I began my training to become a chartered accountant with Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co (now KPMG) 35 years ago today. I suspect there are a few who would rather I hadn't but I don't regret it.
As I said to a young graduate who sought careers advice from me this summer on how she might get into economic justice campaigning, become a chartered accountant first. PhDs and other qualifications might be all very useful, but grounded experience and having some real world exposure to what you want to talk about doesn't half help.
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Richard
As a fellow CA, I wish such sound advice was more widespread in our education establishments.
Congratulations on your career, starting via “beancounting”.
Sound advice was actually available in PMM when I was near enough a lad
Things have changed
Dogma rules now
I can sympathise with this. I joined PMM 2 years after you in a small office in south Wales. Very different times.
You got out too
Yes! Initialy to another Big 4 (for a very brief spell, not a good time) But I now work in industry so took a slightly different career course. One thing was for sure, Practice – at least Big 4 – was not for me and reinforced after I was enticed back in, in 2000 – I only lasted a year.
Looking back, I actually enjoyed my time at PMM, but it was a small office and more like working in a small practice – I know when I went to London on training courses the type of work I was doing was very different from what people in London were doing.. Very differnet attitudes too. So whilst I see it as being very different times that may be a skewed view becasue of where I was working, then as opposed to my subsequent experience in big companies and working in London/South East. Maybe life in PMM/KPMG London hasn’t changed so much?
I suspect life in London has changed a lot – an attitudes too
There was professionalism then that I am not sure I saw for a long time afterwards
Hey, Mr. M., 35 years as accountant – and not a day off for good behaviour. Crack On! Top Notch!
Accountancy has to be the most effective training in how to ‘follow the money’. So it is pretty disappointing that so few have followed your lead. Many seem to prefer to use their skills to ‘hide the money’.
Less than a decade as an accountant for myself. Richard, you’ll hate this but I trained in a Crown Dependency Big 4 and had a fantastic experience. Unlike London, Partners were much more interested in the training and lives (think work-life balance etc) their staff.
It was the perfect blend of Big 4 engagements with a small firm feel and coaching.
You may not like offshore, but there are undoubtedly some things that are done here much better than onshore!
Did I ever complain about the training?
Or the people?
I complained about the ethic
And that stinks even more offshore