Hi all

Apologies if I seem a little lazy with not trying to wade through the threads here (or the net for that matter) but Im hoping someone could give me a little help and advice.

My partner and I really fancy a move to Canada and after visiting the Expo in Glasgow and doing a little research myself quite like the look of Ontario, particularly somewhere like Guelph or Burlington. We plan to narrow some potential places down to a handful and visit later in the year as theres only so much you can get from the web. Is there anywhere else we should consider? Is there anywhere suitable for a young family of 3 (and hopefully soon to be 4!) in the Greater Toronto Area that is pleasant, affordable and family friendly or should we stick to a smaller town/city?

I'm fairly clued up on the Visa time frame and costs but Im wondering about my employment chances. Firstly I am a CA (ICAS qualified) with nearly 3 years post qualified experience in practice. How easy is it to become Canadian qualified and how would one go about it? Also, is there plenty accounting/audit based work outside of the GTA (ie. in the places we plan to live)? Im a little concerned that Id have to seek work in Toronto's centre and commute as I do just now but to be honest its part of the reason I want to escape! As much as I love big cities to relax and explore (NY is a hoot) Id rather not work in the middle of them.

I have about a million questions but Im rambling and I'll probably be lucky to get a response at this rate! Id greatly appreciate to hear any views and opinions and look forward to hearing from at least some of you!

Thanks in advance

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

Can't help with info on the areas you've suggested (but doing a search of the forums is bound to find some useful previous threads), but are you aware that 'the list' of 38 occupations in demand is changing soon?

It was announced earlier this week, and nobody knows what occupations will stay on it or be removed, so just in case you weren't aware you may want to get your application in asap in case they take accountants off it.

Best of luck with it all.

Hi christmassompa

Yeah I know the list is likely to change soon but as we have only recently began to take to the idea of the Canadian dream seriously I would never want to rush into such a bid decision (and cost) just for the sake of a little gamble with "the list" and to ensure that we can make it in. But, from what I can gather, accountants/auditors are still in demand. They take years to train and I doubt that the countries needs will have been satisfied in the last 24 months (fingers crossed!). Im assuming that you pay for the application up front?

If things did go down the pan with regards to the skilled workers list we would be very open to the provincial route in any case - assuming that doesnt change too much with new laws. We have visited Halifax in Nova Scotia and really liked it. It might be a little too laid back and quiet for me but I could see myself being very happy there.

I'll check the searches to see if I can find anything but still very much open to any further advice and opinions.

In fact apologies, Ive found some answers on the Wiki which I was rude enough not to read an hour ago. Sorry!

Looks like I would just need to take a final exam to get up to speed with Canadian accounting/auditing practices. Excellent!

Suppose now my partner and I just need to decide if Canada is for us, if Ontario (South West of Toronto-ish) is the place to live and whether we should get the finger out now or risk the skilled workers list changes.

Another question for any accountants out there, I see that your stereotypical Canadian is hard working and doesnt like slackers (fair enough!) so is your average accountancy firm comparable to those in the UK? The firm I work for is a fairly large Scottish firm but I rarely have to work overtime (and I mean rarely) and always do a 9-5. Ive always avoided the UKs big 4 as the hours they work are frankly a joke. I dont mind grafting and putting a shift in but not 8-7 working days with unpaid overtime every day of the week. Has anyone got any generalisations to offer on the Canadian accountancy scene (as well as financial accounting jobs within larger organisations)?

I dont mind grafting and putting a shift in but not 8-7 working days with unpaid overtime every day of the week.

Wait until you find out you will probably only get two weeks vacation per year.

I already know about that. To be honest, it isnt an issue for me. I actually find 4 weeks to almost be too much and regulary have to waste days at the end of the year or else loose them.

Canada is renowned for being laid back and family orientated and I guess I just want to know if people generally stick to the 9-5 days or is there an expectation of employees to do a heap of extra hours because firms cant set budgets/fees properly and someone has to pick up the slack (as is the usual way in the UK)!

Actually Auld Yin, seeing as you are in the GTA, have you been to the likes of London, Guelph or Burlington? All will be a huge change from Falkirk anyway (Im in Scotland).

Funny, I find the 47 odd weeks a year that I have to work a waste. I'd much rather be doing something else.

I would add Waterloo-Kitchener to your Recce as they are just down the road from Guelph.

I have spent 3 days in that area and if I had children it would be where I would head. Nice affordable real estate and a reasonable amount of amenities.

As always the key is where you can land work and what it pays as to the standard of living you will have.

With regards to Canada being laid back. Half day Friday's seem to be the norm where I am working in what some would consider a "pressurised" sales environment.

Yes. I've been to all three and more. All are decent places to live and raise a family. Good amenities, schools and recreation facilities. Yes, I've been to Falkirk also and change is the operative word. A prior post mentioned Kitchener-Waterloo which, as you probably know, is the home of the famous or infamous Blackberry and also a good place/area to live.

Add Georgetown, ON to your list, I lived there for a couple of years and it's a nice small town with good facilities and a community atmosphere.

Canada renowned for being laid back? I think someone may be pulling your leg.

As for your choice of areas, I'm Canadian and grew up in the Burlington area and can highly recommend it. We lived in the northwest of the city (Brant Hills area) for our last 10 years before moving to Australia and there are good schools, transport, amenities, etc. Now, if you're looking for laid back ways Australia is more likely to tick your boxes. Anyway, I digress. Burlington or Guelph, yes. London is not GTA and IMO not a particularly nice place to live.

As a matter of fact, we're discussing moving back to Canada, to Guelph in particular in 2012 so our daughter can attend veterinary school at the university there.

Thanks all for your help!

Fair enough Dorothy, just what I've read! Australia is a definate no no for me.

Alan, all I'm saying is that I wouldnt miss the 2 weeks holiday Id lose in the UK but of course, it'd be a different outlook in Canada.

In short, 2 weeks holiday isnt an issue for me. What is an issue is working long hours and not seeing my family. The firm I work for is a bit of a rarity in Scotland and the UK in that Im out the door at 5 and absolutely never work a weekend. Accounting firms in the UK generally expect longer hours in so far as budgets have to be met. It's kind of an unspoken requirement and if you left at 5 on the dot it wouldnt be long before you're out the door.

As I wrote before, I am not averse to working hard when required (at year ends for example) but it would be a serious issue if say a 35 hour week wasnt the norm. I have worked for my current employers for 5 years and it is time for a change (I actually start a new job at Lloyds in Edinburgh soon) but I love accounts preparation and there are very few places for me to go to that dont demand silly hours.

Hi,

Its worth checking out transport wherever you decide to move to. If you end up taking a job in Toronto the Go train is ideal. Check out the Go train timetables for destinations etc. The travel could add considerable time onto your 9-5?? working day depending on where you live. I think I worked out if I worked in Toronto I could end up leaving the house by 7am and getting back after 7pm. Depends where you live.

My OH will probably end up in Mississauga and this is why we are looking at Guelph and surrounding areas area as well. We have family over there but their town is just a liitle too small, we need a bit more going on especially with the kids.

Good luck.
BMM69

I'm sitting in Guelph. It's a pleasant small town surrounded by fields and dominated by activities related to the university. It's just too far away to commute to Toronto. I'm at a loss to see how it's comparable to Burlington, which is a dormitory suburb of Toronto.