Hi all, hoping to get some advice, after doing research looks like best job prospects (and salaries) for accountants are in alberta and vancouver. As a CIMA qualified I'd have to do one year work experience in Canada to be equivalent CMA qualified. From reading posts by accountants here and elsewhere seems that accountants are taking more junior roles in Canada than at home in order to establish themselves. I would have good IFRS and US Gaap experience but no Canadian GAAP, I do full cycle accounts for multiple international entities in my current role so would deal with equivalent VAT /GST /NI /Canadian Income taxes etc and would imagine I'd pick up a new country pretty easily. However I couldn't afford to take a big salary decrease when we move so interested to hear your experiences if possible....

It will really depend what you are wanting to do - go and work for a tax/audit company (big 4, Grant Thornton, MNP) or go into industry.

I was lucky when we moved here (Calgary) and walked in to a multi-national company that recognises CIMA and was recruited in by a UK CA so he knew my background was sound. I have not bothered to take on CMA as well since my company will only now support one designation.

I did not have to take a pay cut since salaries were higher although I did probably drop a grade based on prior experience but I didn't care since I was in the door and as a result managed to get promoted within the year, then again the following year to a higher level than when I left the UK.

People said to me before I got here that I needed Canadian experience, I did not find that a problem in the slightest (early 2007 in Calgary they were hiring anyone with a pulse it seemed like) but I suppose it depends on what field you are looking at. Certainly dealing with tax I would think that was a pre-requisite or definitely take a drop in grade and salary to get the experience so that you can command a higher rate later on.

Moving countries is expensive, the costs are very real and I reckon it put us back 5 years in terms of financial growth. I know this is not the same for everyone but it is certainly something to consider.

Good luck - flexibility is key; network like crazy and you never know what might turn up.

Helen

Hi, I am in NS and have transferred to CMA as no one knows what CIMA is here.
I did take a job initially in a smaller firm with a smaller salary than I wanted, but 11 months later was able to move to a much bigger company with a better job and now have good earning power.

I have heard of the Canadian experience thing but I had global experience and the bigger companies do recognize that as an asset.

With my first job I had just CIMA, I have had the better job with CMA. Oh and the rules are different now, you no longer have to wait a year to transfer.

Good luck!

thanks for replies, it would be industry I am looking to get into but i am totally flexible as to which industry. Planning a recce in March April time so would hope to meet some recruitment agents then and get some feedback from them on what type of roles they would direct me towards and salary i could expect...i want a controller role but think that I'll have to work my way to that over a year or 2. Your experiences are positive re progression though so thanks for that!

If you are looking for a controller type role then you will be expected to look after all the tax reporting and other compliance matters. Make sure you know what they are and what you need to do. If you can't satisfy the employer that you will not land them in trouble with the tax authorities you are going to hear about a lack of Canadian experience till you are sick to death of it. Don't forget WorkSafe/WCB.

On one of my visits before emigrating I spent three days in Vancouver Public Library reading all the tax stuff I could get my hands on. You don't become an expert in three days but I learned enough to bluff. These days the guides are all available online. Happy reading.

Companies that issue publically traded securities must report using IFRS. Private companies that report to third parties such as banks and bonding agencies use Canadian Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises. This is based on IFRS but is scaled down in some areas. For example, consolidation is optional, reporting of financial instruments and hedging is simplified, and you can use taxes payable rather than future tax.

Micro companies are expected to keep their books in proper order so they can produce an income statement and balance sheet in the format the Canada Revenue Agency want, but otherwise the reporting standard is simply that the financial statements are not misleading.

There are a lot of micro companies around. My experience mirrors Howefamily's. I started with a smaller company at a significant pay cut to what I was earning in the UK. I just wanted a chance to prove myself and a low salary was still a lot more than I could earn sitting at home. Six months later it became a reasonable salary and a year later a good one.

Do you know yet where you are moving to?