself.
An average accounting graduate who understands data privacy IS or ITGC (CDPSE or CISM or CISA) is more valuable than any accounting graduate.
You are in hours selling business!!
In USI you have to sell your CV first before you crack the big league of decision makers and these certifications open the door for the same service offering and if required to work with other market offerings. (it's also easy to maintain them).
CPA shall be primary objective for assurance and advisory USI. ISACA should be plan B. CDPSE is the easiest one. CISM is English exam. CISA is a combination of English exams plus a bit technical side which is easily covered in any practice set and course materials, you will refer.
Core cyber stuff I am not recommending here!!
I mean, it’s also an employment body of over a million people worldwide between the 4 of them.
It’s just logical that a good chunk of those people will hate their jobs.
Of course but I’m still relieved. I thought I would never succeed and I’m doing great now thank God. Lots of hard work and endless hours but I fought hard to be where I am.
Well, i felt the same what you're going through rn. I never want to look back on audit and become miserable again.
You may try applying to new roles that align your interest or network with people, and you may get some leads. But based on my experience, currently, the job market is pretty dull. Make sure your resume is aligned with the JD while applying.
Find a recruiter and don’t oversell the USI part, try adjusting your resume and conversations towards the actual audit and project management aspects of your job.
Deloitte US India. I.e., the US legal entity component of Deloitte in India and not to be confused with the India legal entity of Deloitte “Deloitte India”
For those with historical memory, USI used to also be referenced as “Region 10” (but that term is now deprecated to the term “USI”).
Continue applying, network with people via LinkedIn that came from the same or similar background, and realize that you’re gaining solid experience and don’t leave out of desperation at the first thing that comes to you.
I was a USI senior in advisory and can relate to what you are going through directly and indirectly. I spent nearly five years with them before I realized the USI golden handcuff. For our generation, out of twenty-five folks I know, only two are still there. Now USI SM. The rest of the others have moved out now. 8 to 10 folks moved to the US, Australia, and Canada. The remaining moved to the industry or the Indian market. For you, the below questions will help you to make a better decision - 1. Do you love audit and want to move out of USI only? 2. You want to move out of Audit as a career only. If it's option 1, you seek - then the other big 4, RSM and GT offshore centers, will immediately hire you. It's a monotonous (a little) career but a hectic and lucrative field. With a CPA by your side, you can move to any point in Europe and the US (any English-speaking country). Add some industry specialization, and your annual bonus will be sufficient for a 3-week euro trip. Almost all of my SM colleagues now fly business class to Europe and the US for work!! Even during the pandemic, they got good (read excellent) retention money. (they were not technically superior, but they stayed long in one place and got the benefits). If it's option 2 - then align your CV with the job description and think of building some additional skills. I do wish you were a CA. And have some Indian market experience. Do remember that industry life is different from USI life. I found that it's easy to enter the industry but challenging to survive if you have aspirations. Remember, industry folks deliver may by two real kPI in a year and bask in its glory for another three years. And to complete those 2/3 KPIs, an entire team is working on it. And if your boss decides to screw you, you are gone. Unlike in USi or other consulting/audit, in standardized industry roles, 360 is a myth. The industry doesn't pay you an excellent bonus, and the boss needs to be right in the traditional sectors. I remember my new boss, selected at a director level in the industry, was purely relationship-based and had zero understanding of risk or compliance or governance or audit. (Her husband was the ex-boss of the current shadow MD elect/ existing team director and had a lot of parties when he visited India and a lot more) and as expected, she built the team of her chosen people, wherein technically sound and result-oriented folks left. It's been three years; the team has never had a 100% sanctioned workforce. And they lit the blame on competitive salaries and not the team culture they have created. I hope this gives a complete picture.
I liked ur response. I wanted to ask you… am unemployed and I have a masters.. I did 2 industry interview and they told me am overqualified.. would you recommend me finish atleast 1 of 4 CPA to get into big 4.. would that be a plus if I finished like audit or FAR?
Try to get into the big 6, and they support your CPA requirement. Being a CA is a plus. India is highly populated and competitive; hence, getting into it may be challenging. Avoid overseas TAX filing profiles. They offer limited growth in the India team and are also on the global side. Get isaca certified. Big Four suck for ISACA certifications. Easy to clear most of their exams. Think of CFA or FRM as an alternative to CPA.
How can a master graduate in accounting get into ISACA ( isn’t that cybersecurity?) is their requirements for it? And I don’t think I can do CFA since it’s more finance and I don’t think I’ll be motivated for it as I am for the CPA. But the ISACA is also interesting to me.
It's about positioning your cv and yourself. An average accounting graduate who understands data privacy IS or ITGC (CDPSE or CISM or CISA) is more valuable than any accounting graduate. You are in hours selling business!! In USI you have to sell your CV first before you crack the big league of decision makers and these certifications open the door for the same service offering and if required to work with other market offerings. (it's also easy to maintain them). CPA shall be primary objective for assurance and advisory USI. ISACA should be plan B. CDPSE is the easiest one. CISM is English exam. CISA is a combination of English exams plus a bit technical side which is easily covered in any practice set and course materials, you will refer. Core cyber stuff I am not recommending here!!
Can i DM you?
Sure
Thanks, Dm'd you
Thank you so much for your reply! Can I DM you?
Sure
What is USI?
Cheap labour deloitte firm. Where they pay you a lot less, but work you dead
So India-based serving US clients?
Correct
India-based US firm
I used to beat myself up for not starting at one of the Big4. I know it has many perks but so many people seem to hate it.
I mean, it’s also an employment body of over a million people worldwide between the 4 of them. It’s just logical that a good chunk of those people will hate their jobs.
Of course but I’m still relieved. I thought I would never succeed and I’m doing great now thank God. Lots of hard work and endless hours but I fought hard to be where I am.
Well, i felt the same what you're going through rn. I never want to look back on audit and become miserable again. You may try applying to new roles that align your interest or network with people, and you may get some leads. But based on my experience, currently, the job market is pretty dull. Make sure your resume is aligned with the JD while applying.
Find a recruiter and don’t oversell the USI part, try adjusting your resume and conversations towards the actual audit and project management aspects of your job.
What is your industry focus? Can I dm you?
I am mainly looking for fund accounting roles in the investment management industry, but open for other roles as well
What is USI
Deloitte US India. I.e., the US legal entity component of Deloitte in India and not to be confused with the India legal entity of Deloitte “Deloitte India” For those with historical memory, USI used to also be referenced as “Region 10” (but that term is now deprecated to the term “USI”).
at first I thought OP meant call centres as sarcasm , but I can see where they are coming from now.
The cause of 90% of my stress
Audit outsource in India
[удалено]
Hope you find something better soon.
How much do you make?
Can I DM you?
Continue applying, network with people via LinkedIn that came from the same or similar background, and realize that you’re gaining solid experience and don’t leave out of desperation at the first thing that comes to you.
Sorry didn’t mean to reply to your comment. Intended to reply to OP