One of the Largest Recruiters

With the economy still expanding and this trend set to continue, the Public Practice sector has become one of the largest recruiters within the UK and one of the best places to build a structured career path.

On qualification, a number of career options are available to you. In practice, you will be working in a constantly changing and challenging environment, where the expertise you gained while training will be developed further. You may also be offered the chance to specialise in a niche market, or in other disciplines such as Corporate Finance, Taxation and Corporate Recovery.

Public Practice offers several benefits:

Market Knowledge Remuneration and benefits Structured career path International Opportunities Diversification of roles Varied Challenges

TYPICAL EMPLOYER'S INCLUDE:

The 'Big Five' firms, eg. Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, and Group A firms, e.g. BDO Stoy Hayward

Having worked in the Practice Sector up to qualification, you have already developed a specific skill set and some knowledge of the practice market. You will have a chance to build on both of these, working with like-minded individuals who are all striving for the same goals.

Remuneration and Benefits

Our salary survey has shown that salaries are constantly increasing and are becoming competitive with other financial areas. You can expect a benefits package to include a car (or car allowance), pension, life cover, and profit share. Increasingly popular is the flexible benefit scheme, where you are allocated a lump sum and you can choose what areas you spend this on.

Structured Career Path

The larger practices have excellent structures in place, which will give you a defined route for career progression. If you show an ability to take on responsibility at an early stage, there is potential for you to be fast-tracked to Manager over a short period and attain partnership over the longer term.

Practice is truly a global market, offering opportunities for permanent moves overseas and short secondments abroad. Therefore, you could expect to be working in places like New York, Moscow, Bermuda, Perth, Paris or Hong Kong.

Diversification of Roles

On completing your ACA exams, a whole range of options are available to you. You could elect to stay within audit and advisory where you can expect to be exposed to the firm's larger clients. Other options include corporate finance, taxation and corporate recovery.

Varied Challenges

You can expect to work on a varied range of assignments, for large multinationals and PLCs, where you can develop your commercial and advisory skills. In the future you can expect to develop clients within your own portfolio and to have a real impact on the strategy of clients.

Corporate Recovery

SUMMARY: This area can be split into different sectors, including Pure Insolvency and Restructuring. You could be acting as an interim financial controller, responsible for turning around a companies financial performance. You may find yourself working alongside management consultants and specialists in corporate finance. This sector is for people who have proven commercial flair and the ability to find quick and effective solutions to complex problems.

BACKGROUND: You will need a good academic background. The role will mean you are constantly dealing with clients, so excellent communication skills are essential.

CAREER PROGRESSION: From corporate recovery, you can move into other disciplines within practice such as management consultancy. Alternatively, you might move into a Financial Directors post in commerce and industry. Another option is to take the Insolvency Practitioner exams where you will receive significant exemptions.

SUMMARY: This area of corporate finance is essentially about project managing a transaction. You will be involved in sales pitches, deal structuring, negotiation strategy and advice on tactics, as well as liaising with bankers, lawyers and clients. These are usually high profile, demanding roles, but at the cutting edge of corporate finance.

BACKGROUND: Experience is important, as is knowledge of a particular sector, but more significant is an excellent academic record and strong communication skills allied with drive and zeal.

CAREER PROGRESSION: With this type of role there are many potential opportunities open to you, e.g. in venture capital, investment banking or corporate finance boutiques.

SUMMARY: The transaction support group assists clients throughout the whole transaction process. Traditional financial due diligence is a key element of the service, but transaction support is much broader, incorporating strategic assessment, transaction management and post-completion integration. Transactions vary from small private deals to multinational acquisitions including management buy-ins and buy-outs.

BACKGROUND: Ideal candidates are team players with the ability to build effective relationships, who are change oriented with a flexible attitude and a logical and methodical approach.

CAREER PROGRESSION: From transaction support, a number of avenues are open to you. You may decide to specialise in a particular sector or look at investment banking; an increasingly popular move is into the corporate arena.

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