Personal Growth Assessment
Introduction
In various stages of my life, I have learned that growing up and embracing the challenges that come along is a prerequisite for anyone who desires a successful life. I have brought this mentality to succeed in the study of a degree in finance, which I will need to learn the skills needed to be a competitive financial and analyst in the future. Over the three years, I have been undertaking this course, I have learned a great deal of knowledge in financial analysis, accounting as well as risk assessment which I hope to apply in the near future at the expiration of the four-year course. The nature of my degree program prepares one for a wide variety of opportunities, but I prefer to focus on joining the financial analysis job market.
Alternatively, I could accede to the audit industry, which is related to financial analysis. Following the analysis of the current economic situation, there has been a growing need for auditors either by Audit companies of individual companies (internal auditors). Through experience, I will use the skills learned through the course to become a financial manager in a big company, which is my dream job. Being my ultimate goal in life and career, I hope to pursue this dream, having completed my degree and preferably other professional skills that will further equip me with better skills to be a competitive and sought after financial manager. This is because I have seen some people become big managers and falling out of favor for their positions shortly after their arrival. It deemed to me that the most probable cause was the lack of the anticipated ability and skills to lead the said organization in the desired direction. To achieve this is reckoned that I have to plan for my professional life after graduation from my first-degree course, which I hope to complete in a year.
Personal Career Objectives
After completing my degree, I hope to secure a job in audit or financial accounting, which will prepare me for my lifelong aspirations of becoming a financial manager. During my time in school, I have researched on the top audit companies in the country, and I hope to apply to work in either of them. However, I am most attracted to work at Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) due to the level of competition in the company. My mentor who began his career at the company further influences this choice. According to him, the company offers a great opportunity for learning and exposes a person to several opportunities for absorption in other companies. If I get an opportunity in this firm, the most probable responsibilities will be the analysis of financial statements and draw the necessary conclusions as instructed by my supervisors.
The critical knowledge and skills that I have amassed since joining college will enhance my competitiveness in performing such tasks. According to Harris et. al, (154), applying the critical skills learned in school is fundamental to a person's professional development and growth. According to my plan, three years will be enough for me to have gained the skills and experience in financial accounting and audit, which I plan to use to pursue other greater roles in the same capacity. In the next three years, I hope to pursue roles as a senior financial analyst in the same company or other companies that could offer better chances for growth and exposure (Montana & Bruce 175). Working on this platform will provide me a unique experience to prepare me for my dream job of becoming a competent financial manager in one of the leading companies in the country.
Description of work setting after graduation
As stated above, my preference is working for PWC. I would also prefer working at the PWC centered in California. Having undertaken a previous research on the office location for the Price Waterhouse Coopers in the country, the California offices would prove strategic for me. Additionally, this would expose me to several job opportunities due to the numerous companies in the state of California. The PWC offices in California are located in Irvine 2020 Main Street. I anticipate having the following job description for the company, although I am open to any other roles out of my imagination as I reckon the organization has a high turnover of roles and responsibilities, which the employee are supposed to learn and use.
Auditor job description
Ensuring compliance with the internal control measures/ procedures when it comes to organization’s financial statement preparation and documentation
Compare the assets and liabilities for companies to assess their financial situation
Evaluate the internal control policies and methods for companies
Performing appraisals for companies' compliance with state and federal laws concerning financial reporting
Preparation of audit reports and summarizing the financial situation for the companies assigned to me
At this point in my career, I expect to have superiors that is supervisors and managers. I plan to use their guidance and experience to develop my skills in audit or even diversify into other fields such as tax, business consultancy and assurance all that are performed by this company. This would place me in an excellent position to become a component financial manager. The work setting at the company is highly competitive, a factor which I plan to use to my advantage. The competitiveness in the workplace will enable me to work hard to be among the best staff at the company while acquiring all the right skills needed to perform my duties. Additionally, the organization provides an excellent opportunity to learn the professional standards, which I plan to use in the future. The work culture at the company allows a person to be highly motivated and goal oriented, which are just the skills and characteristic I need to peruse my professional aspirations. Moreover, the organization exposes its employees to a wide range of companies and customers, which provides an opportunity for a person to interact with professionals from different backgrounds (Zunker and Osborn 32). Developing skills in communication will be vital in fulfilling my leadership aspirations.
Work setting after three years
Having worked at PWC for three years, I plan to use the experience gained to pursue a higher role in the organization. Alternatively, I plan to work with another organization as a management trainee in the finance department. At this stage in my professional life, I plan to further the knowledge and skills acquired during the last three years to reach the peak of my professional career. At this level, I plan to supervise and orient new employees absorbed by the company. The job description at this point would be narrower compared to the previous one as it would mostly focus on supervisory duties. In supervising and helping new employees learn and gain skills in audit, I plan to use the leadership skills I learned in school to communicate and motivate my subordinates (Montana and Bruce 167). This platform will also provide a learning experience from the interactions with other supervisors and managers above the hierarchy, who I plan to shadow and develop my leadership skills.
Though my student life, I have learned and acquired excellent leadership skills. Apart from this, I have learned how to communicate effectively while observing the right protocol. This will enable me to become a good team player in the future organization I work. Additionally, I have gained immense skills in research and analysis, which are some of the fundamentals to becoming a successful auditor and financial manager. Even with these strengths, I anticipate having various challenges in my perusing of a career in audit and financial management. One of the greatest challenges I anticipate is the intense competition in the industry. This I have drawn from my classroom level where I have seen a lot of competition among my classmates. I expect the competition in the working field to be even greater (Volkwein 123). Additionally, I anticipate facing the challenge of having to stick with my professional aspiration when other companies offer better work benefits than the company I plan to work for. I will, however, strive to stick to my plan to accomplish my long-term career goal.
Insights
During my life in school, I have learned valuable life skills and more importantly professional skills, which I plan to use to the latter to peruse my professional aspirations. One of the most important skills I have learned in the semester is research and analysis, which are both vital to prepare me to be a competent auditor and financial manager in the future. According to the Learning Style Approach, skills are best ingrained I a person through participation in the related work. This is why am focused to peruse a career in audit in one of the leading companies (PWC) in the country and the world, where I plan to further my skills and knowledge in my specialty. Additionally, I have gained insight from some motivational theories such as Maslow's motivational theory. One of the best insights is that one has to go through various steps to accomplish their core and professional goals. Further, the theory indicated the right conditions to motivate me as an aspiring auditor to become a self-actualized financial manager in the future, which is my ultimate career goal.
Works Cited
Harris, Ann Shelby, Bruster Benita, Peterson, Barbara and Shutt Tammy . Examining and facilitating reflection to improve professional practice. 4th ed. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2010. Print.
Montana, Patrick. J., and Bruce. H. Charnov. Management. 4th ed. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's, 2000. Print.
Volkwein, J. Fredericks. Assessing student outcomes - why, who, what, how: New directions for institutional research, assessment supplement 2009. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2013. Print.
Zunker, Vermon. G., and Osborn, Debra. Using assessment results for career development. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Pub. Co, 1998. Print.
