Your lecturer is right, the CA journey is a battlefield

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It's your first day of lectures. They sold you the dream: if you pursue the CA route, you will obtain financial freedom.

But don't worry – you are in for a big surprise

As you sit in the T Block lecture room with more than 500 students packed like sardines in the venue, the excitement for university days is in the air.

The accounting lecturer walks in.

"Look to the person sitting to the right of you, and then look to the person sitting on the left of you. Only one of out the three of you, will be sitting in the same class four years later."

This should be your first warning sign of what is to come.

Four years later, true to their word, I sat in my honours class with roughly only 200 students.

It's been 6 years since I completed my SAICA training contract and became a CA. However, I still carry the lessons and values I learned during those 3 years.

For those asking what a SAICA Training Contract is: The SAICA training program provides you, as an aspiring CA(SA) or AGA(SA), the opportunity to develop your professional competence while applying your technical knowledge in a practical work environment

Recently it seems that in the audit environment, there seems to be a trend of trainees starting their training contract and then leaving 3 months into their contracts. I have witnessed this in my capacity as an audit manager.

This may be in line with the 'The Great Resignation' – where companies are seeing their employees resign in the numbers.

Read our thoughts on 'The Great Resignation' -> https://bit.ly/3BikQCu

Here are some thoughts for future CA's or those thinking of starting their SAICA Training Contracts. Many firms have started looking into employing their next round of trainees:

1. They tell you it will take 7 years to become a CA: 4 years at university, and then a 3-year SAICA Training contract then boom - you're a CA. But it doesn't always happen this way. It takes you much longer to reach this milestone. However, determination, passion, hard work and a will to never give help will assist you in getting there. 

2. You will have to work on the weekends and after hours to meet deadlines. This job isn't a 9-5. 

3. It can and will be stressful to work in a deadline-driven environment.

4. Balancing studying and work can be difficult. However, with planning and time management, this can be achieved.

5. Managers may not be as helpful nor guide as you hoped – sometimes, you will have to seek the advice of other seniors and experts in the field. Getting the answers you need is up to you taking the initiative.

6. Regardless of your life circumstances, you will interact with individuals of different cultures, personalities and points of view. Handle your culture shock by taking the time to learn and grow. 

7. Dealing with demanding clients – Look, sometimes you'll want to throw your laptop at the wall but remember, you must keep calm and carry on. Like family, we can't always choose our clients.

Becoming a CA can be daunting, but it is a sacrifice for a future you can not even imagine. For me, it is worth every single hardship and struggle that you go through. It's the one place that prepares you for life after articles, and the lessons you learn carry with you forever.

Stay with it. See out your 3 years until the end.

Take the good with the good and the bad with the bad, and you will become a much better person for it.