Question for the CA's Options

[Frankenstein]

My son is finishing his BComm (Acc) at Stellenbosch this year, and wants to become a CA. He is unsure about whether to do his articles in Souh Africa and then come over, or to do it here. He knows that he has to repeat certain subjects like tax and mercantile law anyway. He is on my 163 visa and will get residency when I do, so from that point of view it does not matter if he stays there for another year or two.

I would like to hear from CA's or accountants what they think the pro's and cons would be from a professional and career point of view (we know about all the other pro's and cons - that's not what I'm interested in here).

Thanks

[clairebear]

My son is finishing his BComm (Acc) at Stellenbosch this year, and wants to become a CA. He is unsure about whether to do his articles in Souh Africa and then come over, or to do it here. He knows that he has to repeat certain subjects like tax and mercantile law anyway. He is on my 163 visa and will get residency when I do, so from that point of view it does not matter if he stays there for another year or two.

I would like to hear from CA's or accountants what they think the pro's and cons would be from a professional and career point of view (we know about all the other pro's and cons - that's not what I'm interested in here).

Thanks

Hi Frankenstein

I have actually just completed my Bcom Accounting degree with Unisa. I am moving to Perth in December. When I visited Perth last year I went to 2 universitys (Curtin and Edith Cowen) I was told that its better to go over with a completed degree and that if the degree is completed its normally about 4 modules that need to be redone which can be completed in 6 months.

My father was told by an account in Perth that the articles in Australia are only about 39 weeks (I may be wrong) but that is a lot less than the 3 years you have to do is South Africa. That to me is a huge pro!

When I go over I am going to convert my degree and do the 4 modules and then do my articles in Aus.

the university also said if I had completed my articles in South Africa you need to then have your qualification assessed by the CAA in Australia, whereas if your son did his articles in Aus he would not need to do that

Hopefully this info is useful to you

This post has been edited by clairebear: Jul 28 2010, 06:27 PM

[jukeboXXX]

To be able to finish your studies there they will have to assess your degree in any case.

[Frankenstein]

Thanks for all the answers. I sent it on to him, and he has sent me some more questions:

Should I complete my BAccounting honours before going to Australia(i.e. in South Africa) or should i comlete my degree and do Honours in Australia after the conversion module?
What requirements are there to transfer to Australia and qualify to do Honours?
How should I go about applying for either Honours or articles in Australia?

As for the last question - I suppose it would just be an application through the university of your choice, but don't know about the first 2.

Thanks again

[clairebear]

Hi,

I would personally do the Honours in Aus. I know one of the modules for Honours in SA is Tax which would also need to be converted.

the other questions I am not to sure of but if I was your son I would google universities in the city you are going to be staying in and email them. I was in correspondance with 2 universities via email before i went in to see them and they were very helpful

[Willem Kruse]

Frankenstein,

I suggest your son reads a bit more on becoming a CA is Australia so that he fully understands what is required. I say that because he is asking about where he should be doing his Honours while there is no requirement to do an honours. In Australia you do a degree and then what is referred to as "the CA program", whilst doing your practical training. To what extent his degree will be accepted, he will have to establish that with ICAA. Tell him to go to the website of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia website (http://www.charteredaccountants.com.au/) and check it out first hand. I am always weary people making important decisions on second-hand information so I urge him to do his own research and then make an informed choice, rather than to make a decision based on factually inaccurate information people might give on this forum. Why does he not email the ICAA and ask them how it all works, etc and get it straight from the horse's mouth?

[Frankenstein]

Thanks all for the input. Willem, I think your suggestion is the correct one - I will pass it on to him. Thanks for the info.

Frans

[Willem Kruse]

Frans,

Another thing I forgot to mention. SAICA have a reciprocity agreement with ICAA that means you can register as a CA in Australia (if you are a registered CA in SA) without the need to write any exams. It used to be that you had to do Tax & Company law but that requirement was scrapped a few years ago. I registered here without having to do those subjects.

Also, if I may give my opinion, I would suggest that he rather do his articles here. I say that because the Australian tax system works quite differently to the SA one and their laws are different too. Things like payroll tax, the GST act, stamp duty etc is quite different. It would stand him in good stead and prepare him well for his career if he has that knowledge. I qualified in SA, work there many years, came to Australia and although I could register as a CA here, I kept it a secret that I was a CA because I really did not know how things worked at all. It takes many years to get to know the system (with all its peculiarities) in a new country, so I think if he is going to do practical training in SA it might be a waste of time in certain respects as he would have to re-learn many things when he comes to Australia.

Good luck with your decisions!