Hey Everyone 1834
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It sounds like you’re doing some good career planning now (as many folks don’t think ahead). I wouldn’t limit a change to 3 years if something were to emerge where you had a good fit (e.g., landing a job is more about being at the right place and at the right time sometimes). During your next annual review, you might also talk with your manager (if it’s a good relationship and a good fit) about your career goals – maybe you could work into the audit profession for the same company you’re working for now.
I agree with EMM that the CPA is more significantly recognized than CISA, but it’s probably a lot more difficult to achieve as well.
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It sounds like you’re doing some good career planning now (as many folks don’t think ahead). I wouldn’t limit a change to 3 years if something were to emerge where you had a good fit (e.g., landing a job is more about being at the right place and at the right time sometimes). During your next annual review, you might also talk with your manager (if it’s a good relationship and a good fit) about your career goals – maybe you could work into the audit profession for the same company you’re working for now.
I agree with EMM that the CPA is more significantly recognized than CISA, but it’s probably a lot more difficult to achieve as well.
I think EMM may have mis-read what I wrote. I’m interested in a post-baccalaureate certificate, not a degree. The certificate is comprised of four graduate level finance classes … I want to take these four classes to established if an MBA is right for me (down the road) and/or if I fancy making a move into finance (in general or auditing).
Primarily I’m interested in IT Audit, perhaps down the road I may obtain my CPA and move into Finance Audit. Regardless if I go down the finance side, I’m still interested in obtaining a CPA because I feel it has a plethora of uses.
I will talk to my manager and our internal audit manager. I love my current company, but I feel they’re far too conservative pay wise. Now I’m getting ahead of myself though.
I really appreciate all the feedback
Oh, and I’m from the US … Northeast region.
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The MBA option is certainly worth looking into – as that is also highly respected in the business world, esp. if you’d like to move into management later in your career.
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To add to the litany of feedback…
see if you can do a rotation in Internal Audit (3-6 mos) and it might help you to better choose your career path.
good luck,
milan
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To add to the litany of feedback…
see if you can do a rotation in Internal Audit (3-6 mos) and it might help you to better choose your career path.
good luck,
milan
I really appreciate everyone’s feedback.
Interesting you point this out. I just spoke with the lead manager of internal audit/SOX compliance within our organization. I’ll have to take him out to lunch one day and talk about the possibilities.
I’ve only been with this organization for 6 months … it will probably be sometime (at least another year) before I could even entertain the notion of moving to a different department.
The problem I feel will present itself is Corp IT at my company is rather small, it’s me and five other guys. I’m the one and only Oracle Apps Admin within the company. When I got hired the recruiter/manager seemed like he was hoping I’d stay with Corp IT for a long time. I guess we’ll see what happens when I bring it up.
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If in connection as an Oracle App Admin for your company, you can assist the Company in SOX matters…design/develop/implement application controls in Oracle that supports the Company’s significant business processes, you will be able to remain within IT, yet get the experience requisite for eventual CISA cert.
Additionally, if your company uses Oracle Internal Controls Manager (OICM), you can also get involved in the IT aspects of the SOX compliance efforts and this also, will translate to enhanced value to the org and career opps.
Currently, there is a shortage of IT professionals with applied experience in implementing SOX and controls assesment. For this reason, remaining within the IT function, but taking on more controls related responsibilities can only enhance your growth and career development.
Good luck,
milan
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Milan makes some great points and ways you can start to build SOX related skill sets. As you’re filling a critical need in you company after only 6 months of being on the job, it might be strategically too early to request a new assignment or job rotation?
Personally, I work a lot with Oracle, SQL-Server, and DB2. Building on good skills sets there in retrieving information (e.g., Toad, Business Objects, Discoverer, etc), and protecting the Oracle RDBMS security environment are good tactical steps to help prepare the way.
… and of course visiting at great sites like this where you can get 1st hand accounts of SOX from the trenches is educational – which is why I personally visit here often myself
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Thanks guys. You’re right, it is too early to request a change. I’ll take a look it OICM. I haven’t heard of it before and I don’t believe we use it at present. I’ll have to find some documentation and see what I can do.
Thanks again.
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Milan has shared some info here on OICM
http://www.sarbanes-oxley-forum.com/modules.php?name=Forums-and-file=viewtopic-and-t=1752
Other non-forum links (please add www and paste to browser)
oracle.com/applications/financials/ICMdatasheet.PDF
oracle.com/solutions/corporate_governance/index.html
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Milan has shared some info here on OICM
http://www.sarbanes-oxley-forum.com/modules.php?name=Forums-and-file=viewtopic-and-t=1752
Other non-forum links (please add www and paste to browser)
oracle.com/applications/financials/ICMdatasheet.PDF
oracle.com/solutions/corporate_governance/index.html
Thanks Harry.