Government jobs provide excellent job stability and
security — says, Suman Malhotra, an audit officer
JUNE 10, 2018
Insights
1. You have excellent job stability and security in government jobs.
2. The pay is not very good, and the work is tedious.
3. You need to be on the move, from one place to another as and when
your seniors require.
4. Audit work is a lot like detective work.
5. You have to have good skills in Microsoft Office, especially Word and
Excel.
6. There might be a chance of overseas posting.
7. Government jobs bring good respect in the society.
Profile Details
Name – Suman Malhotra
Profession – Audit officer
Age – 48
Gender – Female
City – Delhi
Industry – Government service
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/suman-malhotra-70788361
Where have you been born and raised?
I was born and raised in Delhi. My mother was graduate in BA Sanskrit. She
was a school teacher in Bikaner. My father was an entrepreneur and had his
own business in dairy farming and agriculture. I had three brothers, but one of
them passed away six years ago. I studied at Lahore Montessori School till
class four. Later, I studied at Vidhyabhavan, Rajendra Nagar. I was a class
topper till class tenth and took up science in 11th and 12th grade.
Who all had the most influence on you and how?
My mother had the most influence on me as she sacrificed her career in order
to be a stay-at-home mother. I saw the effect it had on her and I decided to
join the government to make myself financially stable and independent.
Please give us a summary of your career.
I did my B.Sc. in Computer Science from Shivaji college Delhi University from
1987–90. I started my M. Sc. in mathematics but couldn’t clear the last paper,
so I don’t have a degree. I got married while doing MSc, so I dropped studies.
Eventually, in 1990 I joined Comptroller and Auditor General of India and have
been working here since then.
Which institutes are best for the education/training of this
profession?
There is no institution as such for the post of an audit officer. Just like UPSC
is for class 1 officers, Staff Selection Commission selects class 2 officers and
below that too.
What are the costs associated with the education/training of
this profession?
The costs are quite low. Since it’s a particular exam, it is all about
self-preparation. It isn’t even necessary to join a coaching center.
How does one enter this profession?
The minimum requirement is being a graduate. Earlier it was for graduates
from any stream, but now they prefer students from the commerce stream.
What is the range of salary one can expect when starting out in
your line of career & industry?
5–10 years of experience 1 lakh INR per month
10–15 years of experience 1.5–2 lakhs INR per month
20+ years of experience 3–3.5 lakhs INR per month
Please describe your work.
I work in the defense (armed forces) audit. We prepare the audit of the army
revenue. We look at the expenditure and bills. I work 8.5 hours per day and 5
days a week. Sometimes we have over time, therefore, I am called on
Saturday also to work. Over time, however, is not paid.
What are some of the positives, which would encourage
someone to consider government jobs?
There are quite a few positives to be considered:
1. In government jobs, you have a stability and a security of job and
finances.
2. The government jobs give you reputation and generate respect for you
in the society.
3. You have travel benefits and there is a chance of being posted
overseas.
4. The work timings are usually fixed in government jobs thereby providing
you a decent work-life balance.
What are some of the challenges that you would want someone
to be aware of when considering this career/job?
Despite the positives, there are quite a few negatives to consider:
1. You don’t have a choice in the all India posting so you cannot change it
to suit your requirements.
2. You will be given a lot of work and responsibility in this field.
3. One needs to be on the move, from one place to another as and when
your seniors require.
4. Owing to this you may not have a good family life as you are unable to
settle in one place.
5. The pay is not very good when compared to the workload.
What are the relevant trends/skills/technologies that are
currently commanding a premium in your job profile?
You need to know how to deal with excel and word documents and the basics
of finance. One should be able to dig up facts quickly. You will, therefore,
need to have extensive knowledge of your subject.
What kind of person would be happy in your career?
The person who has strong reasoning skills and a grasp on any sort of new
rules and regulations. They should be able to adapt to different situations.
They should also have an instinct for detective work.
Given another choice, what would you do differently as far as
your professional selections are concerned?
I would want to be an IAS officer because I work with them and I think I could
be as good as they are.
What would be your advice to students or professionals who
are just starting their journey on a path similar to yours?
Fall in love with traveling and reading. You need to be predisposed to
mathematics and finance. Once you start doing what you love you will not find
the process tedious.
You may also like to check our conversation with Ms. Preeti Sharma
(Chartered Accountant at DMIC Integrated Industrial Township, Greater Noida
Ltd)
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