Transition from corporate FP&A to ER

[graduate1017]

Hi, I graduated with a local uni Accountancy degree (FCH) and worked at a corporate FP&A role for just a little over a year now. Doing budgeting & forecasting, simple financial models and financial statement analysis etc.

My current company is quite small, progression is slow like a dinosaur, so I don't see myself having much opportunities beyond being promoted to a senior exec. The FP&A roles encompass a lot of accounting related job scopes like recon, etc because of its small size. I would prefer to be in a career where I am doing a lot of analysis, projections, forecasting etc.

I have been seriously contemplating pushing myself further and get into high finance for more opportunities, specifically the equity research side.

I am currently pursuing my CA and am wondering whether getting a CFA might be more relevant instead if I want to make this transition to ER. I am afraid I cannot commit to getting both CA and CFA at the same time, so am considering dropping CA. Is this is wise move?

I understand to make a career change, it's gonna take quite a bit of effort, to network, and pursue CFA etc, but I might want to give it a try.

Any tips on what are the odds of getting into ER for someone in my situation now? Do I drop CA and take the risk to pursue CFA?

[sinkingfeeling]

Economy will be doing badly for at least 3 years

If I were you, I would put off a career change until the economy begins to recover

[graduate1017]

Yes I sense that job prospects are not that good outside now.

However for the time being do you recommend a pursuing CA or CFA or both?

Originally Posted by graduate1017

Yes I sense that job prospects are not that good outside now.

However for the time being do you recommend a pursuing CA or CFA or both?

i also grad last year, doing fp&a. currently doing CFA and CPA australia. quite manageable. if its CA SG, maybe i won't be able to cope

[graduate1017]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

i also grad last year, doing fp&a. currently doing CFA and CPA australia. quite manageable. if its CA SG, maybe i won't be able to cope

That's great, to have the ability to cope and take CPA and CFA at the same time.

I'm taking 2 CA SG professional module exams and CFA Level 1 this Dec, and have been trying to motivate myself to start studying since it feels slightly overwhelming.

I did my cfa levels 1 and 2, tried to get into equity research a few years ago but didnt make it (not many opportunities available) so I continued with fp&a which isnt too bad too if you can slowly work your way up.

[graduate1017]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I did my cfa levels 1 and 2, tried to get into equity research a few years ago but didnt make it (not many opportunities available) so I continued with fp&a which isnt too bad too if you can slowly work your way up.

Hi, what's your industry like? Does your FP&A role involve investment and capital decisions? From what I see, to move up FP&A, one does not really need CFA.

My current company is a small local one and not growing so my FP&A is mostly limited to analysing variance... If I were to work my way up, perhaps I would need to gain more exposure in bigger companies like MNCs.

yup moving up fp&a doesnt need cfa. Yup i had to move to a bigger company fp&a 2 years ago to develop career as i wasnt able to get into equity research. working in manufacturing all the way in different companies

ER just has too few opportunities available

not worth the hassle