I joined a 'Big 4' in 2002 via the non-ACA route into risk management.Fortune favoured me and I got out of that business unit before SOX really hit and I now find myself the new consulting arm, part-qualified (CIMA) and with 3 years experience in project and change management, business/IT process reviews and design. It's a mixed bag, but I've enjoyed it all.I'm half-hearted about completing CIMA. I've found it interesting, challenging and it has helped me develop, but I'm finding putting the time in when I'm travelling to clients increasingly difficult. I've done the horror 3 commutes to Bracknell Business park and also had the glamour jobs in the US and Europe. I feel I've seen both the ups and the down-sides of what this career can offer and the question I'm now asking myself is "Where next?" My options as I see them:1) Go for promotion where I am now.I've been told I have a good case for promotion in the Summer, but the salary for new managers is a wholly underwhelming £40K +benefits. (Not much above what I'm on now). There's a chance it could be higher, but nothing confirmed. If I don't get promoted, I'll be lucky to be on £38K all in. I have a decent network here, but not amazing.2) Go to another big four (I have contacts in all) for a bit of a jump in salary (I have warm leads for a £48K+bens manager role starting in Feb) and, from what I understand, a similar role. Would this be harder than it sounds. I move from client to client all the time, but how would the work cultures compare?3) Go on secondment for a year to consider options. Somewhere in the sun maybe.4) Go into industry. Two of my clients have approached me about roles with them.4) Take a career breakI'm not entirely driven by money, but I do have a mortgage and don't want to be getting paid less than the market value for my skills and experience.I'd really appreciate any comments from those who have found themselves in a similar position early in their career.

my advice would be to attempt to move into sox contracting...even though you "got out of that business unit before SOX really hit", you should have sufficient risk and controls experience to find an entry point. you will then be able to a) build up a useful amount of cash during a contract and b) gain some very useful experience in the "real" world. feel free to send me your cv - i am running a sox it team within a financial services organisation - psebright@gmail.com . I have a *potential* requirement for the new year.

Thanks for that. Not an option I'd considered but I have heard that rewards can be good. I'll drop you a note.Any other comments from experienced consultants welcome.

Wish I could help but I'm about to start my consulting career with CG and am intersted ion pursuing CIMA before taking a career break to go for an MBA.I have an economics degree so it own't be too strange for me to start studying but i was thinking of putting myself through it privately first and then asking the firm to help once it gets thick and maybe too expensive.Is this a viable option (to study CIMA whilst working as a junior consultant/analyst)? I know Deloitte encourage it. Similarly do you think CIMA is worth it for strategy/post merger integration consulting which is where i want to end up in a few years time?Thanks in advance

My initial reaction would be to say go for CIMA now or an MBA later in your career. Both would be a waste of effort. If you were to ask me to pick one - MBA at a good US college when your 28-32 would win by a mile.I didn't state that as an option in my original blog, but that is also something I'm considering. It was my initial intention out of university to take an MBA after 5-10 years of working and that generally seems to be the route most travelled by MBA graduates I know. However, I was given a great option of firm-sponsored study and generous study leave without any pay impact, so I would have been silly to turn it down. Without the time off, I would say it would be almost impossible. The cost of courses isn't really a factor though, so if it fits your CG role I'd angle for them to pay for those as a minimum.If you are, like me, doing a lot of travelling to international client sites, then quality study time is going to be very difficult. One thing in your favour may be the number of excemptions you may be eligible for - give CIMA a ring to find out details.As a syllabus, in my opinion, CIMA is a mini-MBA (probably about 40-50% of the content). I'm 7 exams in (out of 15) and it is, for me, the best qualification for a young consultant. Of course you have ACCA and ACA, but CIMA was a best fit for me, and by the sound of it, will be for you too. My lack of enthusiam about completing it is more the fact that I'm considering my options after 3 and a bit years of consulting and not the direction in which CIMA is shaping my skillset.Good luck.