J0n35y

Brief background: ICAS qualified senior auditor with 2.5 years PQE. By the time we move I will have had 2-3 years experience in industry with Lloyds. Primarily looking at Ontario's smaller cities but also considering Halifax, NS and possibly, BC in or around Vancouver/Victoria (a huge list of places in other words).

Basically, we plan to settle where the work takes us but looking at workopolis and careerbeacon I see there are some opportunities but not a blow your socks of amount in practice and industry. Having recent experience of job hunting using primarily S1jobs this doesnt surprise me in that the agencies often fill rolls before needing to advertise and the markets will be a little slower but perhaps there are better places to look or ways to go about things and find out?

Im just wondering what to expect in the job hunting and where to key my eyes peeled. Are workopolis and careerbeacon my best bets? I dont think my searches are helping - I think Canada's classification of "accountant" is different to the UKs but would those in the know suggest job sites as the best route or should I start building contacts via recruiting agencies or even maybe accountancy firms themselves explaining my position and overall targets? In latter I wouldnt be asking for a job! Just a little help and advice if they are kind enough to spare the time. We plan to do a recce either later this year or early next year and I would plan on speaking to some people but with the move so far off Im just hoping for some generalisations - ie, dont worry, there'll be plenty of well paid work!!!

Personally, Id rather avoid Toronto/Vancouver itself as a workplace and ideally see my Canadian life being centred around the smaller cities (for example, commuting from Burlington to Hamilton, or Guelph to Kitchener, etc). Im just not sure how abundant accountancy work within practice is in these parts of the world - the job search sites would suggest not very! But population wise I would be amazed if there weren't quite a few accountancy firms.

I know roughly about exams if I were to stay in practice and I know a little about the changes that will be coming into play over the next few years in reporting but it's the actual job hunting itself that I could use a little guidance on.

Hopefully some of you will have experience and can help me out a little. I've probably not made myself clear at all, just got a few million things to think about and work out!!!

Thanks in advance

Checkmate

The Canadian market works extremely differently. Agencies tend to be slow, laid back, and less "driven" than their British counterparts (can be a good or bad thing). Be prepared to chase up leads vigourusly; if an agent doesn't get back to you, oftentimes its just that they haven't even looked at your CV/ resume rather than them deeming you not good enough.

Jobs do exist here, but you need to truly search, and also network. Regarding focusing on smaller ities, there are several within the Greater Toronto Area that are within an hours drive from Toronto itself, but still fully separate functional cities in their own right (i.e. - Brampton, Hamilton, etc).

Checkmate

In addition, Iif indeed you say that you don't plaan on moving out here permanently until the back end of the year, I would use this time as an opportunity to sort out any mutual recognition with the Canadian equivalent body.

A lot of the recuriument consultants - in toronto at least - tend to be British (again - good or bad).

taniapink2

All,

I'm also looking at this question. I'm a dual national and looking at moving to be nearer my father in Vancouver.

I am ACA qualified with ICAEW and did my qualification in the Assurance department at PwC in London. Following qualification in 2007, I have been working in advisory in the Sustainability and Climate Change practice at PwC. So, essentially, as far as accounting is concerned, I am recently qualified.

I have left PwC and am looking for my first role post qualification. In the UK I'm being offered internal audit - is that a good move if I want to bring my experience to Canada?

I'm trying to understand what types of roles a newly qualified ACA who trained in audit is suited for, here in Canada. If I need to take on another role in the UK before moving, what would be the most transferrable experience? Any suggestions?

As for conversion, looking at the icabc website they seem to require accounting experience outside of audit and assurance that a newly qualified ACA wouldn't have acquired or be allowed to have under UK auditor independence rules (e.g. cost accounting, governance, setting kpis and management decision making) - am I understanding this correctly?

What is your advice on the best first move into the Canadian market? I would ideally like to work in Vancouver to be near my ageining father, but could look at Toronto, Calgary, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Blendin

You will be fine. Audit experience is enough.

Budgie1

taniapink2,

I'm actually surprised you didn't go for a transfer with PwC, I would have thought that to be your easiest least risky avenue, but onto your actual question.

My own experience in trying to get decent internal audit work in Vancouver was a complete waste of time, after looking for 3-4 months and getting no where I ended up looking for a week in Calgary and getting 3 offers, one of which I chose, but this was back in early 2008 when the economy was booming.

I would say internal audit is a good choice but you must go for a role with a high SOX flavour and if possible complete your exams to become a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) as that will give you a relevant North American qualification as well.

The problem with Vancouver is that it has very little in the way of 'big business' so the roles you are likely to find will be in the government (which tends to avoid taking on 'risky' foreigners when there are plenty of locals), the next biggest internal audit employers from my experience would be the casino and gaming industry, with some financial services, so if you can get a role with those flavours it may help you as well.

The best place to look for internal audit work is the vancouver institute of internal auditors website, in my experience recruitment consultants in vancouver were hopeless.

http://www.theiia.org/chapters/index...ew.news/cid/26

I'd have a look through the job listings to get an idea of the market and try to match your new role accordingly.

If you decide not to go down the internal audit route, anything IFRS related may well open doors if you want to move in the short-term as well.

Good luck with your search!