10 Career lessons from a Decade in Finance

In October 2013, I started my first graduate job as an audit trainee in a small accounting firm.

The path to that job was an interesting one: I scoured an online directory of audit firms in my vicinity (Yaba, Mushin, and Surulere in Lagos, Nigeria), and then I physically submitted my CV to the offices around. After tons of applications, I was fortunate to land the job.

My starting salary was modest, marginally below the minimum wage at that time. But I was exposed to accounting, audit and tax.

I remember with fondness Halima an outspoken c. 5 year old, the daughter of the building’s security guard who visited our office daily for assistance with her homework.

Six months later and armed with a repertoire of accounting, audit and tax experience, I clinched a better-paying job.

Fast forward ten years, and I’ve come to realize that these years were more than just a period of professional growth. They were a journey of self-discovery, where I honed the principles that now define how I live.

Reflecting on the past decade, here are ten valuable career lessons I’ve learned working in different roles:

1. Be clear on what you want, but be flexible on your approach. Your path may not follow the exact course you’ve planned. Be adaptable and align your sail with the direction of the wind.

2. Every season of your life has some advantage or at the least offers an opportunity to reflect. Make use of the benefit each season offers.

3. The most challenging tasks or goals you take on in life can provide the greatest sense of satisfaction. When you face difficult challenges head-on and push your limits, the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment you experience is unmatched.

4. No matter what, keep learning. Learning is a lifelong journey. You can learn through books, online courses, podcasts, formal education, and informal conversations.

5. Saturdays are for learning. (This was advice someone gave me in my first year in a big-four consulting firm.) Use weekends, like Saturdays, as a time to invest in yourself through reading, learning, or pursuing your interests. Continuous self-improvement can lead to a more fulfilling life.

6. Life will not go your way. Life is a mix of challenges and pleasant surprises. Some people may disappoint you, but you will also encounter amazing people. So, keep an open mind.

7. The more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know.
This realization should inspire humility and a continued thirst for knowledge.

8. Embrace your individuality. Your weakness could be strength untapped.

9. Do not judge by the smallness of your beginning. There is little difference in the size of seeds that yield small trees and huge trees.

10. Lastly, time compounds everything. How you spend your time can significantly impact your life. Give Time something meaningful to compound.

What lessons have you learnt from your career journey that define your principles?

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