Accountancy in BP?

Question

I am applying for an accountancy position with BP, I am interested in the Hydro Carbon Accountant position. One problem, I have never worked in the oil & gas field. Is this a problem. Secondly, I do not know what the Sabones Oxley Self Assessment is, also I am not familier with USGAAP and only have limited knowledge of IFRS - is this a problem?

Out of interest I am the accountant for an international procurement agency so I have experience of the group accounting side of things.

Should I bother to send in the C.V?

Answer 1

Yes, you've got a problem. BP can have their pick of accountants, the job advert should tell you what experience they want but it seems unlikely they are going to be interested in you if your CV says you have no experience in oil and gas.

Send your CV in, the worst that can happen is that they reject you. But if you get an interview I suggest using Google (oops...Yahoo) to do a bit of homework. You can find out the basics for Sarbannes Oxley and US GAAP - but the fact that you haven't worked in America will still count against you. You can get a lot of information about IFRS and the Oil & Gas industry online - certainly enough to talk confidently to an interviewer.