In need of advice.
Professional background:
- Top 10 Assistant Manager
- 9 yrs experience: 5 1/2 years public practice experience plus 4 yrs prior to public practice in industry, managing small business logistics
- International audit experience in Canada, and the Caribbean, under IFRS and US GAAP
- Strong performance track record, excellent technical and soft skills
Long term goals:
- 15-25 years be eligible to be an Independent Director ("ID") at mid-sized to large publicly listed companies
- Financial security to allow for early retirement, or a second career, while staying engaged in business and accounting as an ID
The choice:
- Managment Controller for a large multi-national conglomerate
- Assistant Manager for a Big 4 firm
I am faced with two very different career paths at the moment and am having difficulty in seeing what is the best and quickest way to my long-term goals. The question is whether to remain in public practice, while "leveling-up" to a Big 4 firm, with the goal of continuing to network and build a strong foundation for entering industry at a later date, or to begin the jump into industry immediately and get the hands-on experience "in the trenches" by taking on a management controller position at a well known multi-national. Which is the best way to get the experience I will need to meet my long term goals?
The wild-card question is, if I took the management controller position and after a year found that it was not a good fit, would I be able to find the same caliber of Assistant Manager position at a Big 4 that I am currently offered?
I want to make sure that I make the right steps now to avoid having to back-track later. Thank you, in advance, for your feedback!
