Provisional ACA - How to find work with an ATO?

[vivshivram]

Hi everyone,

I am planning to move to New Zealand this year with a Silver Fern Visa.

I have three years of full time experience as an External Auditor with a Big Four accounting firm. In addition, I have a Level 7 degree in Commerce (my degree and University appear on the list of qualifications exempt from assessment). I have also applied to the NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) for an assessment of my overseas study, and waiting for an outcome.

This means that given a positive outcome of the assessment, I will be well positioned to qualify as a Provisional member of the ACA college.

To complete my qualification, I will need to work with an ATO (Approved Training Organization) for one year, to become an ACA. An additional year will lead to the main CA qualification, much sought after for getting a good break in the NZ job market.

Any leads on how I can approach an ATO for getting work? Obviously I will need to come over for an interview, but as far as possible, I'd like to search for a Job from my home country. Can someone please tell me about ATOs in New Zealand who will be open to taking a Provisional ACA?

[Janey]

why not look at one of the big 4? PWC, Ernest Young all have offices here, alsoAudit New Zealand, register with some agencies, off the top of my head Hudsons, Power House People in Wellington, Robert Half etc some times you can do interviews on skype or teleconferencing, or if you have the funds come over on a recce and get round to visit the agencies concerned

[vivshivram]

Thanks a lot for your reply, Janey.

Yes, Big 4 is my preferred choice, as I have spent some time with them and am familiar with their way of life. I wrote to Audit NZ and they told me that they don't consider ACA, only CA. But it's a no-brainer, I will certainly go for CA, it's just that I want to go through the ACA route. That is convenient for me, given my studies and experience.

Regarding a trip, yes, a recce is a very good way to pitch myself. But it's just that I'd like to come over once an interview is finalized. I'd have no problem coming and staying on for a week or even a month, in that case. Can these recruitment agencies you've mentioned help in linking me with an ATO?

Have a nice day, it's good morning in this part of the world, I guess it's late afternoon in NZ

[rayonline]

Any leads on how I can approach an ATO for getting work? Obviously I will need to come over for an interview, but as far as possible, I'd like to search for a Job from my home country. Can someone please tell me about ATOs in New Zealand who will be open to taking a Provisional ACA?

Generally speaking you would need to be in NZ when you apply for the job. They often have a clause that they may not consider or even reply back to you if you are not authorised to work in NZ.

Practically; you apply for the job by the due date, you tend to get a phone call within a week for an interview, you are expected to make that interview within a week of that phone call.

Re: ATOs, not sure, but away from the big ACCT firms, in the advert they sometime ask if you are a CA or working towards a CA.

Perhaps your company now or previously could look into transferring you to NZ?

[rayonline]

Clayton Ford is one recruitment agency in NZ that specialises in ACCT (but again they will want to see you in person). They also need you to sign a legal document first etc etc ..

[Janey]

from experience most agencies want you through the door having filled in their forms etc and met you before they will work for you then you will find they will be able to do online/phone interviews and yes they can find ATO orgs. (BTW CCDHB was one you will find many large companies and public sector orgs in NZ are!)

[James 1077]

Are you able to use your contacts in the Big 4 that you are / were working in to try and arrange a transfer or at least a secondment?

[rayonline]

But it's just that I'd like to come over once an interview is finalized.

In all of the online job search engines in NZ, most jobs have a questionaire from the employer or agent that ask you for your details - ph number, address, your CV and cover letter etc. They also ask you if you have criminal convictions of course and what your residential status is and do you have the right to work in NZ.

Normally they would call you to invite you for an interview. So .. hmm.... what country code

I have a friend that was from Sri Lanka that I worked with (he sat next to me), he was sitting his CA - he and this other colleague on my floor. The company was a government department, as a result his pay got adjusted to allow study time to be taken off work. Then after he went to another but larger govt department.

the main job site - www.seek.co.nz
govt job site -www.jobs.govt.nz

[vivshivram]

Guys, thanks a lot for those inputs. It does appear that it's much better to be in NZ in person. Most of these websites - SEEK, TradeMe to name two - have ads that carry: "You <b>must</b> have the right to live and work in NZ to apply for this job". So much for trying out

I had sent in my application to NZICA for an assessment of my local degrees and they received it today. Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best. Will update all of you once I hear something.

[vivshivram]

In all of the online job search engines in NZ, most jobs have a questionaire from the employer or agent that ask you for your details - ph number, address, your CV and cover letter etc. They also ask you if you have criminal convictions of course and what your residential status is and do you have the right to work in NZ.

Right you are, Rayonline. But very recently, I came across some ads that actually encouraged overseas candidates (living in NZ) to apply. And those employers were ATOs.

Regarding registering with an ATO, can the institute (NZICA) also help in finding an ATO?