[thezorbster]

Has anyone done the conversion exams from UK ICAEW to NZICA? I wasn't initially going to bother but from the look of them they actually look quite straight forward compared to the UK institute's exams. It sounds like quite basic tax and law and although the idea of doing exams again doesn't fill me with glee, thinking ahead it may be useful. Are they reasonably straight forward?

Thanks

[beth&rich]

I'm considering it. I had a chat with a manager at work who spent six years working in NZ. He was of the opinion that it was completely unecessary and would add little value unless you intended to become a partner.

However, he had never left practice. I can't help wondering that it might help to get you some of that all important "kiwi experience" if you were hoping to work in industry.

I've got no plans to do them anytime soon though. I've had enough of exams for a while.

[James 1077]

I'm ICAS qualified and asked at work (Deloitte); they said not to bother for now but maybe later. Will only really make a difference when you are looking at becoming a partner I've been told.

That said I can't say about how it will look not being NZICA qualified if you are thinking of moving into industry.

[whiskythedog]

We are both doing the conversion exams via Massey Uni correspondence course-slightly over $1000 for the two exams.

Company Law in NZ is based on the Canadian model so not always the same as UK although a lot of similarities. I work in a smallish 6 partner CA practice so the tax will be far more useful - I get caught out most days when applying my UK tax knowledge or making assumptions - just helps in the long run i feel

[Janey]

Hi
I am CIMA qualified having spoken to various agencies and employers the answer is not to bother, but I am not hoping to go into practice!

[thezorbster]

Thanks all.

Whiskythedog - have you started the tax course yet? If so, at what sort of standard are you finding it - is it the level of ICAEW professional exams or would you say it seems simpler? It looks to me that it seems more basic in which case I may do it - I just don't know if I can face ICAEW type exams at the moment! I'm working in a small firm and the NZ tax conversion would be useful as I hate not knowing much about what I'm doing and although there are a lot of similarities there are also a lot of differences. One day I will stop calculating GST at 17.5%!

[whiskythedog]

we have just got the manual.The exam is made up of 30% coursework (2 assignments) and 70% exam.

topis covered
capital+revenue
income statements for tax returns
resident/non-resident taxpayers
tax/income years
calculatiion,assessment,payment of income tax
partnership and trust tax
company tax and imputation system
GST
farming tax
e-commerce
tax compliance,penalties and interest

so gives good grounding - not quite at same depth as ICAEW exam but useful all the same

it looks useful if you work in a ca firm (and a lot more useful in more situations than the law paper)

we have to buy a tax book as well - $90 !

[beth&rich]

$90 :exit