Civil service to Ernst and Young?

[epnlpklota]

I've seen a role I'm interested in but I have to admit I am so intimidated by the private sector, especially the big accountancy firms and the like. I'm not sure why exactly, I am a very successful, driven, ambitious woman who has done well in challenging circumstances and highly regarded at work, but someone who does value work life balance and have found a real sweet spot in the civil service. I like being treated like a grown up, and have managed to balance having a family relatively young due to understanding managers.

I'm at the stage of my life now where my kids don't need me around as much and no school run, I need a new challenge and am bored where I am. But the instability and perceived cut throat nature of the corporate world is putting me off, what if it's not me? But worried I'm overthinking and need to buck up if I want a challenge.

Any thoughts welcome!!

It really depends on the role OP.

At the graduate level the big 4 rely on the reputation of the firm to get them recruits. They don’t treat the staff well - grads are pressured into tonnes of overtime until they are effectively only earning minimum wage. Before anyone says that’s not true I know someone who received an extra payment from HR at Deloitte as they were earning less than minimum wage!

For a higher up role you might be ok as the benefits will be more and pressures less. There would be more understanding of having a family and balance. However, in London there is very high staff turnover and lots of staff being recruited from overseas to fill numbers as well - so it’s difficult to develop long term friendships.

Personally if I had a family I would stick with civil service so I can be in their lives.

My friend did this move and bitterly regretted it. Although he was promised opportunities in other sectors he was stuck bidding for civil service contracts because of his insider knowledge. His work life balance was non existent. After 5 years he left and returned to Civil Service.

If you're really keen could you do a secondment? Or move into another progressive family friendly sector - charity? HE?

Thanks, I could potentially look at secondment. It's partially financially motivated so wouldn't be looking at charity or HE sectors.

It's described as mid-senior level on LinkedIn, whatever that means.

If it's senior manager then that's the hardest role in EY. You're the one servicing everyone else's portfolios and it's about trying to prove yourself and get noticed by the top brass so they might dein to support your progression so it's very competitive.

@Biroclicker thanks, interesting to know, salary range is $111,000-$207,000 (in dollars despite a UK based role?) does that sound about right for senior manager?

Yep that sounds about right.

Thank you, that does sound like the kind of cut throat nature I'm not really aiming for.

No way; don’t do it.

If it’s a senior manager role, be absolutely crystal clear what it would take for you to succeed in the role and whether you would actually enjoy it. Typically at senior manager level, it’s not just about doing a good job, leading teams, being an expert or whatever - you will probably be expected to win work and bring in more revenue, ensure your engagements are profitable and negotiate fees. If you’re not in a client-facing role then you probably will not get promotion for a very long time (if ever). Combined with the occasional round of redundancies, you will find it’s more risky than working in the civil service where there is more job security. I’d recommend getting redundancy insurance if you do make the move. In terms of finances and professional development, it’s much better than stagnating in your current role and could be a stepping stone into industry but you need to go in with your eyes open.

@Moneypennywise thank you that's interesting. Looking at the role I'm pretty certain it is non-client and part of their internal corporate function (I'd be shit in any type of sales role I think!). I probably wouldn't necessarily be looking to advance within big4 but to broaden my experience and potentially get a faster route to SCS in CS with the ability to negotiate a higher salary also which we can't do internally. But job instability terrifies me because I am the higher earner by some margin, and when factoring the financial packages of both roles it's not a huge difference when considering pension etc especially if I have to commute more (and it would be a long commute).

But, but, but, I love a challenge and like to be stretched at work and roles in my profession seem few and far between currently internally. I've chosen flexibility over challenge the last couple of years for the sake of my kids, especially my AuADHD youngest, but I feel like I'm stagnating now.

Can you request a secondment in the civil service? Train up in a new area?

I'm a specialist and highly qualified so not seeking to retrain, it's more about wider exposure (and I'd like more leadership to get to director level) so it's more about breadth for me at the moment. I could apply for secondment but we are really struggling with resources atm, recruitment is capped and I got a very frosty reception when I asked about a secondment on level transfer to another department last year so I'd be anxious to rock the boat unless it was something I knew I really wanted.

You don't know unless you try but I personally wouldn't leave the Civil Service for one of those firms.

They are generally run by men for men. Forget about work life balance. It's all about the money.