ajthompson

I have recently emigrated to Australia and I am a qualified member of CIMA in the UK.

Has anyone from CIMA ever been excepted for full membership to the CPA in Australia if so how?

So far the advice I have been given is that I have to start from the entry level and complete the CPA program including 3 years being mentored. Is this really the case?if so it seems a bit crazy?.

I do not mind taking bridging examinations for tax and law. However to say I have got to spend another 3/4 years studying and being mentored when I have already done this in the UK (in addition to a degree of 3 years) seems very unfair.

If anyone can has any experience or any advice please let me know!

Thank you ...AJT.

NedKelly

Forgive me for asking, but did you not check this out before you came here? My accountant always told me to plan for everything before I did the deal. Now I know he was talking about tax planning but surely this would be basic instinct for an accountant.

ajthompson

Yes thank you, I did check this out before and was informed that CIMA was excepted in Australia, and that it was a good idea to do the bridging exams for tax and law.

Budgie1

Do you have to become a CPA? I admit that I am completely biased (being a CA) but if I had the choice I would become a Chartered Accountant rather than a CPA in Australia.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia has a formal alliance with CIMA.

Link:

http://www.icaa.org.au/entry/index.c...&id=A105824035

Extract:

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountant (CIMA), UK, continue to explore ways to strengthen their strategic alliance for the mutual benefit of their members.

In 2002 CIMA announced the new pathway for ICAA members to obtain the Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting and ultimately enter full professional membership.

The ICAA has now finalised its new policy on the recognition of CIMA members, the requirements for them to gain the award of Graduate Diploma (ICAA) and ultimately enter into membership of the ICAA.

It is recognised that CIMA members have completed relevant examinations and practical experience and gained a qualification with a focus in management accounting. In general, to gain entry to the ICAA, applicants are required to be degree holders. However, all Associate and Fellow members of CIMA, whether they hold a degree or not, are given recognition by the ICAA for entry into the CA Program.

To apply for membership of the ICAA, CIMA members are required to:


Complete bridging studies at an accredited university; and

Pass the CA Program (exemption/s may apply); and

Satisfy the specific service requirements of the ICAA (as they relate to both the CA Program and membership); and

Provide other information as specified in the By-Laws and Regulations of the ICAA.
Depending on their qualifications and experience, CIMA members can apply for exemptions from one or two modules of the CA Program. CIMA members undertaking the CA Program are able to purchase the candidate learning pack (CLP) for the modules from which they are exempt.

The experience that CIMA members have previously gained can be counted towards the prerequisite service required for enrolment into the CA Program. It also helps to reduce the overall period of accredited and mentored service that forms part of the requirements for membership of the ICAA.

On successful completion of the CA Program a Graduate Diploma (ICAA) is awarded by the ICAA. This qualification can provide credit towards further postgraduate study.

After completing the CA Program and the required period of accredited and mentored service, CIMA members can make an application to become members of the ICAA.

A detailed explanation of the steps for CIMA members to become an Australian Chartered Accountant is provided in the document below.

SunshineGirl

Does your letter of assessment from the ICAA not tell you what you need to do? I'm CIMA too and I'm sure my letter tells me though I can't check it right now.

SunshineGirl

I have to agree, I would too.

I wonder whether, having become an Australian CA, the ICAEW would recognise the qualification and extend membership in the UK?

I knew an Australian CA many years ago who did just that.

ajthompson

This is not really the case as we emigrated to Australia on my hubands qualifications and experience and not mine.

ajthompson

I have seriously considered becoming a CA but have told that CPA is better for industry and commerce. Also, from what I have read on the website (CA) you need to be mentored by a CA approved accountant/company for 2 years.

JAJ

Have you thought about whether you *need* to become a CA/CPA?

Both qualifications have a financial accounting bias - there is no Australian equivalent of CIMA to give full 'recognition'. On the other hand if you do one of them it will add something additional to your CV, not just replicate CIMA.


Jeremy

ajthompson

From meetings that I have had with agencies and interviews, employers prefer Australian experience (understandably). Therefore I thought perhaps if I had an Australian equivalent qualification to CIMA or close to it(CPA/CA); then I would have a better opportunities in the future.

numbers

To be fair also, the ICAA and CPA arent really clear on what you need to do. Im CIPFA (Chartered Institute Public Finance and Accountancy) and work in the Health Service. Ive been researching this for months, but I still dont know where i stand. Ive emailed both CPA and ICAA several times, but they never reply (something im getting used to with Oz orgainsations i must say). So as yet i havent got a clue what I need to do. Given Wages in Auz are Pants, im gonna want to be Qualified unless i have specialist skills which i havent (im a management accountant), so im prepared to study a little, but to start from scratch, NO Way!!. BUt as one post says we need to research this before we go out, yes id love to, but im struggling to be honest. Any Ideas??

Tony

JAJ

Have you been in touch with CIMA's Australia office? They keep lists of recruitment consultants who are familiar with CIMA.

Many Australian recruitment consultants are British, or if they're Australian, have worked a few years in the UK. So they often do know about UK designations.

Lack of local work experience is going to be more of an issue for your *first* professional role in Australia.

Sure - add CPA/CA to your CV and it will be a 'nice to have' but I'd suggest good work experience in Australia is going to be more important.

If you do the CA program, you should be able to find a CA in your workplace who can sign off on your experience. Talk to the ICAA on their requirements, again CIMA Australia might also be able to help clarify things. Their Australia office is in the same building as the ICAA's HQ in Sydney.

Jeremy

Budgie1

This was once the case but if you look at the CA Program and CPA equivalent now they are basically the same now.

There are far more CPAs in Australia than CAs caused by a number of factors - the CPA program has always been 'easier' to get through (M/C exams and no face to face contact) than the CA equivalent (written exams and workshops/assignments to complete) and so has been more popular over the years.

This may be something you want to consider depending on the number of CA subjects you need to complete - you may prefer to sit more of the stand-alone CPA exams than have to work through fewer of the assignments/written exams for the CA but from my understanding of the difficulty of CIMA you should feel right at home with the CA.

Also until the last 10 years or so the main body of CAs came in via the Public Accounting route whereas if you went straight into industry the CPA was the obvious choice. This is not really the case now, as long as you have an experienced CA working at your employer you should be OK.

Budgie1

All excellent advice - I would actually call/visit the office - administrators tend to get 100s of emails and can take some time to respond and typically are over-joyed to actually get to talk to someone!

Personally if you are planning on making Australia 'home' the long term I would definately seek to obtain the CPA or CA to give you a nice solid foundation that will ensure you always get through to the interview stage.

Finally if you are planning on staying in OZ for a few years and then branch out to explore another part of the world the CA qualification will help you hands down more than the CPA globally IMHO as they have far more agreements (similar to the CIMA one) with other overseas accounting bodies.

worzel

Don't confuse Australian experience with an australian qualification. I have spoke to some Aussies who work for the London office of global recruiters and they told me that working in industry while only having an English qualification won't be much of a problem. But they also said to expect to start a rung or two down the ladder as employers are naturally sceptical that you could be one of those poms that don't stay in Australia or that your style / sense of humour may not fit in etc.

Doing the exams to convert to an Australian qualification may help widen the number of jobs you can apply for but only if you fancy Sarbanes-Oxley / IFRS / audit work (I don't!) on the whole. Where I think it will help most is showing a sense of commitment to Australia and being flexible / hard working.