07 August 2024
I am seeking advise from all valuable seniors... Hello.. I am CA qualified in Nov 09...From 2011 i am working in a company and today my package is Rs.7.5 Lakhs...i know you all must be shocked...but due to some reasons i couldn't switch...not giving excuses....failure is failure anyway.. I have experience in Balance Sheet finalization, Coordinate with Stat and Internal Auditors, Payments of TDS,GST,Advance tax...not handling TDS just make the payment...Advance tax computation is made by me...Preparation of tax audit report data,handling audit queries resolving them...Mainly i am looking after GST of the group which has 10 registrations...monthly filing of GSTR1,3B,reconcilation of 2A/2B...filing of GSTR-9,9C independently is my responsibility...apart from this in case of any notice like ASMT-10,DRC-01 or show cause notice i have to reply without any consultant... Now i want to switch for the obvious reason low pay package...so which course to pursue which area to chose to get a well astonished career...please suggest..
13 August 2025
Thank you for sharing your journey so honestly. First, letโs acknowledge that staying committed and building deep domain experience, even in a lower-paying role, is not failure โ itโs resilience. Now, letโs focus on how to reignite your career and grow strategically from here. ๐ค Quick Summary of Your Profile: Qualified CA in 2009 Working in Industry (since 2011), currently earning โน7.5 LPA Strong hands-on experience in: GST compliance (GSTR-1, 3B, 9/9C, replies to SCNs) Finalization of accounts Handling audits Advance tax calculation Not handling TDS filings, but managing payments ๐ Core Issue: Youโre technically strong but underpaid, and likely not visible to the external job market due to: Long tenure in one company Narrower functional exposure (mainly compliance-based roles) No recent upskilling or personal branding ๐งญ Where Can You Go From Here? Here are 3 major tracks you can explore, based on your experience: โ 1. GST / Indirect Tax Specialization Since you already handle GST 100% independently, youโre halfway there. This space has huge demand in: Consulting firms (Big 4, mid-size CA firms, boutique indirect tax firms) Large corporates with complex GST structures Litigation / representation (if you're interested) ๐ What to do next? Pursue Certification Course in GST Litigation or Advanced GST (offered by ICAI, or top platforms like Taxguru Academy, GST Professionals) Target firms with high GST exposure (e.g. e-commerce, manufacturing, or consulting) Brush up on E-invoicing, E-way bills, DRC processes, and advanced reconciliations โ 2. Transition to Taxation/FP&A/Finance Controller Role You have the foundation to shift into a more strategic finance role in industry: Taxation Manager (Direct + Indirect) Finance Controller โ Small Company FP&A / MIS (with learning Excel, Power BI, automation tools) ๐ What to do next? Learn Excel/Power BI โ Strong reporting skills are valued Take short certificate course in Direct Tax, TDS filing, and Income Tax litigation Join CFO mentorship groups or CA network groups for job leads Update resume with quantified impact (e.g., โFiled GST for 10 entities without external consultant; reduced notice resolution time by 40%โ) โ 3. Build a Side Consulting Practice / Parallel Income Given your strength in GST compliance and audit coordination: Start freelance GST filing / audit assistance for small businesses Use platforms like LinkedIn, CAclubindia, Upwork (for finance) to pitch services Later, you can develop a GST-focused consulting brand โ many CAs do this