In today’s article, we have Vinit Gala sharing with us how he got an opportunity in transfer pricing at a Big Four firm in spite of doing his articles training at a small CA firm.
Vinit is a qualified chartered accountant from the ICAI (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India).
CA Vinit Gala from Mumbai agrees. He is currently working for the Big Four in transfer pricing.
Deciding to Pursue CA
Since elementary school, I’ve been good (but not great) at academics. Thus, even before passing class 10, good academics were followed by a career plan.
Being proficient in science and mathematics, many of my well-wishers advised me to take up some field related to the science stream. Engineering was one choice, but it felt tedious, and I often fainted when seeing someone else’s blood, so medicine was out too.
Initially, I had decided to be a pilot; however, the idea did not sound right as my parents would have to spend lakhs of rupees to make me one.
That’s when I considered CA, because it’s both cost-effective (literally!) and a highly regarded profession. In India, the CA course is not expensive.
Before I took up CA, I read a lot about its pros and cons, how chartered accountants work, and their lifestyle. By doing so, I realized that a chartered accountant has a lot of respect as he puts in a lot of effort, hard work, and dedication.
So basically, I made an informed decision and pursued CA. It is critical to understand the profession you have chosen, so my advice to everyone is to pursue a profession that you are interested in and make an informed decision.
The Beginning of My Journey
Moving to my CA journey, I cleared all the CA exams in my first attempt.
There were challenging days, days where I felt I would fail, etc., but I always gave my best, stayed optimistic, worked hard (the best I could! ), and kept my consistency. All of this helped me pass the CA exams on my first attempt.
Yes, I also gave mock tests and timed myself; that helped me deal with the exam pressure and understand how to present my paper well.
Also, I remember being entirely ignored by a few people when studying CA as I did not come from a wealthy family, used a simple phone, wore simple clothes, etc.
I used to feel terrible about it, but instead of dwelling on the negatives, I chose to remain optimistic and redouble my efforts to pass the CA exams.
That could be one reason I always stay focused and struggle with consistency!
Which is Better: Doing Articles at a Big 4 Firm or a Local CA Firm?
I did my articles at a small proprietary firm, Archana Gosar and Associates, and got some good exposure in taxation, accounting, and auditing.
After qualifying as a chartered accountant, I joined a reputed partnership firm and focused on direct taxation. I learned Transfer Pricing here, and later moved to a Big 4 and specialized in Transfer Pricing).
Many students wonder whether they should do their articles with a Big 4 firm or a smaller firm.
In my opinion:
- If you want to start your own CA practice, go with a reputable partnership firm rather than a Big 4 firm.
- However, if the ultimate goal is to get into corporations or auditing or taxation, then any of the Big 4 is perfect. If you missed the opportunity to do your internship in one of the Big 4, then try getting one during your industrial training.
Academics will be the most important factor in being selected for the Big Four interviews. Other than academics, one should practice soft skills, professional dressing, a positive attitude, and a willingness to continuously learn new things and face new challenges.
At the end of the day, what you learn on the job is the most important thing, and it’s okay if you didn’t do your internship with some big names!!!
Our goal as an intern should be to learn as much as we can and get maximum exposure.
Try getting involved in the maximum number and variety of assignments your principal undertakes. However, a balanced approach ought to be maintained concerning health, studies, and work.
Dealing with Issues During My Articles
Many interns are lucky to face severe issues like office politics, rude bosses, and super strict seniors! I call them lucky, as these experiences will prepare you for a better tomorrow!
When confronted with such circumstances, my serious advice is to remain calm and discuss the issues with seniors (of course, a reliable source) and HR first (if your company has one!).
90% of the problems get resolved when the discussion happens. However, in extreme cases, it needs to be communicated to the appropriate person or organization.
Can semi-qualified students apply to Big Four firms?
In my opinion, semi-qualified students who are still pursuing CA have a minimal chance of getting into the Big 4, since they may require appropriate and sufficient study leaves for their exams.
Given their heavy workload, the big four find it difficult to give so many leaves.
However, a person who has given up the CA course stands a good chance of finding an opportunity in the Big 4. However, he would have to compromise on his salary and might get paid like a regular graduate or maybe a little more.
In Conclusion…
CAs, whether in practice or in employment; whether in a consulting role or working for an organization, will spend the majority of their time with people. Thus, soft skills are a must to lead a successful career.
So wherever you are, work on your soft skills.
In terms of the relationship between academic success and life success, the answer is emphatically negative. Had it been true, then most of our great businessmen, top-notch professionals, spiritual leaders, and even politicians would have been top students.
So if you have scored 50% or 95% in school, you have a bright future if you work hard and smart with a positive attitude.
