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Australian accountant seeking job search advice

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  1. #1

    Australian accountant seeking job search advice

    I work in corporate finance in Sydney, and plan to move to Hong Kong this year. My current role is Finance Manager in a MNC.

    I worry that I will face difficulties with my job search because of varied statutory requirements in financial reporting. Also, I don't have a HKID card.

    Any advice from y'all will be greatly appreciated.

    Seb

    Last edited by cactusau; 09-01-2018 at 08:03 PM.

  2. #2

  3. #3
    Your main diffculty is not difference in requirements in financial reporting. Should be job search and visa.

    About competition. There are many HK locals with accountantcy education and different years of experience. Most HK accountants can read, write, speak and hear Cantonese and Mandarin because they were educated in local HK schools. Companies here like to hire young billigual local accountants as cheap labour and most westerners probably don't apply because of the lower income compared with home and staying late at work is common. Some Hong Kongers have Australian CPA membership, some were educated in Australia.

    Also note the following
    An application for a visa/ entry permit to take up employment under the GEP may be favourably considered if:

    • there is no security objection and no known record of serious crime in respect of the applicant;
    • the applicant has a good education background, normally a first degree in the relevant field, but in special circumstances, good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities and/or relevant experience and achievements supported by documentary evidence may also be accepted;
    • there is a genuine job vacancy;
    • the applicant has a confirmed offer of employment and is employed in a job relevant to his academic qualifications or work experience that cannot be readily taken up by the local work force; and
    • the remuneration package including income, accommodation, medical and other fringe benefits is broadly commensurate with the prevailing market level for professionals in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

    The government and companies here know Australia quite well, and can decide fairly quickly if someone from Australia is suitable.
    Last edited by lighthse003; 10-01-2018 at 12:28 PM.
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  4. #4

    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Hong Kong
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    856

    I don't think statutory stuff is any of your concern if you have the necessary skill set required in HK. i.e. any companies here that needs Australian related expertise, i.e. tax, legal, business networks etc (which I would say is rather rare)

    Local boutique CF houses here provides financial advisory mainly to China/HK business and Chinese knowledge is a must. 7 day work week are not unheard of. If you are talking about CF at MNC, then again, MNC based here would most likely be dealing with China as well.

    Accounting standard is not an issue, at least from my perspective. Anyone with a proper accounting certification should have the ability to read up the HKAS and figure out the requirement. Also at you stage, I assume quite a few years of work experience, I would looking at your experience and not your certification. Find a job that can fit you first and the rest will take care of itself


  5. #5

    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    1,674

    Is a transfer from your current employer a possibility at all? That would remove a huge headache in moving over here.

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  6. #6

    Those stuff are not concern, every year, HK locals educated in Australia are employed in HK. Hong Kong has some locals with Australian legal or accountant qualifications. Business networks in Australia, they lack because most locals just study in Australia for a few years with little interaction and experience with Australian companies. Or were just junior interns there. Most have more experience in HK or Asia than Australia. Most would want to stay in Australia after graduation because of the harsh work conditions in Asia, but visas to graduated foreign students in Australia are difficult to get for business or account majors.

    MNC in HK are mostly Mainland Chinese, British, European and American companies, with few Australian companies.


  7. #7

    This forum is so helpful.

    Sigh, an internal transfer from my current employer is not an option. Since I don’t have any connections in Hong Kong for referrals, I am contemplating to get in touch with recruitment agencies to test the water.

    How could fellow expats describe your experience with recruitment consultants in HK? Any firms that you would recommend?

    Seb


  8. #8

    How many years of experience do you have? That will largely drive which recruitment consultants you go to as some specialist in recently qualifieds, others focus on those with more experience.

    The usual international recruiters all operate here. For 3 to 5 years experience I like Michael Page, for more experienced I use Spencer Stuart and Korn Ferry (Future Step). Cantonese and Mandarin skills are a big advantage. If you don't speak either, you will need to find a way of differentiating yourself to make it worthwhile employing you over a local. As OP says, there are thousands of qualified accountants in HK.


  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Scousebanana:
    How many years of experience do you have? That will largely drive which recruitment consultants you go to as some specialist in recently qualifieds, others focus on those with more experience.

    The usual international recruiters all operate here. For 3 to 5 years experience I like Michael Page, for more experienced I use Spencer Stuart and Korn Ferry (Future Step). Cantonese and Mandarin skills are a big advantage. If you don't speak either, you will need to find a way of differentiating yourself to make it worthwhile employing you over a local. As OP says, there are thousands of qualified accountants in HK.
    I am a CPA with 10 years’ experience in corporate finance, mainly business partnering and SOX compliance. Being a quick learner is one of my strengths. I can speak Cantonese and Mandarin. As @Scousebanana mentioned, there are thousands of qualified accountants in HK. This is precisely why I browse this forum to gains different perspectives.

    How should I market myself to recruiters or prospective companies so they will go the extra mile to hire me?

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    25
    Quote Originally Posted by cactusau:
    I am a CPA with 10 years’ experience in corporate finance, mainly business partnering and SOX compliance
    Is your experience in corporate finance (i.e. M&A transactions) or finance within a corporate? From your description it seems like the latter. If so, suggest not to use the term "corporate finance" in your CV as it's misleading.

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