Job prospects for Accountants

[EkoOnibaje]

Hey People. I am a complete newbie here. Stumbled on this while researching about my imminent shift of base. I intend to move to Calgary permanently at some point around mid 2014. Few questions.

1. What are the job prospects for Accountants in Calgary? I am ACCA qualified and already completed the CGA certfication as well. If you need info on how to convert your ACCA to CGA, ask me and I can advise as I have done my already

2. How much should I be looking to spend monthly on living cost for a family of 4 (with 2 children)?

3. How easy is it to exchange reciprocal driving licenses? And what if the original licence is not up to 2 years yet? (Just about a year).

4. I reckon I'll need a car straight away but I understand I have to get my own reg plate? Is this right? How easy is this?

5. How much should I be looking to pay for car insurance monthly? I have about 8 years no claims from UK

6. What is the best way to send excess luggage over? Ship or freight? Advise from those who have gone through this will be appreciated

Too many questions on my mind but let us start with this for now....

Thanks all.

 

[MyCanadaPlan]

I can give you an idea on a few of your questions, and point you to more info!

1. The fact that you are already designated is a huge step and will serve you well. Begin looking at the market now to see what companies are asking for in addition to your CGA designation.

2. Budgets take a long time to do accurately. If you are looking for support to do this let me know.

3. If you have a drivers license from another country it should be valid in Canada for up to 6 months, but the last time I checked was 2013 and it is always possible that the policy has changed.

4. You will need to get your own plate from the provincial office. In Ontario this costs $100/year

5. Depends on a lot of factors - I recommend looking into several companies now and asking for a quote. I pay around $100/month for a Sedan.

6. I am Canadian - no experience with freight sorry!

Best of luck,
Lisa
MyCanadaPlan.com

 

[NetMecca]

Hi

1. Prospects should be reasonable if you are willing go out and get it. Calgary is a decent enough city, so you should be ok. You should probably also make sure about any specific professional licensing requirements, set by the province. A lot of professions in Canada are highly regulated. Having an idea about this, and also working to get that resolved as soon as possible will likely prove a significant advantage in your adventure.

2. I agree, budgets are no simple matter, and will vary widely depending on your lifestyle. It is possible to live fairly cheaply, however your home is likely to prove a significant expense. There is lot's of information on cost of living available, and so you should probably expand your research a little.

3. The driver's license transferrability varies widely, depending on the country you are from. I could not just convert my license, and as far as I know not many country licenses are acceptable. In order to overcome that get an international driver's license, and start with that. Depending on the province you live in, (if you effectively live there) there is a requirement that you get (or convert if possible) your driver's license to a local license within a specified period. For some provinces it would be 3 months, for some more. I would recommend that you sort that out as soon as possible as this could have serious legal repurcussions of not. If you cannot convert, you can simply redo your drivers test in Canada after arrival.

4. I would not worry too much about the plate thing. Most places the car dealers will be helping you with that, or at least advise you properly on how to get it, if they do not provide the service.

5. For starters be sure to bring written record of your No claim with. This will help. Again cost depends on what you drive as well as a number of other factors. $100/month is probably ok for budgeting purposes. Also realise that there are several levels of cover starting with compulsary liability through full coverage including own damage. These will all vary significantly in cost, so you can certainly have a look at what suits your budget, subject to financing requirements.

6. There are many ways to ship your personal belongings, and many factors to consider when deciding how to do it. Your budget, size of your load, speed with which you need it in Canada, and a few other things will determine what is best for you. Unfortunately this is not a simple answer, and you will need to define your need properly before considering your options.

Sounds like you have an adventure ahead. Good luck!!....

 

[Indepat]

Hi EkoOnibaje,

As you suggested, allow me to ask you the following:

- I am plannning to get into Calgary after getting my Visa (possibly at the end of this year :. I have applied through the Quebec skilled worker scheme.

- I am doing ACCA (professional level) and planning to finish the last exams this June 2014. Following the CPA conversion, I am kinda lost in the mix. Does it means that benefiting from the MRA is no longer possible? If that is the case, how many years do you think an ACCA qualified will take to be CPA member?

- What do you think will be the best strategy to get a job there? I was planning to start some canadian bookkeeping online courses just to try facilitate the transition. Do you think that's a good idea?
- How did you manage to clear CGA while outside Canada?

Thanks