If so, sorry for the boring bit, but can anyone tell me how easy it is to get a job in OZ in industry. I'm ACCA with Insurance and Energy experience and looking at Sydney, Brisbane and possibly even Cairns which I know may be difficult to get a job in.

http://www.natrem.com.au/gw/hrm_subjects/recruitment/

This is a good web site with lots of recruitement agencies on it. You can just send them your CV and they can contact you.

Have you thought about registering with CPA or ICAA (I think) the australian version of accountants.

I am a CIMA accounant and I got told that my job prospects were much better if I also had the "local" qualification. So I am going through that process. I am enrolled on a program at the University of Southern Queensland to get the course's required.

Hope this helps - I can supply more info if required.

Jac

Thanks. So are you actually qualifying again in Oz before you try and find a job? Or do you work using CIMA?

Hi

I am still in the UK awaiting decision on Visa. If we get it I am going to go to Brisbane and find a job when we get there. I have worked in Australia before and the system operates much like the UK. You have to register with agengies and think about taking temporary / contract jobs to get a Australian reference before trying the permant market.

I am doing the Australian course (which will give me an Australian degree) just to help me compete with Australian accountants. Hopefully having both qualifications will mean that I don't have to drop down the ladder at all.

I also have energy experiance and I got told that a company called Ergon energy was good to work for. They ahve a web site which I keep checking for any situations vacant.

I've gotta ask. Your energy experience....TXU?

Plus, how much more difficult is it when you don't have the Oz qualification?

no I worked for Gaz de France. How about you were you TXU? I am sure that we will have people we know in common.

As for the qualification / experiance thing I always take the line that if you have something e.g. the degree then you get a tick in that box so it may not do much long term but it will mean I should find getting those 1st couple of jobs easier.

My experiance was quite a few years ago at amuch lower level so I don't think that will hep much. I am trying to upgrade my membership of CIMA from associate to fellow as I think that may help. Not sure what the structure is like for ACCA?

Another good place for Energy accountants is Sydney. I prefer Brisbane because of the life style.

Thanks.

I've now got the ICAA website open. As far as I know, that's an easier route than via the CPA.

I agree about the ICAA being easier.

How fare down the raod are you with your visa application?

We applied in July last year. They requested our Meds and PCC's in March which we sent 6ish weeks ago.

Unfortunately we also have to send Oz police checks which are taking 12ish weeks at the moment. We applied for them about 11 weeks ago and as soon as they arrive, we send them off and fingers crossed, we get the decision.

How about yourself?

we originally applied in January last year but we had to wait until May this year to have our medicals as I was pregnant so I could not have my x-rays until the baby was born.

The final medicals & copy of babys passport was sent off around a week ago so we are now just waiting.

Did you use an agent or do it all yourself.

We did it ourselves..on a budget.

How about you?

Plus, is this your first baby and how's it going?

we did it ourselves also. It took ages to get all of the paperwork correct. The only thing I need to redo was my experiance was not detailed enough so I have sent that back and as I have not heared anything I hope it is all ok.

When I was having my x-ray I met a family who had paid £4k for their agent.

Do they contact your employers? I think I saw a comment about that.

It is actually my second baby. One boy one girl. It just means that we have to sort out childcare on top of everything else.

How about you are you going alone or taking your family?

Hi diddy, I'm ACCA as well, took the proper qualification, none of this cima rubbish !! lol.

Myself and family are off first week of Nov to Brissie, what I have currently done is speak with Hays, Michael Page and Robert Half all of which have offices in Oz. They can organise interviews for you before you even land, you can also do interviews via video conferencing in their offices, I have found them all excellent and well worth a call now. Take a look on their web sites.

I'm pretty sure they contact your employer which for me was Powergen (took over TXU). I left them last year, but for alot of people the references thing is difficult as they don't want employers to know...my current one thinks I'm there for life.


As for family, similar situation to you. We have three year old twins. One boy, one girl, both little monsters. My other half looks afer them most of the time although they're in childcare a couple of days a week which we'll have to look at too over there.

I need to sign off to pick her up from work, so let me know how the application goes.

I look forward to the big "Got it, Got it" post from you.

Hiya,

Great information - I'm ACCA too, and have just started on my main application (got a positive skills assesment from ICAA).

If you find anymore useful info when you get there please let me know, I am going to need to find a job quite quickly.

I have a four year old daughter and am heading for Brisbane.

Thanks
Ali