EmNew Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 This may have escaped your attention during the stress of applying for the visa, selling house, saying goodbyes etc, but to all SAIPA registered accountants, just take note of the following: SAIPA is an IFAC member, and due to this IPA ( Institute of Public Accountants ) in Australia , who is also an IFAC member, have a signed agreement with SAIPA. As a result you can apply to become an IPA member, by providing a certified copy of your SAIPA membership fees, and by proving you are either a fully paid up member with latest tax invoice and proof of payment thereof, or a member in good standing by providing letter of good standing from SAIPA. I dropped the ball on this one, and let my SAIPA membership lapse by not paying the 2016 subscription fees The benefits of the IFAC affiliation of SAIPA just slipped my mind during the whole leaving SA, settling in Aus process. Hoping I can still organise something with IPA, seeing as we're only 9 days into the 2016 subscription year of SAIPA..... and hoping that this post prevents people from making same mistake. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duppies Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 I just checked our SAIPA invoice and it is only due 31/1/16. It was only emailed to us on 7/12/15. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmNew Posted January 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 That is excellent news !!!! I was so used to deadline being 31/12 that I assumed the 2016 subs were the same, and that I had missed the boat by a matter of days. Feel as as if I have just been thrown a lifesaver ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minime Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Hi all I just saw this post and I am very glad I did, as I have not yet decide which way to go with my SAIPA recognition. Just a question, isn't it better to have a CPA regonition in AUS? Would love to hear your feedback! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmNew Posted January 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Hi Minime, I would think that yes, a CPA affiliation does have more clout than an IPA one. CPA has the most members, followed by CA, then IPA. All three have legislative recognition in Australia. IPA is however more geared towards the SME sector. However my rationale is to get membership of an professional accounting body in Australia as easily as possible. At the moment, my SAIPA membership means nothing on my CV to most prospective employers, while an IPA one will hopefully be noticed as it's local. With CPA, there is no mutual recognition agreement with SAIPA like there is with IPA.That means starting the studies / membership process from scratch. I want to get a foot in the door with a professional membership, and then see if I want to go CA or CPA route locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minime Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Hi EmNew The IPA route is definitely more geared towards SAIPA, from the looks of it. I just got my SAIPA recognition in December and it is heartbreaking to not really get any recognition for 6 six years of hard work. I have been doing extensive research on CPA qualification and I am SOOO glad I read this post as I would also rather first get my foot in the door with an IPA recognition. Job wise however it seems that IPA aren't really on the map, but I am sure there are some employers who will support you should you wish to follow the CPA route. Did you have any difficulty getting a job in Australia? I saw you landed in September 2015? How is Melbourne? We are thinking Brisbane or Melbourne, how is the job field? Another thing I have difficulty understanding is when you become a member of a professional body (For example IPA), then why do you have to do a skilled migration assessment? Surely they have evaluated all your qualifications and skills you when you applied for membership? Is it really necessary to do both? Which one would you do first? Sorry for the ten of thousands of questions, as you can see I am the new kid on the block Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmNew Posted January 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Hi Minime, Re skills assessment - it makes sense that a local Aus professional body will want to ensure that your qualifications and work experience are on par with the Australian equivalent, and not rely on the South African membership process to assess that factor. The skills assessment is mandatory for a PR189. It would make no difference if you could get IPA membership whilst still in RSA , it's one of the hoops you have to jump through no matter what. Mmm, don't want to put you off, but yes, I landed in September 2015, and am still unemployed. This is the reason I am investigating options of memberships etc - hoping to boost CV in the meantime while I get some local tax courses done and dusted. Unfortunately I was not in a position time-wise to get some of these ducks in a row before leaving RSA. We are loving Melbourne, and there are tonnes of jobs advertised, but you're competing with locally experienced people for those jobs. I have to admit, I am not impressed with the local recruitment agents - even the ones that state they specialise in accounting and finance jobs. I have had interviews where we've had lovely discussions, and then after a fair amount of time describing what I've done, achieved etc, they ask how much of the experience was gained in Australia............. it's kind of clear as daylight, in black and white on my CV that ALL my experience was in RSA. As soon as I acknowledge/confirm it was in RSA , they back off immediately and I know I am out of the running. It is somewhat frustrating. Hubby is in IT and landed a job almost immediately, so at least there isn't that overwhelming pressure to get a job from a financial perspective in terms of paying the bills etc. A friend is also an accountant, and it took her around 4 months of full time job hunting to get employed, but it happened. So it's perseverance and patience. I lack the latter, but have tonnes of the former to make up for it Don't let this all deter you. If things were really bad for accountants - too few jobs, too many unemployed accountants, the skill would be off the SOL completely. Whilst getting a PR189 does not guarantee employment, I would imagine that the Aussie govt would not be letting in people with certain skills if they didn't feel there was an economic advantage to it. ( note to self, remain positive and remember this tomorrow when applying for jobs ) All the best for your application process. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDTCPT Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 Hi Em, Hope you can get the SAIPA fees sorted and get the IPA membership. All the best for the job hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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