Trainee Accountant thinking about relocating to UK or Oz to finish off my training

Jockey

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I am currently training to be an accountant. 1 year done 2 to go. I am thinking about relocating to the UK or Austrailia to finish off my training. I am just looking for any advice off anyone who might have done this. Any comments would be much appreciated.
 
Re: Change of Scenery

UK will likely be a lot simpler from a work permit point of view. While employers can sponsor workers in Oz I'm not sure how easy this would be for part-qualified staff whereas this is not an issue for the UK.

Also the accounting standards framework and much company law (at least to the extent it derives from EU directives) should be more similar between Ireland and UK than Ireland and Oz.
 
Re: Change of Scenery

dam099 said:
...
Also the accounting standards framework and much company law (at least to the extent it derives from EU directives) should be more similar between Ireland and UK than Ireland and Oz.

If studying for ACCA exams there is nothing to stop you taking the Irish variant papers even if sitting exams in Oz

That said, with IFRS being applied, there shouldn't be a huge difference anyway
 
Re: Change of Scenery

AJC said:
If studying for ACCA exams there is nothing to stop you taking the Irish variant papers even if sitting exams in Oz

That brings to mind another point too on what qualification the OP is currently pursuing. If it is ACCA or one of the other international institutes then presumably what you have already passed is automatically counted wherever you are. If doing ICAI or one of the other local institutes you will probably have to transfer to a different institute and apply for exemptions.
 
Thanks for all your comments. I am studying ACCA as i always had plans to travel anyway and the ACCA qualification is recognised world wide. I am wondering what kind of salary i would receive. I am thinking it can't be any worse than here! Anyone got any ideas? I have my mind set on Edinburgh..
 
I would think very carefully about this, not meaning to put a downer on your plans, but you need to think about why you want to move.

Is this a temporary or permanent move? If only temporary, finish the exams here or do the irish exams abroad. If permanent then do them in the UK. That said I'm not sure how easy it will be to transfer. There are more issues here than just accounting and auditing standards. Most small/medium businesses and firms of accountants will expect you to be able to deal with tax issues as well as accounting issues. The transition is not as easy as one would think.

To explain, I did my degree in University of Limerick in 96 and moved to Uk where i sat and got my exams, I qualified in 2001 having started from scratch, no exemptions available as degree work Irish related not Uk. I then moved back to IReland in 2005 Feb, to work in small practice in Portlaoise, I must admit it was a steep learning curve. as a qualified accountant, with little or no tax knowledge. I was there six months and was 'let go' a six month contract. I spent from Sept until Jan looking for work in Ireland. I admit i am now working and think i have a handle on things tax wise etc, but still struggle at times.

On your own issue, I cant really see the difference other than its the other way around. I also have Irish institute membership, great you say, but for rest of working life, have to pay membership to both UK and Ireland.

Think hard about long term plans, and good luck with the decision

PS are there not jobs available to relocate to carribean or other places for a 6/12 month contract, etc from Ireland, these were always being advertised in Uk
 
Thanks for your advice. I will think good and hard before making a decision. I would love to work in the carribean, the problem is they don't advertise for trainees or part qualified and i am still at the stage where i am learning. I think the main reason i want to leave is that i am in a practice where the training isnt the best to put it mildly and i just feel like i am not progressing as well as i thought i would be...
 
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