Congrats firstly for all the long wait ended!
Well, my understanding is that for the people applied under this group, you must be either on the route or already have the designation.
After reading through the NOC list under 1111, I found the following:
1) the lead statements states that 'Financial auditors and accountants are employed by auditing and accounting firms throughout the private and public sectors, or they may be self-employed'. Does this mean applicants have to work in accounting or auditing firms or like? probably for most of applicants?
2) For auditors, it is relatively easier occupation than accountants applied under this code, as there is no other code for auditors and the auditors have to work in accounting or auditing firms except for internal auditors. For accountants applied under this code, more cautions should be taken as there are other NOCs such as bookkeeping, clerks etc which are either removed or unskilled, therefore, vo might raise concerns on the application, my understanding is that for accountants applied under this code must be in the senior level or above being responsible for financial reporting, management accounting at the senior level such as controller, if you are in the junior position, it is inclined to get red flag. And I believe the vo might look at your other circumstances as a whole such as education, salary, designations in making the decision.
3) this is a tricky part re if salary/wages matters, I think for this group, it does, maybe indirectly as I mentioned in 2) above.
4) lots of memebers indicated that the firm/company size/reputation do not matter, which I kinda disagree in respect of this NOC. I think working in the accounting firms, particularly one of big four or larger public accounting firms is safer as these firms have well established system to make sure the ppls are trained to meet the firm/clients needs towards the the designations.
5) in terms of the job duties under this group, if we looked at the auditors, where lists 4 main duties, but the first one is usually junior auditors' dutiesa at the entry level in first 2 years. The third one is obviously tax auditors. the second and fourth ones are senior/supervisor duties. If the applicants are junior/or articling students, the only duty he/she would match is the first one, or the third one only for the tax auditors, in particular in large accounting/auditing firms. Based on the discusion where the applicants' duties must match 75% or 80%, the above 2 group would fail? I don't think so. As I believe the vo has to look at your case as a whole as I listed in the 2) above to determine your eligibility.
6) lots of other memebers also indicated that the vo would review the case book by book, they would not have knowledge of particular industry. surely, they would not be specialists, but I believe some senior vo would have some knowledge in different industries, using the same example again, if you applied as articling student, they should know what it does mean and what jobs/duties you would expect to perform to some extent before making final decisions. They don't want trouble to deal with lots of appeals.
The above is ONLY my personal opinions restricted to NOC 1111 only, I could be completely wrong!
