Controller or Government Auditor?

Question

I recently accepted a position as a controller for a small firm averaging $300,000 in sales sales per month. It pays $45,000/yr and should go to $54,000 after 3 months. The atmosphere is totally casual, I show up when I want, play music all day and take breaks whenever I feel like it. There is no opportunity for advancement and future prospects for the company do not look outstanding.

I also just got a job offer for a county government as an auditor. This would start out at $41,000/year but is a secure job with opportunities for advancement. I would work in a cubicle and have to where a suit. All my work would be closely supervised.

I want to stay in my current position, but in the long run would I be better off as an auditor? My dream job would be to be a controller for a large multi-national corp or something similar. Which is the better path? I heard that alot of companies only want controllers with auditing experience. Does government auditing count?

Paul Thomas, CPA · Accepted Answer

"Chinvat"  wroteWho knows.  I don't see any greater advantages to being a county auditor (where everyone hates you) than as a controller for a company.  The jump in pay from $45 to $54 is a big nut to overlook.  If as you say, "future prospects for the company do not look outstanding", then the question begs, why?  What, if anything, can you do to turn it around?  Me. I'd enjoy the challange of helping that company get better.  Besides, anything you can do there will get noticed (if you make sure it does) by others in town, and that can often open up other job prospects.Well, you've heard wrong.  I know several controllers who do not have any prior audit experience.  What they do have is a track record in their respective industry that gains them experiences beyond the books of any one company.  And no, I doubt anyone other than another government willl be impressed with governmental auditors.

Chinvat · Answer

It would be auditing for property taxes, so there would be a lot of property valuation. Do you think this could lead to a position as a financial analyst. Also, some controllers do a lot of property valuation, do you think the kind of valuation governments do is similar?

I'm probably going to stay where I am, but want to be sure I understand my options.

Paul Thomas · Answer

"Chinvat"  wroteProbably not any better than any other position with any other firm would get you.Yeah, no.   Do you even know how the county appraiser does his job?  I doubt they even do a "drive by" any more.If you want to grow in an industry position (to Controller / CFO) then staay in industry.

Controller or Government Auditor?

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