POP!!!

That's the sound of the champagne bottle opening, loud laughing and cheering, a big banner in the background with your name on it...reading "Congratulations On Your Promotion {Insert Name Here}". This is what you were working towards for all those months, that big M&A project your boss gave you. The one that you were going to present to the board...Really being able to highlight how much you've grown and developed. You have now elevated yourself to that next level and your peer group around you were rooting for you the whole time. In fact, Kuldeep and Ross even told you to present to them so you could really nail the presentation format. It's a great team to be involved in isn't it??

Now you've made it, the hard work really starts right?! What's next?? How do you still keep pushing forward? Wait...Why have Ross and Kuldeep disappeared? Where's the banner?? Why is your face so wet?!

That's the dog licking your face, you're in your dining room?! Oh...You fell asleep finishing this presentation that Samantha (Your actual boss) has asked you to finish for her, so that SHE can present how much YOU know about the big M&A project. Of course...this is the reality your more familiar with aren't you?! Those big promises of progression, development and more importantly exposure to new fields of accountancy. Remember when you were being interviewed? You were this big hot shot leaving PWC, just qualified, thinking about taking that plunge into industry. They promised you it all! Why haven't they delivered then?! They're a big blue chip after all, progression is etched into their company brand. You're not being progressed, because Mark has been here for 10 years, he would be put out if you had to manage him. Or at least that is what Samantha is telling you. As she jets off to Australia, with your presentation...She'll probably email you about it after to get some more detail added in.

"How do I go back to that scenario in the dream?"

Well, you can! You need to be big 4 trained, which you are. As well as be in a blue chip business, which you are. What will you be doing though? You will be the person headlining the new direction of the business, involved in 3 of their most exciting new ventures. Paving the future for the business in a role that will be well suited to a future leader.

"If the company is so great, surely they would bring in someone internally?!"

Yes, true, if those guys weren't already involved in some very exciting things themselves. The hiring manager is such a believer in developing people, she has run out of people to develop. Which is where you come in. You could be her next big masterpiece, her Sistine chapel, her Michelangelo's David, her Mozart's symphony no.40!

What's in it for the line manager I hear you ask?! After all, it is called Michelangelo's David, not just David right?!?! Her progression, her kicks come from watching her people grow. Becoming somewhat of a centre of excellence for all the best people, being in this team is akin to the SAS. You're the best around!!

Just as the SAS have a gruelling selection process, it's not just about desire to work in the team, you need to be the cream that can rise to the top. So there is a selection criteria to get into this exclusive team, as a minimum you:

1. have come from a Big 4 practice


2. will have worked for a blue chip brand


3. are qualified in ACA or ACCA, preferably with a follow up qualification i.e. CTA, ACT or AQ.


4. have working knowledge of UK GAAP, US GAAP


5. will be somewhat of an expert in SOX & IFRS


6. are a ERP systems expert, having used the likes of SAP or Oracle and be an advanced user of MS Excel (Macros, VBA, power pivots, complex Ifs etc...)

Asking for a lot? Well, so do the SAS! They live by their mantra of "Who dares, Wins!"....So, do you dare?