[jkhosking]

Hi,

I am in the process of completing my EOI and am having difficulty interpreting the immigration requirements around the Long Term Skill shortage list, and am hoping by some miracle I am able to collect at least 140 points. In light of the info below, can anyone advise whether I would be able to collect additional points to get me over this threshold:

1) I have a BCompt degree in accounting & audit via University of South Africa (which will give me 50 points, as it is included on the list of universities)
2) I am also a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the UK (this is a post graduate qualification, but is not listed on the Immigragtion website, so I am not sure whether I get any additional points for this). ACCA is a global organisation and has presence in NZ.
3) I have at least 10 years accounting/audit experience

Upon inspecting the Long Term Skills shortage list, I noticed that NZ has a shortage of auditors, but according to the supporting comments, you need to be a holder of a relevant degree (which I have), but you also need to be a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, (which is where I fall short)

In conclusion, I am a qualified accountant with the relevant audit experience, but having inspected the requirements on the Long Term Skills shortage list, it would appear that my qualifications are not suitable/adequate?

Does anyone have any advise?

Thank you in advance

Justin

[dusk]

just had a quick look and I think you have read it correctly, you need to be a member of the NZ organisation in order to claim the bonus points.

Worth getting in touch with that organisation and seeing what joining entails...

[jkhosking]

Dusk, thanks for your response.

Registering with this organisation would not be feasible, as it would require additional examinations to convert my qualification. It would be easier for me to rather obtain a job offer to get me over the 140 point threshold.

I just struggle to understand why the ''auditor'' role has such specific requirements? Allllllllllllllll of the other areas in which there are long term skill shortage require just a 'relevant degree'.

ACCA is a recognised accountancy body in NZ, so I really dont understand why it is not accepted?

[Janey]

Hi JK
I too am an accountant Ithink you will need also to get you qualification assessed as it is not recognised (I am CIMA and this is taught in NZ but still not recognised) this can take 2-3 months so might be worth doing. I also enquired about the auditor questionas I had work expereince in this area and told I would need to register with NZCA and take additional exams, I agree with you it is easier to wait to a job offer, when this comes along you will see you can claim points for Immediate skills shortage as well being a senior accountant but you may not need this
good luck!

[jkhosking]

Thanks Janey - anyone else experience similar dialema?

[maoli]

I just submitted by EOI in January with a score of 105 with no job offer. I am a financial analyst, however, I don't have any charted accountant credentials (I'm from the States) nor do I have a CPA or any other credentials. I do have over nine years of experience primarily in the banking industry. I find it strange that only auditors are on there skill shortage list when looking at the NZ Herald jobs sections, there are over 700 accounting jobs that are open. Accounting makes up the second largest group of vacant positions after IT. Am I missing something?

[JandM]

No idea, I'm afraid. But hello, and welcome.:)

[eternalkiwi]

Unfortunately only the Chartered Accountancy qualification is legally recognised in NZ. As others have said there are many Accounting jobs available in NZ that are outside of Public Accounting firms, but that is the current situation in NZ for accountants.
With some luck more recognition will be given to other comparable qualifications in the near future.
Shawn

[napiers]

I'm going to jump in on this thread too - apologies JK for slight deviation but some of it may be relevant to others? OH is ACCA qualified in the UK, although he doesn't work practice anymore. He's a Kiwi so fortunately doesn't have to worry about the immigration issue. If he doesn't intend to work in practice in NZ does he need to get this assessed or anything? And since there are a few accountant types on the forum does anyone have any contacts/recommendations of recruitment consultants or anything that may help?

[ricktee]

If you can't claim points in the area of absolute skill shortage, you can still be selected. The last 3 selection criteria is 135,125 and 120 pts .(no ASSA pts) . I think they will still keep the criteria low for the next selection. But I could be wrong. Of course in the end the next selection criteria will depend on NZIS.

[Laloo]

Hi,


1) I have a BCompt degree in accounting & audit via University of South Africa (which will give me 50 points, as it is included on the list of universities)



Hi Justin

Just seen your post and was wondering what stage you are now at. I too have a BCompt degree from UNISA and have just submitted my EOI. All I have is the degree, I'm not a CA or ACCA like yourself. I completed my articles in SA with Fisher Hoffman & Stride in Durban and have 6+ years of auditing experience. I am now living in the UK and been working as a Financial Controller for the past 12 years. Any advice from you based on your experiences would be much appreciated.

Thanks

David (Laloo)

[jkhosking]

Hi Justin

Just seen your post and was wondering what stage you are now at. I too have a BCompt degree from UNISA and have just submitted my EOI. All I have is the degree, I'm not a CA or ACCA like yourself. I completed my articles in SA with Fisher Hoffman & Stride in Durban and have 6+ years of auditing experience. I am now living in the UK and been working as a Financial Controller for the past 12 years. Any advice from you based on your experiences would be much appreciated.

Thanks

David (Laloo)

Hi David,

I thought I would check this thread today – as I have just submitted my skilled migrant application, and was wondering whether my earlier queries had sparked further debate on this site.

Its nearly a year since my wife and I started this process – it took us that long to collect all of the doc’s, the unabridged birth and marriage certificates from SA were by far the hardest, (followed closely by the SA police checks). The most expensive – the medicals, (and of course the skilled migrant application fees)

We received our invitation to apply in October 08 - and I dropped our application off earlier this week.

I have spent hours on the phone with Immigration New Zealand (the NZ office, rather than London – which charges £1 p/h) and after explaining my qualifications and experience, they have assured me that I stand a good chance of success on the basis of my experience as an auditor (regardless of the fact that I am not qualified with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants). My understanding is that recent changes in the skilled migrant policy has seen more emphasis being placed on skills and experience – which is measured by the Australia & NZ Standard Classification of Occupations list (ANSCO), than on “registration with NZICA”, which is a requirement of the LTSSL).

So – I have bitten the bullet, and submitted our application on the basis of this and am holding my thumbs that this has not been a costly mistake……………(Total cost to date approx £1,500)

Lets see what happens – If this approach fails, I am planning to apply for jobs in the next couple of months anyway, (which will hopefully be a win-win situation, as I will be able to tell prospective employers that my skilled migrant visa application has been submitted.

Below is an extract from my covering letter to INZ:

1. I have applied for this skilled migrant visa on the basis that my occupation is included on the Essential Skills in Demand List, (Long Term Skilled Shortage List), as I am a qualified accountant with 10 years + experience in internal and external audit, as well as in risk management.

2. I have a Bachelors degree level (level 7) qualification majoring in accountancy & audit which qualifies for 50 points as it is included on NZI’s list of recognised qualifications, namely University of South Africa.

3. I also have a further post graduate qualification, through the Association of Chartered Accountants, (ACCA), in the United Kingdom. I became a member of this Association in May 2004, which means that I am a qualified accountant. I have decided to not have this qualification assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, as I already have sufficient points to apply as a skilled migrant – as this is a post graduate qualification, it would have only given me an additional 5 points.

4. ACCA is the largest accountancy body in the world, and has presence in Australia and New Zealand, see http://australia.accaglobal.com/ and this qualification is widely recognised by employers worldwide. It is therefore my intention to continue my membership with ACCA once I arrive in New Zealand.

6. I have included my ACCA membership certificate for your inspection.

7. Furthermore, as I have 10 years + experience in auditing and risk management, I meet the specifications set out within the Australia and NZ Standard Classification of Occupations list, and am therefore applying for my skilled migrant visa as an Auditor, (ANSCO codes 221213 & 221214).


8. I have set out below the evidence that has been included within my application to support the time spent with each of my employers where I gained my audit experience:

[Janey]

Hi JK
I had audit expereince but was refused even with CIMa quals and 10yrs post qual as I had to be a member of NZ auditors just to warn you unless things have changed in the last couple of months ACCA and CIMA are tuaght and recognised in NZ but not by immigration your degree should help

[dusk]

Best of luck Justin.

I'm thankful that I had a job offer and a reasonably simple work experience background as all this qualification proving seems worse than the medical hoops I had to jump through to get to NZ!

[jkhosking]

Hi JK
I had audit expereince but was refused even with CIMa quals and 10yrs post qual as I had to be a member of NZ auditors just to warn you unless things have changed in the last couple of months ACCA and CIMA are tuaght and recognised in NZ but not by immigration your degree should help

Janey,

Thanks for your message - This is exactly my concern. Im just hoping that having a level 7 degree (that is included on the list of recognised qualifications on INZs website), as well as having experience recognised on teh ANSCO list will have a positive result.

If all else fails, I am planning to register with a number of financial service recruitment consultants in Wellington in March/April -with the aim of finding some interviews. we are planning to move by June/July.

How did you manage to find work in wellington?

Justin

[Janey]

Hi Justin,
I came over and set up appointments with agencies what is your main area you want to work in? I can recommend Powerhouse people, Parker Bridge and Hudson I think I was registered with about 6 if you go to www.seek.co.nz and see the jobs tht appeal then that will point to the correct agency. As I have said before a lot of Kiwi places like to meet you your personality is just as important as your quals. If you are intersted in public sector there is a govt website also a lot of the councuils, DHB's advertise on their own web pages. It is worth talking to a few agencies to gauge your worth before going for interviews PM me if you want more