[klink24]

I need some advice from some finance/accounting professionals such as yourself. There’s not many in my circle that truly understand the implications of this decision I face. I have expect an offer for 2 different positions.

Position 1: Treasury Analyst

Analyzing forex risk of transactions and implementing hedging strategies as required. Other finance duties related to pensions, debt structure, capital, etc. >$10B company with a multinational footprint across the globe. Estimated salary $70k, less than current, but not by much.

Position 2: Director of Billing

Team of possibly > 200 people with multiple levels of heirarchy (manager, supervisor, lead, rep) resolving insurance billing claims for payment. >$5B with national footprint. Current employer so it would be a promotion. Estimated salary $90k, big increase.

So which one should it be? Position 1 will be brand new to me, but I think the long term career growth potential is better. Position 2 is comfortable and immediate increase in pay. Definitely a dilemma I’m okay with. Like choosing the Ferrari or the Lambo, lol. I really want you guys’ feedback though because most of you are directly in the profession whereas I’m not at the moment.

By the way, just passed all exams first shot and waiting on license if that matters. Thanks in advance!

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[fuzyfro89]

A decision tree a friend of mine shared with me when considering new jobs. Undoubtedly, most of us are striking a balance between chasing the money/comp/work-life balance/location/other factors, so for each of us, it's a balance of two things:

1) Compensation

vs

2) Lifestyle Needs & Career Goals

If both positions paid similarly (within 10% of total comp), which would you choose?

From what I've read above, it seems the extra $20 (which is not insignificant in the least) is making the decision tough. I imagine you are leaning toward Treasury because it will keep your skills transferable, while Billing *may* put you in a niche that doesn't allow for future mobility, and the future opportunities are unclear.

If money wasn't an issue (i.e. not married and trying to pay bills/house/start a family), I would make a bet on my career by taking a position that I believe (again, not guaranteed, but an informed decision) would hep me progress in the future. If I did have monetary needs, then I may lean toward the short term pay bump.

Of course, there are no career guarantees. Treasury experience is no magic bullet.

Basic question to start with:

Assuming you think Treasury will be more beneficial to your career, is that possibility worth $20k/yr to find out vs. the expectation of future opportunities (or lack thereof) in Billing?

[klink24]

Thanks for the reply fuzyfro. Very good points! I think the uncertainty regarding future growth from both positions is what is making this so hard. I'm hoping at this point something will happen either with the actual offers or offer negotiation that will make one choice stand out above the other. That decision tree is a good idea too.

This is why I am so glad I found A71! The feedback is awesome all around.

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[Anonymous]

Just throwing this out there… In my organization, the Director of Billing (though in my org his title is Director of Revenue) is a much, much more skilled and useful position than the Treasury Analysts that we have. Treasury Analysts seem to be robots plugging in numbers to spreadsheets, but the Director of Billing basically is responsible for and involved in all accounting related to revenues – deferring unearned, accruing unbilled, dealing with auditors, analyzing to ensure accuracy, determining appropriate accruals for bad debt, some forecasting of future billing and/or cash flow, etc. He reports directly to the CFO, as does the Director of Finance, but the Financial Analysts are about 2 or 3 tiers below the Director of Finance in the organizational structure, so it would stand to reason that the Director of Billing is 2 or 3 tiers in the organizational structure above the Financial Analysts.

Based on the corporate structure within my organization, I would see Director of Billing as being a much, much more desirable position than a Financial Analyst, unless Finance specifically interested you more. It seems to me like Director of Billing is a position already several steps up the ladder, whereas a Financial Analyst is just barely more than a clerk.

[klink24]

Thanks Lilla. For the Treasury Analysts at your company, are they dealing with forex transactions, derivatives, hedging, trading, etc. And this Director position is about 3 steps from the CFO.

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[Anonymous]

There happens to be a job posting for one currently, so here's their official duties (I think that this posting is for both an Analyst and a Sr. Analyst, so some duties may refer more to the Sr. than the Analyst):

· Assist with monthly profitability and variance analysis.

· Prepare financial reports for management to effectively communicate operating results identifying key business drivers.

· Assist with accurate and timely financial forecast of business operations.

· Assist with yearly budgeting process for assigned business operations, overhead cost centers, and offshore operations.

· Assist business operations in identifying and carrying out initiatives to improve profits, reduce costs; evaluate investments and best use of available resources.

· Assist with opportunities for process improvement and implement best methods and practices.

· Prepare financial reporting package for monthly business review calls, and quarterly segment reviews with executive management team.

· Assist management in FTE calculations to maintain proper labor force.

· Assist sales in responding to RFPs in regards to financial information.

· Cross train with accounts receivable, payroll, accounts payable, and have a working knowledge of Production Control System for redundancy.

· Knowledge of assigned client contracts.

· Assist with month and year-end closing activities including creation of journal entries and reconciling account balances to ensure accuracy and integrity of records.

· Access the company’s accounting system to identify and reconcile production and accounting data to ensure accurate financial reporting.

· Maintain accounting database by updating files, spreadsheet, and reports with client information.

· Understand and apply GAAP and SOX policies to ensure compliance.

· Review, Reconcile and track spend on Datacom, Hardware & Software Maintenance.

· Assist, Review and Control Capital expenditure (CapEx) from Approval to Capitalization stage.

· Assist with preparing reports and documentation for audit purposes

Now I should clarify my earlier comment that in my mind they're not far removed from Clerk level. Our organization uses the “clerk” title perhaps a bit too freely. I am a Accounting/Billing Clerk by title, and of that listing, and just doing a quick count, to an extent I do 12 of the 18 duties listed – the ones which I don't do are the purely-finance focused things. So, given that I do the majority of the Financial Analyst duties, as well as doing my accounting and billing duties, in my mind their job isn't much different from my clerk job. They also are the same number of tiers removed from the CFO, so same organizational level. However, I don't think that “Clerk” is really an accurate title for my position, so I didn't mean so much for that to say that a Financial Analyst is just a clerk, but rather that as a clerk, in our organization, they're not that much higher than me.

[klink24]

Just wanted to update everyone that contributed to this thread. I accepted the Treasury Analyst position and the difference in pay between the two ended up being less than the $20k I thought. More like $10k difference.

Thank you all for your feedback, it definitely aided my decision.

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[Rose]

Hi Klink,

First of all, congratulations on your choice! The Treasury Analyst seems very interesting and fun, and just out of curiosity, what kind of experience do you have that you qualified for the position? That's something I would like to consider in the future.

Thanks!!

[klink24]

@beauti, none, lol. I do have some analysis experience, but it's in medical billing, completely unrelated. I think having my MBA and CPA are why I was considered. Then the interviews solidified it.

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[thechapman]

I don't know about you guys, but option 1 sounds exponentially more interesting

Passed - 2014

[Rose]

Thank you klink24!!

@thechapman I agree with you.

[How many letters do you need]

Option 1 is infinitely more interesting but speaking as somebody who has spent most of his career in Finance, management experience in Finance is infinitely harder to get than in accounting. There are just fewer levels, and generally the lowest tier in finance requires much less oversight than the lowest tier in accounting. What this ads up to is fewer supervisor/management opportunities which is absolutely essential to moving up. Both offer an interesting path both with career perks. If it were me, I would get that management experience and then look to transfer over on the director or sr. Mgr level if Finance ends up being what you want to do. Not sure of your career level but the only thing I would add about option 2 is that be sure you are mature enough to handle that level of management responsibility. Managing a huge team takes soft skills that are often not refined until 10+ years. However if you take an honest inventory and feel you are ready the Director of Billing will probably get you to where you want to go much quicker.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[klink24]

@how many, I have managed people for over 5 years now. Most recently managing 65 people, 4 direct reports that are supervisors. Each supervisor has a team lead and 12-18 direct reports. I've managed as many as 12 direct reports as an analyst manager. So in terms of management experience and maturity to manage, I'm good now. It actually comes very easy to me and I'm good at it which is why I was approached about the Director position. So essentially I'm doing what you suggest and am now transitioning to finance after getting the management experience.

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[Author]

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