AIBU to ask you for a new career?

[namechangecareerchange]

Ok, MN world. I'm braced for the onslaught. But I'm miserable and bored in my job and all of the confidence and enthusiasm I had had been bullied out of me.

I'm tax qualified, Senior Manager in a big 4. 80% FTE and annual earnings approx. £75k. (I know I'm really really lucky. I'm so grateful for the opportunities I've had).

I'm a single mum with a massive mortgage so need to keep a similar level of earnings.

I love using my brain. Being mentally challenged. (I am Oxbridge educated). I'm logical, detail oriented and work hard (actually work 45+hrs a week over 4 days). I need a job that has flexibility, and gives you trust. With progression but crucially uses a brain. I'm so bored of the admin/consulting/ process review in my job.

So help me please. I love helping people and working in a team. But I struggle to have influence. A voice at the table. I'm shy but confident when I know what I'm talking about. I'm not scared of senior people or speaking my mind when I know I'm right but nervous of giving an opinion if I'm not sure how it'll land.

I can't say no. I need more gravitas/ presence (our team is about 45 strong and I run the meetings and I hate doing it). I'm SE based but London isn't really an option unless the role really was 9-5pm.

I have thought about retraining. Being a psychologist. But I'm not really sure what that entails.

So wise people with lots of experience, what do you advise?? Sell me your career 😊

Oh and I'm mid-30s and poss on partner track.

Clearly IABU!!

I can't think of anything that pays on a similar level and with progression 🤷‍♀️

I'm bumping for you OP. I sympathise hugely with the lack of confidence / feeling demotivated and wish I knew what to suggest to you... it's a hard one when you say you need the same salary going forward straightaway, I am not sure how easy it is to make the switch to something else highly paid even with your qualifications.

I work for an investment bank (in technology), but many of my clients have a finance or tax background, typically being qualified accountants. Many of those clients are highly analytical and often work on projects, with us (technology) which try to improve systems or data flows or help us build specialist software for very specialised end users (eg financial controllers of firms with enormous, complex balance sheets).

Many of my clients will have similar backgrounds to yours and earn in your range.

Does that help?

that isn't similar to what you do.

You can find out more about how to become different types of psychologist here: careers.bps.org.uk/

I agrees with Diss however this thread might be useful

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/going_back_to_work/3825984-I-m-a-career-coach-for-women-changing-direction-AMA

It's not quite clear what your role entails... is it a financial role that could be transferred to another industry? If not, and it's a complete change of career you're unlikely to start anywhere on £75k.

Could you move internally where you are? Or is there career guidance offered? Or personal coaching? So that you could work on your confidence and try and get more out of your existing role?

Or could you take up some internal/external side hustle that gives you the mental stimulation you're currently lacking? And possible rearrange/reduce your working hours to accommodate this?

Retraining as a psychologist would take years, I think you need a PhD to be a clinical psychologist in the NHS?

A move to another Big4 in a different role maybe?

Retraining to be a psychologist would take years and you would not be on anything near what you earn now.

How about a tax dept in a big company? Lots of tax planning, probably with international aspects. I always think that would be interesting and wish I'd done CTA before leaving practice!

Ah great thoughts thank you!

Current role is personal tax focused. Client facing, business development, team coaching etc. A head of tax role would be good actually. Great suggestion. Yep I'm CTA. I'm a personal specialist though - no international restructuring/ CT experience. Do you reckon it's doable?