Using Overseas Skills | Job Index | Accountant

ACCOUNTANT

Includes:

  • Accountant
  • Certified Practising Accountant
  • Chartered Accountant
  • Company Auditor
  • Financial Adviser
  • Liquidator
  • Public Accountant
  • Tax Agent

Accountants in Australia are involved in many occupations, ranging from accounts clerks who record financial transactions to professional accountants who plan and provide accounting and auditing systems and services, and advise on business, accounting and finance matters.

A three year university degree majoring in accountancy or TAFE NSW Institute qualifications are usually required to work in accountancy-based occupations in Australia.

By law, registration is required for the following accountancy-related occupations:

  • Tax Agents - by the Tax Agents Board
  • Company Auditors and/or Liquidators - by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

All other accountancy-based occupations do not require formal recognition or registration, however, membership of a professional association may increase employment opportunities. There are three major accountancy associations offering different types of membership:

  • Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA Australia): Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) or Associate (ASA) or Fellow (FCPA).
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA): Chartered Accountant (CA) or Fellow (FCA).
  • National Institute of Accountants (NIA): Associate (ANIA), or Member (public practitioner) (MNIA), or Professional National Accountant (PNA) or Fellow (FPNA).

RECOGNITION PROCEDURES for REGISTRABLE OCCUPATIONS

Tax Agents

Accountants wishing to practise as Tax Agents must apply to the Tax Agents Board for registration. Generally, the Tax Agents Board requires:

  • appropriate tertiary qualifications
  • satisfactory completion of a course of study in Australian Tax Law and
  • appropriate work experience.


Company Auditors and/or Liquidators and/or Financial Advisers

Accountants wishing to practise as Company Auditors and/or Liquidators and/or Financial Advisers must apply to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for registration. The Commission requires membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) or the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA Australia). Alternatively, applicants may be members of certain recognised overseas bodies of accountants, have a relevant educational qualification or other qualifications which the Commission considers equivalent.

In addition to educational qualifications, applicants must have practical experience in auditing (for Company Auditors) or insolvency (for Liquidators) as prescribed by the Commission. Applicants must also satisfy other requirements such as character checks conducted by the NSW Police.

RECOGNITION PROCEDURES for NON-REGISTRABLE OCCUPATIONS

Apply directly to employers for a job. The employer will decide whether to accept your skills and/or qualifications for employment.

PROCEDURES for MEMBERSHIP of ASSOCIATIONS

CPA Australia - Associate Member

Applicants for Associate membership of CPA Australia must hold a tertiary qualification that is recognised by both the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) and CPA Australia as comparable to an Australian bachelor's degree. Applicants must also have completed any additional bridging studies indicated in a qualifications assessment provided by CPA Australia. Studies must be completed through an accredited course offered by an Australian university. Details of accredited courses will be provided with assessment results.

CPA Australia - CPA Status

Advancement from Associate to CPA status requires successful completion of the CPA Program Professional Examinations. On commencement of the examinations, members will be required to also register in CPA Australia's mentored, three-year work experience program. Exemptions based on previous work experience may be granted up until the end of 2003. Thereafter, all members must complete the three-year mentor program.

The CPA Program is a postgraduate level course offered by distance learning. It currently comprises five segments (papers), including two compulsory and three elective segments.

CPA Australia - Fellow (FCPA)

FCPA is available to members recognised by respective divisional councils for their knowledge, experience and contribution to the profession. Applicants must hold CPA status, have a minimum of fifteen years of accounting or finance-related experience and have held a responsible executive position in accounting or finance for five years.

ICAA - Chartered Accountant (CA)

Applicants wishing to become Chartered Accountants must complete the CA Program and a period of approved service after obtaining an Australian bachelor's degree (or a qualification determined by the ICAA to be comparable) in accounting.

Overseas-trained accountants should apply to the ICAA for an assessment of their qualifications to determine if they need to study any additional subjects before they can enter the CA program. All additional studies must be completed at university.

On completion of the subjects, overseas trained applicants may be eligible for entry to the CA program provided they have experience approved by the ICAA. While undertaking the CA program, an applicant must be mentored by a Chartered Accountant in public practice or in an organisation accredited by the ICAA.

The CA program is an innovative postgraduate program combining work and study. Upon completion of the CA program and having completed a total of three years of mentored work experience with an accredited organisation, candidates can apply for membership of the ICAA and become Chartered Accountants.

ICAA - Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA)

Advancement to the status of Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) is offered to Chartered Accountants who have been members for ten years; have held a senior position in public practice or commerce for seven years; and have demonstrated leadership in the profession. To become an FCA a member is nominated by two other members or invited by an ICAA Regional Council.

NIA - Associate

Applicants for Associate membership must have completed the Advanced Diploma of Accounting or equivalent as determined by the NIA.

NIA - Member and Professional National Accountant, Fellow

Advancement from Associate to Member status requires completion of the NIA Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting and at least three years of work experience in accounting. Applicants with an appropriate degree qualification and three years work experience are eligible to join at Member status upon completion of the Business Ethics unit of the NIA's Graduate Certificate.

To advance to the status of Professional National Accountant (PNA), members must complete an undergraduate degree and have three years business experience. Fellow members are required to have a minimum of ten years experience in accounting and have maintained Member status for at least seven consecutive years and have held a senior position for the past five years.

REGISTRATION AUTHORITIES

For Tax Agents:

Tax Agents Board
12-22 Wonoira Road
HURSTVILLE NSW 2220
or
Locked Bag 9846
HURSTVILLE NSW 2220
Ph: 1300 362 829
Fax: (02) 9374 1360
Email: tabdnsw@ato.gov.au
Web: www.tabd.gov.au

For Company Auditors and Liquidators:

Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Level 8
City Centre Tower
55 Market Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
or
GPO Box 9854
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Ph: (02) 9911 2500
Fax: (02) 9911 2550
Email: infoline@asic.gov.au
Web: www.asic.gov.au (download a copy of the registration kit or apply online)

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA Australia)
Level 3
111 Harrington St
THE ROCKS NSW 2000
or
Locked Bag 23
Grosvenor Place NSW 1220
Ph: (02) 9375 6200
Fax: (02) 9375 6299
Email: nsw@cpaaustralia.com.au
Web: www.cpaaustralia.com.au

National Institute of Accountants (NIA)
Level 14, 447 Kent Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
or
Locked Bag A6090
SYDNEY SOUTH NSW 1235
Ph: (02) 9283 8244
Fax: (02) 9283 8277
Email: nswdivn@nia.org.au
Web: www.nia.org.au

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA)
Level 14, 37 York St
SYDNEY NSW 2000
or
GPO Box 3921
Sydney NSW 2001
Ph: (02) 9290 1344
Fax: (02) 9262 1512
Email: support@icaa.org.au
Web: www.icaa.org.au

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) has been authorised by the Australian Department of Immigration And Citizenship (DIAC) to undertake skills assessments for the occupations of Accountant, Finance Manager, Accountant-Corporate Treasurer and Accountant-External Auditor for the purpose of migration to Australia. For more information look under 'Migration assessment' on the ICAA website, or email: assess@icaa.org.au


reviewed Nov 2006