Amazon Non-Tech Level-down from SFA to FA

Apotex
HolidayFor

Apotex

HolidayFor
3d 38 Comments

Situation: I applied for a Senior Financial Analyst role (FP&A, ask for 5YOE) with Amazon and was invited to Financial Analyst (Controllership, ask for 3YOE) VO. Currently I’m preparing for the VO.

Context: I have 10 YOE and CPA, MBA (non-target, top 3 in Canada), currently a SFA but would be equivalent to a IC Manager in other companies (had 2 offers from other companies, did not go). My interest is in FP&A not Controllership.

Question: Should my strategy be try to get in the door and aim to get a promotion and later transfer to FP&A roles? Or get experience from the VO, if obtain an offer do not accept, and reapply for SFA roles a few months later? Or do not proceed with VO onsite at all (is there any downside to it)?

Current TC 120 CAD
Max TC recruiter provided for the FA role is also 120 CAD

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 38 Comments
  • Amazon
    🍌 + 🥜

    Go to company page Amazon

    🍌 + 🥜
    It takes roughly 1.5 years (or longer) to move from FA to SFA. You need to ask yourself whether you will be ok with the FA comp for the next 1.5 years. Down level is common but your YOE seems more aligned to SFA.
    3d 4
    • Amazon
      pipfactory

      Go to company page Amazon

      pipfactory
      No, those other offers hold zero weight, only your ability to provide data driven examples that demonstrate you can raise the bar as an SFA.
      2d
    • Apotex
      HolidayFor

      Apotex

      HolidayFor
      OP
      Thanks. The example I provided was not data driven. My mistake.
      2d
  • Amazon / Finance
    amzmanager

    Go to company page Amazon Finance

    amzmanager
    I would reply later. You have too much experience to accept FA role. Getting to SFA will take 2 years minium and you get lower pay VS externally hired at SFA.
    Yesterday 2
    • Apotex
      HolidayFor

      Apotex

      HolidayFor
      OP
      Thank you for your insight!
      Yesterday
    • Amazon / Finance
      amzmanager

      Go to company page Amazon Finance

      amzmanager
      Promotion timeline with a laterial transfer might add a year as well so think 2.5 to 3 years before L6 promo
      Yesterday
  • Amazon
    aRzu33

    Go to company page Amazon

    aRzu33
    Amazon almost always targets candidates at a higher level than the role (i.e. Sr Mgr to Mgr). I doubt your dated example was the sole reason for the down level. It is more complicated than “get in the door and aim for promo.” Let the recruiters know you are only interested in SFA roles.
    3d 3
    • @Amazon do you mean they target a lower level? From what I’ve seen it depends on what the person was handling before. Ie a person that’s a finance manager at at place with $100 million revenue/year will probably be a fin analyst at Amazon. I have a few friends that work there and were downleveled also.
      3d
    • Amazon
      aRzu33

      Go to company page Amazon

      aRzu33
      Yes, Amazon will argue scope which can be difficult to counter.
      2d
  • What is VO?
    Yesterday 1
  • Apotex
    HolidayFor

    Apotex

    HolidayFor
    OP
    Forgot to mentioned that I went to telephone screening for 2 SFA roles and probably did a mistake by giving an example from 5 years ago. I suspect that was what caused the down-level.
    3d 0