[KC]

Hi everyone,

I’m in a bit of an odd predicament. I’m working at a small consulting firm (less than 10 employees) and I’m getting paid very well for what I’m doing (comparable to a 1st year big 4 consulting position). My job is to manage the budget for various research/marketing teams at Google. I am the liaison between finance and marketing letting both sides know where the groups are at within budget. The job is SUPER chill, I frequently come into work at 10 and leave by 5.

Here’s the thing, I’m BORED. I know a lot of you may envy my current position but the majority of this job is communication and the technical side of the job is very minimal, and easy. The other employees I work with are not from finance backgrounds and I feel like I’m not learning anything or putting my degree/CPA to good use.

My godfather is currently the director for the capital markets team at a national bank in my hometown. About a week ago they posted a job to their website for an entry level analyst position and I think its a job I could at least get an interview for based on the requirements and my connection.

My question is for anyone who has worked in IB. Is the environment truly what everyone thinks it is? How much will I actually learn from being in that environment 50-60 hrs a week. Am I taking my current position for granted? I need some help.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer some advice!

AUD - awaiting score
REG - 64
BEC - 81
FAR - 67

[Anonymous]

Be careful what you ask for.

Question 1: Do you prefer to be bored putting in 35 hrs/wk or bored <m>and freaking out putting in 60-80 hrs/wk? If you jump into investment banking, you'll probably learn a lot in the first year, but in my experiences, after the first six months, I'm ready to move on to something new and either ask for more to do (i.e. learn) or leave.

Question 2: How can you provide more value to your current consulting firm?

[IcecreamF]

Start doing fun stuff at work, Jack off in the bathrooms, play games on your phone, wipe boogies on doorknobs, and watch peoples reaction, dont flush when you poop etc. Stuff like that will have you cracking up at work and having fun.

[M123]

Almond has it. He who can be trusted with little can be trusted with much.

If someone is bored in one role they may be bored in another role.

Are you doing a smoking job with the current role? What other work would interest you?

Have you tried working with your leadership to expand your duties? Better yet – what do you see as a challenge they have that you could help with?

I don't have any experience in investment banking but judging from what I see on TV – they all have corner offices in NYC and make over a million a year – so I'll take one of those, please.

[Skynet]

Why are you not chasing the receptionist or secretary around ; )

[TommyTheCat]

well played @IcecreamF, that gave me a good laugh to start the day.

Why ISN'T @Ohio doing those things, the environment is ripe for the picking…

[iputaspellonfar]

I definitely get what you are saying @OhioStateCPA. My philosophy is always invest in yourself. Getting comfy at a a job and not being challenged limits your growth and knowledge but at the same time don't think giving up a job you are good at is the answer. Have you considered doing part time consulting work outside of your job or like others said think outside the box at your current job – what can you do differently to challenge yourself and provide value.

[ultrarunner]

I agree with iputaspellonfar. When you have a time or chance, you should invest yourself. I would go for an advanced degree or another credential or something else. I got so bored at my job, so I started a graduate program. It was not as crazy as the CPA exams, but it is quite challenging.

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[Missy]

I'm going to go against the grain and say you need to move on but not convinced IB is the way to go (frankly I just don't know enough about IB to give an opinion)

But the CPA is most valuable (as is a graduate degree) when combined with experience and competencies. Sounds like where you are is very niche and there are probably some parts of what you do that are valuable in other roles but you're not going to be in the running for a Controller position with that experience, or even a senior accountant necessarily.

Do you have any long term career goals so you can start to think what types of experience will be relevant to that? I'm kind of blown away that so few people here think longer term than 6-12 mos.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Jriver]

What do you expect? It's accounting.

[Author]

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