Dan Doré’s Post

Heartbroken by Anna’s Story: A Call for Change in Our Work Culture Today, I came across the deeply tragic story of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a young Chartered Accountant who passed away due to work-related stress at EY. As a member of the CA community, this news is both heartbreaking and a harsh reminder of the pressures placed on employees in our profession. Anna, a bright and hardworking individual, had a promising future ahead of her. Yet, the excessive workload, long hours, and lack of support in her first job took an unbearable toll on her mental and physical health. Sadly, her experience is not an isolated case—it highlights the systemic challenges faced by many in our profession, especially during high-stress audit and tax seasons. In our field, CAs and articles often find themselves working late into the night due to: 1. Client Delays: When clients submit necessary documents late, it creates last-minute pressure on CA teams to meet tight deadlines. 2. Understaffing: Many firms employ fewer staff than needed to save costs, leaving remaining employees to bear an unfair burden, often without additional compensation for the extra hours worked. While we, as professionals, strive to meet expectations, it’s essential to acknowledge that this practice is neither fair nor sustainable. The well-being of employees must come first, and it is the responsibility of firms to ensure balanced workloads and support systems. Unfortunately, the ICAI Code of Conduct does not currently address these workplace challenges. While it rightly penalizes unethical practices by CAs, there are no provisions protecting CAs and articles from unfair work conditions, overwork, or stress-related issues. We must advocate for reforms within the ICAI to include guidelines that safeguard professionals against such practices. It’s time for the ICAI to address these gaps and ensure a fair, supportive environment for its members. Anna’s story serves as a painful reminder that no profession should demand so much of an individual that it endangers their health or well-being. We owe it to ourselves, and to each other, to raise our voices and demand changes to these unhealthy work cultures. My heart goes out to Anna’s family, and I hope her tragic loss becomes a catalyst for meaningful change within the CA profession. Shame on the organisation for having such work culture EY #ca #caaspirants #castudents #corporateculture #ey #big4

🎉Career Milestone🎉 Finally a CPA!! 🍾✨ I am both humbled and proud to announce that I have successfully passed all the four sections of the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam in my “first attempt”!☺️ After a year of dedication, hard work, and countless hours of study, this achievement marks a significant milestone in my professional journey. The past year has been a rollercoaster of challenges and navigating this journey was not easy. From dealing with personal breakdowns to managing work and study together, there were moments when this goal seemed insurmountable. There were days filled with doubt and nights spent wrestling with the fear of failure. However, these hardships taught me the true meaning of perseverance. This milestone would not have been possible without the unwavering support and blessings of Mahadev. His divine guidance and blessings gave me the strength and perseverance to achieve this goal and I’m truly grateful to him. 🕉️🙏🏻 Additionally, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to my family, friends, and mentors who stood by me, offering their support and encouragement when I needed it most. Your belief in me was a constant reminder of why I embarked on this journey. A big shoutout to Becker Professional Education and Simandhar Education for their amazing study material and assistance. To those who are currently pursuing their CPA, or any challenging endeavor, amidst personal difficulties: keep going. Your capabilities are not defined by your toughest days. Each step forward, no matter how small, is progress. Remember, resilience is forged in the fires of adversity. As I look forward to the next chapter in my professional life, I am excited about the opportunities to apply what I've learned, both academically and personally. Let's connect and continue to inspire each other towards greater achievements!🎉 #CPA #Accounting #Resilience #CareerMilestone #ProfessionalGrowth #Deloitte

🚨NEW: The Top 10 Most Prestigious Accounting Firms in America. The Big 4 are all within one point, with PwC taking the top spot from Deloitte last year. Follow Career Principles for more on careers, business, and finance. Survey Source: Vault Most Prestigious Accounting Firms

While these may be considered the top 10 most prestigious accounting firms to work for, they may not be the firms you want to work for when considering your first job. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our country experienced unprecedented times, and companies across various industries were affected as well. While many companies faced revenue losses, some financial firms saw an increase in demand for their services, leading to a surge in new hires. However, some firms expanded too rapidly and had to make significant cuts in the last two years as the high demand for their services waned. This highlights an important consideration for job seekers in the finance industry. Be smart. Don't apply for a job solely because a company is one of the Big 4. Look for a company that cares about you as a person, is willing to invest in you as an employee, and is committed to growth and retention. The Big 4 accounting firms—Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG—are known for high turnover rates, often exceeding 20% annually. This turnover is attributed to long hours, high pressure, and the demanding nature of the work environment. If your company is not purposefully working towards the constant goal of growing alongside its employees, then you are merely a replaceable part in a machine. Companies that don't prioritize employee well-being often exhibit telltale signs, such as poor treatment from leadership. Your leadership reflects your company’s values—how much do they care about you? It's crucial to choose a workplace where the leadership is genuinely invested in your professional and personal development. A supportive environment not only enhances job satisfaction but also fosters long-term career growth. #NewHires #Finance #Accounting #bigfour

👌🚨NEW: The Top 10 Most Prestigious Accounting Firms in America. The Big 4 are all within one point, with PwC taking the top spot from Deloitte last year. Follow Career Principles for more on careers, business, and finance. Survey Source: Vault Most Prestigious Accounting Firms

The Top CPA Firms

The results of the independent research conducted by Edelman reveals that the CA(SA) designation is rated by business decision makers as the MOST TRUSTED designation in the world. What an honour!! As a Chartered Accountant with almost 12 years of professional work experience, belonging to a professional body SAICA that is rated the most trusted Chartered Accountacy institute in the world, I am encouraged to continue being FIRM and CONFIDENT in demonstrating my four strategic values: 1.Ability- Being good at what I do. I am because I give my all. 2. Integrity- Honesty in all my business dealings. In and out of season. this is key for me! 3. Dependability- Keep promises at all times. 4. Purpose- Continue to have a positive impact on society. This is my daily why. grateful for all the opportunities I've had to contribute and create indelible impact on society. Happy Friday y'all 😊🥂 #CA(SA) #PURPOSE #INTEGRITY

In a groundbreaking moment for the Indian community at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival, there are not just one or two but close to 10 content creators from India who have been invited at the film festival courtesy their talent and reach on social media. Out of these 10, there was only one Chartered Accountant who graced the red carpet. Namita Thappar, who made waves with her Cannes debut, following in the footsteps of Aman Gupta from last year. Both proud alumni of ICAI, they were summoned not for their accounting prowess, but for their entrepreneurial spirit. This made me wonder why there's a scarcity of Chartered Accountants gracing the glamorous red carpets of Cannes, despite our solid credentials❓ Why aren't more of us CA's seizing the spotlight and building our brands like these trailblazers ❓ Sure, there's a handful doing commendable work, but let's put things in perspective. Out of the 𝟯.𝟵𝟯 𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗵 𝗖𝗔𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝟰𝟭 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀. That's just a drop in the ocean! Consider this: We, as Chartered Accountants, are entrusted with the most critical financial matters, yet when it comes to seeking advice on personal finance, we often turn to influencers from other fields. Why the discrepancy? As CA aspirants, we undergo rigorous training, including IT and soft skills courses. But are these courses truly adding value to our professional lives, or are they just boxes to tick for compliance? It's time to change the narrative. Let's harness our expertise, amplify our voices, and carve out our space on the global stage. Together, we can redefine what it means to be a Chartered Accountant in the digital age. Let's me know your thoughts in the comments below on how together we can elevate the CA community together 👇 #icai #community #charteredaccountant #ca #caaspirants #growwithtanya #personalbrand

Bentley alumni Amanda McElroy, CPA (BS, Information Systems Audit & Control) and Michael Mazmanian (BS, Accountancy and MS, Accountancy) from Deloitte returned to campus this week to speak to students in AC 215 Performance Measurement. Amanda and Michael talked about the importance of independent assurance and answered an array of questions about what a career in auditing is like. #bentleyu #accounting

Condolences to the EY executive who last her life to excess hard work. - The big 4 choose quantity of work over quality of work. - Have you read reports published by them for your respective sector? After all the hardwork, you realize they don't even know what they are talking about.