HuggyBear Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 Hi. Anybody manage to find work from sa. If so how did you Do it?I have B.com acc degree with 5 odd years experience.Looking at Sydney as an option initially. Would like to live in a family friendly area. Will not have a car to start with and have a wife and 2 young kids of 4 and 2. Can I make do without a car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nallan Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 Hi You can make do without a car in Sydney, public transport is good, initially it might be confusing to figure out.We rented a cheap car when we first got herehttp://www.rentabomb.com.au/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RYLC Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 (edited) SOME people find jobs before moving but it is not that common and is usually a reflection on the scarcity of their skills or perhaps a transfer within an international company. In my opinion (I'm in the accounting field) it will be difficult to get into accounting from RSA. Accountants are plentiful in Oz and unless you were say a forensic accountant who had something unique to offer, there would be no need to look overseas for a run of the mill accountant. What area of accounting are you in? Audit / tax / ?Re no car: with two young kids you might want to do the bulk of your groceries online because I wouldn't want to drag two kids and all those bags on a bus. Edited November 4, 2015 by RYLC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyBear Posted November 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 Thanks all.@RYLC I hear you. I'm not a qualified acctant ie CA but have general finance experience ie AP,AR, Fin management etc.also have a lot of banking experience.Trying to gauge my employment prospects when I get there.Hugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nallan Posted November 5, 2015 Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 I have lots of friends who are Accountants, there is always work for accountants, it may not be salaries like South Africa but I'm sure you will find work. There are also accountants that do some sort of IT Software certification and work on the IT side of finance or some go into bookkeeping and work from home ($25-$50 p/h).You will find a job, it may be quick or take a little time but you have to be here.You biggest advantage would be your ability to speak English, many immigrants (Thailand,India,Sri Lanka etc) are accountants but the language can prove to be a barrier for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RYLC Posted November 5, 2015 Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 some go into bookkeeping and work from home .Bookkeeping services are now regulated (since about 2010) and you have to be a tax agent or BAS Agent to do most bookkeeping services unsupervised running your own business. Have a look at www.tpb.gov.au for information about registering. You have to have insurance and undertake continuing professional development.The days of the backyard bookkeeper are over now and there are huge penalties for both you and the client if somebody reports you. Just not worth it.also have a lot of banking experience.Then make sure you use job titles and descriptions that highlight banking rather than accounting because otherwise people reading you CV may get the wrong idea about your skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsta Posted November 5, 2015 Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 (edited) From what I hear, its tough for Accountants in Aussie. I may need to be corrected here, but they have removed or are planning to remove some accounting related skills from the Skills in demand list. So people with those skills won't be able to get a skilled VISA.Accounting doesn't pay well here, considering how expensive it is to study it here.As for a car, you can get by without one in most parts of Sydney. The problem is a 30min round trip to the shops by buss may only take 10 mins in your car. You will quickly realise that public transport is mostly for commuting to work. Edited November 5, 2015 by monsta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryHeyns Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 This is not good news at all...I have just started the process for a 189 visa for Accountant 2111, I honestly hope they don't remove it from the skills list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFreshStart Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 From what I hear, its tough for Accountants in Aussie.Accounting doesn't pay well here, considering how expensive it is to study it here.My wife is probably an anomaly, but she had been with one of the Big 4 for a decade in Audit.She had her pick of Melbourne or Sydney, transferred with them and they paid for our VISA's, flights, relocation costs and gave us a settling in allowance, which they write off pro-rata over 2-years.She's a senior manager and in that bracket with Big 4 experience you'll earn $140 - $180k a year, partners earn in excess of $300k a year, so sure there might be better paying jobs... but there are worse ways to spend your tuition vs income potential say 10-15 years down the track.I agree it's harder for those with basic accounting skills, without a B.com and not SAICA registered, but everyone of her colleagues at her level has walked into a job here.CheersMatt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyBear Posted November 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 @matt. Thanks always good to hear positive stories. If you don't mind me asking is your mrs a CA? Anyway my opinion my chances probably better in oz than back home with affirmative action etc.@barry regarding accountants being removed from list. There is speculation every year apparently. My suggestion is get cracking next list only updated on jul next year perhaps you will still make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFreshStart Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 (edited) @matt. Thanks always good to hear positive stories. If you don't mind me asking is your mrs a CA? Anyway my opinion my chances probably better in oz than back home with affirmative action etc.Hughgb,Yes, she studied a BBusSc with a focus on Finance, did her GDA and has been CA registered with SAICA for over 8-years. Here she suffers a bit from gender inequality in the workplace, though the landscape is changing and most firms have goals in place over the next 5-years to address some of the imbalance, but in South Africa she'd be facing this alongside affirmative action, so she feels it's one less issue she has to face as she continues to climb the corporate ladder.CheersMatt Edited November 20, 2015 by AFreshStart 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RYLC Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 I think perhaps the key is that your wife is in AUDIT. Plenty of scope for jobs in audit because it is an international standard whereas tax is country by country so training will be required. For general accounting: accounting and tax software is getting smarter year on year and connects seamlessly to the tax department already. The industry thought is that low level accounting and tax prep will be automated in the not too distant future. People need to know this so they can move with the times. Have a look at www.xero.com as their software has really disrupted the market for ordinary accounting services. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cujo Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 If you want to find a job in tax (called Business Services) then I would recommend that you study a course in Australian Taxation Law. There are a few unis that are recognised by CAANZ and are distance learning. Like USQ. The list is on the CAANZ website. Thay being said Australian tax law are more complicated than South African tax. GST is similar to VAT but not on a like for like basis. One avenue is to study the tax courses and then work for ITP or HR & Block. They focus mainly on individual tax returns. Or maybe you will be lucky amd find work as a junior accounant in a loca CA or CPA firm. The main audit methodology is Australia is similar than south africa as they follow the IAB called the AASB. Another massive money spinner for local accounting firms are smsf (self managed super funds). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cujo Posted November 24, 2015 Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 I used Mariam Awad. She is a recruiting agent that assisted me in obtaining my current job. She also helped a former work mate of mine. Her contact details are mariam@accountantjobs.com.au or 0424 522 052 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyBear Posted November 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 Thanks all for your replies.appreciate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyBear Posted December 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 @cujo if you don't mind me asking what are your qualifications. Also just a BCom Acc? I did send an email to Mariam but haven't heard anything. anyway still think/hope my employment prospects better there than in SA. I like your idea of doing a course on Taxation etc. Unfortunately I never completed my articles so I guess the audit firms are a no no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cujo Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 Hi Hughgb. I did my CA in south Africa and then after working for a CA firm in Australia I registered for my Australian CA. You probably find that Mariam specialise in public practice accountants. You can go the CPA route which is easier. Or if you want to stay in corporate maybe you should look at changing carwer paths into management or something similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyBear Posted April 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 hi cujo. Hope u well. Looks like I will be able to get cpa oz as I should have a Cima uk. Need to brush up on tax knowledge. Can you recommend a reputable course I can do on taxation. If possible pls send me link. I believe u mentioned UNQ online course previously but couldn't find what u were referring to. If anybody else can recommend a course I would appreciate it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.