40 Years of Employment -- Gratitude Series Part 3

 

Happy New year Wishes 2025 

Having finished the intermediate exams of the Chartered Accountancy course, it opened up avenues to additional learning opportunities that would suit my career ambitions. One could move in and do what is called Industrial Training with a Corporate rather than be with the CA firm for the last year of the three year training. I was never inclined to start a practice of my own and this made my decision easier (I think my father was not happy with this decision of mine). I decided to move out from my current employer and look out for Industrial training opportunities. Again, thanks to Kumar Anna, I got myself into a company with a rich heritage and legacy. The group was known for its passion, integrity and the respect that it gave all its stakeholders and how they ran their business. It has a presence in several segments but I got my training at their Abrasives division. What an experience it was …? Outstanding!

 During the training period , I was fortunate to be part of two year end closure of books and preparations of financial statements working through with the Statutory Auditors and just going through that process was a huge learning. I was sent across to their new plant at Hosur to help out with closing of the books. Again, being at a startup (not sure if this term existed at that time) was a big blessing.  You got involved in every activity and design of the process . 

Although I was an Intern, the entire team was inclusive and took great care of me. If one has to learn how controls work, you need to work in a group like this. There were no computers yet but the way the process was designed and how checks and balances worked in a manual environment was a joy to watch and be part of it and leaning and understanding controls was fun. Everything worked with clock like precision and planning was such an integral part of every activity. Since I was basically freelance (no assigned desk),  I used to be assigned to different areas of work. I accepted what was assigned and being open to all assignments made my learning a big experiece. Being  open helped with more  learning. 

I wrote my Final exams while at this Company still undergoing my training. Study leave was limited and I gave the exams the best shot.  I was not as confident of the outcome  compared to how i was in my intermediate exams. 

The day results came in, I went to the CA institute where the results would be put up on the notice board. The results will come in from Delhi and by the first flight from Delhi to Chennai. But that day the flight was delayed and so after waiting with no clarity on timing , I went to work. After lunch, I got no calls from any of my friends, became panicky and then left my work place to go to the CA institute past 3 PM. It took me a good 2.5 hours to get to the CA Institute and I was glad to see my Roll number in the pass column for both groups.  It was such a big relief . I thought, wow, this is great and started dreaming about all the offers that I will get …..

They were only Dreams… 

Wait for my next post 

Gratitude to the entire team of Finance and Accounting  at the plant who were so inclusive and caring to me. It is a blessing to get such supportive people who really make you feel at home at the workplace and are happy to spend time walking you through the process and also willing to hear out suggestions from an Intern. My final year of Training under CA was so well spent.