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Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Australia

Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Australia

Old Jul 3rd 2013, 4:41 pm
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Default Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Australia

Dear All,

This is my first post to the forums! I am seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Australia (preferably Sydney but would also consider Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth).

I am just about to become fully qualified with the ICAEW. I am 25 years old, and I have lived in Cambridge, England my entire life. I have trained with a Top 30 Cambridge Firm of Accountants. My role is very varied, I manage my own portfolio of clients and undertake various work from preparing limited company accounts, tax planning, corporation tax returns and audits.

Are there many job opportunities for ICAEW members migrating to Australia? I understand I may need to sit some further exams to convert to the Australian equivalent and would be happy to do this.

I've heard stories that Australia is currently a tough nut to crack for Chartered Accountants and therefore I'm now wondering whether I should instead be looking elsewhere.

I could probably find a job in London with a salary of around £30,000 p/a quite easily. However, I would be happy to accept a little bit less in Australia.

What attracts me to Australia is the lifestyle, which seems a lot more appealing to me personally than England.

Also, then there is the VISA legislation which seems never ending! What is the success rate for Chartered Accountants having applications approved? Does anyone have any guidance on how to improve the chances of a VISA application being successful?

Would it be advisable for me to travel over to Australia for a couple of weeks and organise some meetings with recruitment consultants? Or would that be a waste of time?

I would appreciate any advice given! Thank you in advance.

Regards,

Andrew
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Old Jul 3rd 2013, 5:50 pm
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Default Re: Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Austr

As long as you have enough experience (I don't know how much that is these days) to satisfy the ICAA for your skills assessment, you'll have no problem getting a visa. You may need post-qualification experience though. Check the ICAA website. Getting a job will probably be more problematic than getting a visa in the current climate.

What I did, many moons ago, was join one of the big firms in London and get a secondment to Sydney. I could have stayed, but didn't and now, 25 years later, am planning a second bite of the cherry. Maybe look into that?
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Old Jul 4th 2013, 5:00 am
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Default Re: Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Austr

Originally Posted by louie
As long as you have enough experience (I don't know how much that is these days) to satisfy the ICAA for your skills assessment, you'll have no problem getting a visa. You may need post-qualification experience though. Check the ICAA website. Getting a job will probably be more problematic than getting a visa in the current climate.

What I did, many moons ago, was join one of the big firms in London and get a secondment to Sydney. I could have stayed, but didn't and now, 25 years later, am planning a second bite of the cherry. Maybe look into that?

There's no work experience requirement for a migration skills assessment from the ICAA - they look at qualifications and membership of the ICAEW is deemed equivalent to an Australian degree, resulting in a positive assessment.

The points position needs to be reviewed if applying for a subclass 189 or 190 - a 190 is probably the way to go with sponsorship from the State or Territory in which the OP wants to live.

As to work opportunities: accountancy is a broad church, covering audit, tax, accounts prep, budgeting, etc. Top 30 firm experience will be a positive, but it may well be one step backwards before you can move forwards.

Best regards.
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Old Jul 4th 2013, 7:05 am
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Default Re: Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Austr

Hi - was recruiting Accountants up until December last year - I certainly wouldn't come to Perth. Mixed news on east coast, check out www.seek.com.au - I hear Melbourne market is ok-ish, I think it's pretty tough everywhere tbh.

I wouldn't spend valuable coin coming over just to meet recruitment consultants (and I used to be one, rubbish!). Do your research online and apply directly to companies you want to work for, saying that you have the necessary funds / visa etc and proposed date of availability to start work. Companies these days seem comfortable with skype / telephone interviews as long as your credentials look good on paper.

Recruitment agencies here in my experience are more likely to just speculatively punt your CV out in the hope that someone might pay them a fee. In the current climate, you could be waiting a while. Best to be proactive yourself and show commitment & determination to make it happen.

Best of luck!
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Old Jul 4th 2013, 11:42 am
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Default Re: Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Austr

You are not going to have too much trouble getting a visa, but the market is tight for accountants and your experience with a Top 30 Cambridge company is so-so.

I think the better career option would be to take up a role in London for a couple of years ago, after that you would be infinitely more marketable and it would make your transition to the other side of the world a lot smoother.

Don't be too swayed by "Australian lifestyle", your lifestyle is down to you and you alone. None of us were handed a new lifestyle as we disembarked the plane.
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Old Jul 12th 2013, 10:03 am
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Default Re: Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Austr

Thanks all for your replies. Seeing if I can find a suitable job in London with the possibility of a secondment sounds like a good idea... I will certainly be looking into this. I'll also look into applying directly to few firms in Australia and see if I have any luck, can anyone advise what kind of VISA I should have in place before applying (ie will I only get positive responses if I have a VISA in place).

In all instances I'll certainly be keeping my options open. If I find a job in London which boosts my skills and increases my chances of finding a job in Australia in a couple of years time I'll strongly consider it.

BR.
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Old Jul 12th 2013, 10:24 am
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Default Re: Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Austr

Originally Posted by AD03
Thanks all for your replies. Seeing if I can find a suitable job in London with the possibility of a secondment sounds like a good idea... I will certainly be looking into this. I'll also look into applying directly to few firms in Australia and see if I have any luck, can anyone advise what kind of VISA I should have in place before applying (ie will I only get positive responses if I have a VISA in place).

In all instances I'll certainly be keeping my options open. If I find a job in London which boosts my skills and increases my chances of finding a job in Australia in a couple of years time I'll strongly consider it.

BR.
I don't think having a visa will assist you very much until you get here, because there is an abundance of accountants. However, if you arrive here with a skilled migrant visa (when you are ready), then it will put you in a much better position than if you arrived on a working holiday.

Unless you have an Australian OH hidden away somewhere, I should think that covers your visa options.
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Old Jul 12th 2013, 2:46 pm
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Default Re: Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Austr

Originally Posted by Bermudashorts
I don't think having a visa will assist you very much until you get here, because there is an abundance of accountants. However, if you arrive here with a skilled migrant visa (when you are ready), then it will put you in a much better position than if you arrived on a working holiday.

Unless you have an Australian OH hidden away somewhere, I should think that covers your visa options.
Unfortunately not! A visa in place before the endeavor sounds like good advice. Although that might tempt me into booking a preliminary holiday. Thanks.
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Old Jul 13th 2013, 7:46 am
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Default Re: Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Austr

There is an abundance of accountants in Sydney (and probably in other Oz coties as well) due to many firms outsourcing and retrenching. I know a recruiter at PwC who told me they now recruit mostly contractors only for their busy periods. And many of their work paper docs are now outsouced to the Philippines! Many of the banks are outsourcing as well, and other industries are struggling as well. No one will entertain you unless you have the specialised skills they are looking for. In general your skills and experience must match the listed ones in the job ads, and they will almost need to see face to face in order to consider you. Otherwise you will find it very difficult. Your best option may be to work in a big accounting or financial services firm in London for a few years.
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Old Jul 15th 2013, 8:47 pm
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Default Re: Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Austr

There may be an abundance of "Accountants" (per above) but finding good ones (in Perth) is difficult - if your confident (but not arrogant), speak and write fluent English (which as a Brit I'd hope you would) and are prepared to roll your sleeves up you'll land a job - and probably a pretty good one! With a Visa in place and if your switched on and good at selling yourself you'll be fine. I have employed many accountants over the last 15 years (in Oil and Gas) and finding good ones can be pretty tough!
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Old Jul 17th 2013, 9:35 am
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Default Re: Chartered accountant seeking advice in respect of migrating from England to Austr

Originally Posted by AusManCometh
There may be an abundance of "Accountants" (per above) but finding good ones (in Perth) is difficult - if your confident (but not arrogant), speak and write fluent English (which as a Brit I'd hope you would) and are prepared to roll your sleeves up you'll land a job - and probably a pretty good one! With a Visa in place and if your switched on and good at selling yourself you'll be fine. I have employed many accountants over the last 15 years (in Oil and Gas) and finding good ones can be pretty tough!
I am wondering where these Australian CFO's have been getting there qualifications and experience. I have seen EA's handling petty cash with more internal controls than some of these clowns.


Lucky I have a good English one.
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