Student Question: I transferred from a financial accounting role to a financial BP (business partner) position doing analysis three months ago. My manager has given me many analytical angles to explore and validate through data. Since the company is just building out its analysis function, I’ve been spending most of my time collecting and cleaning data sources — the work is inefficient, requires long overtime, and my output still doesn’t satisfy my manager. I have no sense of accomplishment.
This has made me resistant to the work. I’m questioning whether I’m cut out for analysis at all. I don’t know whether I should push harder and develop more analytical skills, or give up and go back to the accounting work I know well.
Master Chi’s Response:
A job can offer three things: money, happiness, and growth. If it gives you two out of three, it’s a good job. Having all three is rare.
You need to get clear on what the upward path in finance actually looks like — and decide whether you want a stable, low-pressure role or whether you want to earn more money.
If you’re ambitious, then you should be moving in the direction with the most potential, even when it’s hard. Stay with it.
If the company isn’t the right environment, accumulate the experience and then move on.