Is a Hedge Fund Accountant a good job for a graduate?
I am currently working for a hedge fund in the city as a fund accountant and wanted to know if this is a good place to start a career in accountantcy.
Other - Careers & Employment - 2 Answers
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Answer 1 :
Okay, two things. One, from what I have seen in today's economy, at least, accountants are always on demand. It probably doesn't really matter where you start, in the long run, so long as you acquire the kind of experience IN accounting that a business might need (like being able to do corporate cash flow statements and audits, etc.). Two, a city job! If that is an American city job, take it! You will be set for life at a city job. Good pay, good benefits, good pension and probably good experience. Working for the city, county, state, or federal government generally have some of the most stringent hiring requirements out of all companies you could offer your services to, so if you can get in, do it. It might look good on a resume. By the way, you can also be a: Financial Manager Financial Analyst Personal Financial adviser In addition to being an accountant or auditor. Also, refer to the Labor Department for tips as to what people might be looking for in an accountant, as far as experience and education are concerned. It might help you plan your long term goals more appropriately. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos001.htm Otherwise, I suggest browsing career builder. Do a national search for the type of accounting job you might want to have. For example, "Financial Analyst" (use quotes to tell it to search for the whole phrase. Click them and read the job descriptions. After you look at enough, you'll start to have an idea of what kinds of things potential employers are looking for you to have in your background. Compare this to what you'll be doing at your city job, or use it as a way to ask good questions at your interview. "Will I ever be working with (blank)?"
Answer 2 :
Being an accountant in general practice, I can imagine that a job in the city as a fund accountant will be well paid, however, my advice to you would be to ensure that any job you take comes with the correct training. I believe that starting as a fund accountant would leave you a little pigeon holed because you would struggle to work within practice as an auditor. If you don't wish to ever go into practice and work for a chartered accountants, as long as you have a decent training contract, I think it would be an excellent start.
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