A letter from one of our accountants - from South Africa to Newcastle, Australia!

 

Sometimes in work you receive emails that brighten up your day.

 

We assisted Annelo make the move from South Africa to Newcastle, Australia and we were delighted  when we received an email from her telling us about her experience. Annelo has very generously offered to share this story for any other any other people who might be considering making an international move.



 

 

 

 

 

From all of us here at Think Global Recruitment we would like to thank Annelo for this lovely update and wish her and Wessel the best of luck with their new life in Australia!

 

 

Taking the biggest step - the story of my international experience and why you should do it too!

Desde Edimburgo hasta Madrid - my journey to the land of sangria, paella and Salsa!

Making the decision to spend an extended period of time away from home is never easy - there's a lot to consider! Things such as, 'What if I can't adapt to the culture?', 'What if I don't like living there but I can't go home?' and 'What if I don't make any friends?' were some of my main worries when I was moving abroad. 

I was born and raised in a small village in Fife called Auchtermuchty, home to the Proclaimers (the twins that brought you that infamous chant about walking 500 miles and then 500 more just to be the man who... you know the one!) and a place where nothing exciting ever happens! I spent the majority of my childhood running muddy-wellied across fields and through forests, and if you'd told me then what I'd have done by the time I was 22, I'd probably have laughed you right out of town!

I moved to The Big City when I was 18 to come to study at Heriot Watt University. Even though it was only an hours' drive across the Firth of Forth, it was still a big deal. I'd never lived away from home before and I was so used to being a country bumpkin that the thought of living in such a bustling and busy city liked Edinburgh really scared me!

I had chosen to study Spanish Translation, which meant that during my third year I was going to be living abroad as part of the ERASMUS programme - which, if you haven't heard of it, is an EU exchange programme which allows thousands of students from across the EU to study abroad for an academic year! 

When the time came for me to choose where I wanted to go, I decided to choose Madrid. I'd done my research, spoken to other students who'd previously gone there and realised that it was the best choice for me. The city offered me everything I needed - culture, restaurants & bars, entertainment and a buzzing nightlife, as well as quick transport routes to the university and an airport with direct flights across Europe for travelling at weekends and during holidays!

I decided that before I moved there, I should probably go across for a weekend mini-break and scope it out beforehand. So in April 2014, I went to Madrid for the first time. My emotions were flying - would I like it? Could I see myself living there? Was it going to be everything I was hoping for?

The answer to those questions? YES! The moment I stepped out of the metro station in Puerta del Sol, I knew I was right where I was supposed to be. The architecture was beautiful, the sun was shining and there was even a Mariachi band playing nearby (which I later learned are there almost every night!). During my first trip to Madrid I did all the tourist routes from the Royal Palace, along Gran Vía and down to Retiro park, as well as looking at a couple of apartments. I even visited my future university to check it out and see if I'd like it!

When September 2014 rolled around and the time had come for me to make my permanent move to Madrid, I was so excited even though I was terrified at the same time! I didn't have a place to stay, I hadn't worked out my university timetable and even worse - I was flying solo! Saying goodbye to my family and friends was really difficult, but they were so supportive and reminded me that it was only for a year! 

I remember when I walked off the plane and the 30 degree heat hit me like a brick wall. I had 2 suitcases weighing what felt like 50 tons between them, as well as a backpack with dodgy straps... and only my 2 wee hands to carry it all! I got a taxi to my hotel, and then flopped down on my bed.

For the next few days I met up with the other girls that were doing ERASMUS in Madrid with me, and we found a flat very close to the city centre and 10 minutes walk from our metro stop to uni. Our landlady was lovely and she helped us with every question we had - big or small! I sorted out my SIM card and figured out how to pay my bills. It all seemed very surreal, and I was still figuring out how I felt about it! But all I needed to do when I was worried or scared was pick up the phone and call home - and all my worries melted away!

Uni was great - I met lots of lovely people, and made lifelong friends. I learned a lot and my Spanish improved tenfold. I began to realise that I was loving living abroad, and Madrid began to become a second home to me. A few months after I'd moved there, I was speaking to my Mum on Skype, and she told me that she'd never seen me looking so healthy and happy. Since moving to Madrid I'd forgotten all about my initial worries, and I'd settled into my life there. 

I've been back from Madrid for over a year now, and I really miss the life I had there and everything about it! Thinking about my experience in Madrid just makes me want to travel more, and it's opened up my eyes to what living abroad can be like! There's really nothing like it! Madrid became a second home to me, and leaving there in June 2015 was far more difficult than it was to move there in the first place.

The experience of living in Madrid gave me so much. I learned how to adapt to a completely new culture; I made lifelong friends and improved my language skills; I became more independent and achieved something I never thought I could... And most importantly, I learned that even though it might seem like the most daunting thing ever to up-sticks and move to another country where they don't speak your language and don't have the same culture as you, it's really not the end of the world! You learn to live with the things you miss, and you learn to adapt and change to deal with your new surroundings. Your family and friends are always just a phone call away, and sometimes they'll even visit you! After a while, you forget why you were scared in the first place, and you start to wonder why you didn't do it sooner!

If you asked me if I'd ever do it again, the answer would be YES! And if you asked me if I'd recommend living abroad, I'd ask you why you've never done it before! 

So, if you've ever thought about making an international move but are worried about the implications, or if you just want to find out more about what opportunities are waiting for you, please get in touch and let me know! I specialise in working with professionals who want to gain more experience and improve their lives by making an international move, and you'd be amazed to find out just how many fantastic opportunities are available to you! The hardest part is making the first step, but with the right support behind you and the right opportunity, then you too could be heading off to start your new life abroad

Worry is only temporary, but the experiences you have and the memories you make will last forever.

 

Natalie’s Story - I didn’t realise how stressed I was at home until I moved here...

Natalie moved from South Africa to BDO in Auckland with assistance from Think Global Recruitment eight years ago and has been there ever since. She is now the National Head of Technical for BDO in New Zealand. This is her story.

I wanted to leave South Africa, there were so many armed robberies that it was just a matter of time before something happened to me. I attended Think Global Recruitment’s Accountancy World Wide event where I had the chance to explore different country options and find out where I could work. For me, the choice was fairly easy.  I didn’t want to learn a new language, limiting the scope in Europe, UK & Canada seemed too cold and Australia just wasn’t that appealing. My family had moved to New Zealand and I had already been there on holiday and fell in love with the country. After talking to a Think Global Recruitment consultant, we were able to find a Technical Associate role based in Auckland.

Working for BDO

The big difference in New Zealand was the client base. They had much smaller sized clients to KPMG in South Africa. This meant that they didn’t have as many technical staff and therefore didn’t possess the same amount of knowledge. There was lots to learn, moving from SA GAAP to IFRS, but there were a few similarities too. It took about two years to get up to speed and required a lot of self-thought and thorough training. You’re trusted with more responsibility earlier on than you would have in South Africa. I’ve gone from one of many in a technical department to running one! Our specialism is quite unique and in short supply around the world.

Many entities in New Zealand no longer need to follow IFRS. The reporting standard has changed recently so many companies fall below the requirement to file accounts.  Only around 5% of businesses are required to file. Software companies are becoming the bigger competitors for clients. We liaise very closely with BDO in Australia as we count as part of their team. The Technical Department is much bigger over there, so there’s about 20 or 30 staff we can call on when needed. I arrived in New Zealand as a Senior Manager and have progressed up to the National Head of Technical, running the department, sitting within the National Office.

The Social Side 

"In the summer you aim to finish work by 5pm and then you can go down to the beach for a few hours."

The mentality here is to work hard but also ensure you get the right work/life balance. In the summer you aim to finish work by 5pm and then you can go down to the beach for a few hours. Everyone really encourages you to have an outdoor life. I met my ‘Pommy’ husband here. I'm not sure I achieve the outdoor life as much as I should, but I am married to a computer nerd.

 

At BDO, people go out of their way to welcome you and show you the ropes. There’s a social club that hosts activities throughout the year and you always have a team meeting once a month which gives you a chance to catch up with other colleagues. You are welcomed as a Kiwi, that is until your team is playing the All Blacks, and if you lose you are sure to hear all about it!

 

"You are welcomed as a Kiwi, that is until your team is playing the All Blacks"

 

Our firm is very multicultural. The office is full of expats, and expats love to socialise. Most of the younger staff are Kiwis but when you reach the qualified level there are more international employees.

I’ve managed to visit a few of the Pacific Islands but there’s definitely more I want to see. We have international training in Kuala Lumpur every year and have been on other trips to Hong Kong as well as lots of places in Australia including Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

 

Comparing South Africa to New Zealand

 

Don’t expect it to be the same, it’s not going to be. People are different, the history is different, culture is different, but that’s good. I miss my friends of course but in terms of my family, my mum and dad emigrated over here two years ago.  I miss the food but luckily there’s a great South African butchers close to where I work. I didn’t realise how stressed I was at home until I moved here. When you are there it is the norm to worry about your security, your job, your commute etc. In contrast, so often here I have accidently left the door open and nothing happens. You can walk down the street without a care in the world. I can honestly say I’ve not ever felt homesick. I was lucky enough to have had two overseas secondments to the US and UK. This helped me get used to being away from home and being open to experiencing new things.

  

My Advice
 

Sort out your job before you arrive

The benefit of using Think Global Recruitment is that you have a job set up before you move. Others I know have moved and tried to find a job, which is extremely difficult. It also means that they have very different expectations as they haven’t been through an informative process.

 

 

Do your homework
 

  Do your homework on the country and the firm as things will undoubtedly be different. I was surprised at how things are viewed here. A large part is due to the size of the country, the company sizes and the general outlook on life. If you think it will be the same you will struggle. If you come from a big city firm you may feel that you know best, but that won’t go down well with Kiwis.  

 

 

Be prepared for a change
 

Being prepared isn't just referring to the work but also for the smaller details, like paying your bills. Try to move a field you know as there is enough life learning to do to keep you busy. If you go into a business you are expected to know about local accounting and legislations so try to come prepared with knowledge on this.

 

 

Know what you want to achieve
 

Decide for yourself if this is a long term or short term move and what it is you want to achieve. You need those goals cemented in your mind before you come over. For the first couple of years you are going to be focused on finding your feet and becoming a new person, but never lose sight of your goals. 


If this story has inspired you then share it and help those who may be considering making the move abroad. To hear more case studies and find out about job opportunities please email pmcloughlin@thinkgr.com

Dorota's Story - My role has allowed me to travel to Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, UK and New Zealand!

Think Global Recruitment assisted Dorota to move from South Africa to Macquarie Bank in Sydney where she was promoted within two years to Internal Audit Manager. Our Managing Director, Abigail Stevens, recently caught up with her to find out how her career has been since. This is her story.

Around the time I completed my training with EY there was a mass exodus of people leaving South Africa to move to London. I was going to go too but then the opportunity came up to attend Think Global Recruitment’s Accountancy Worldwide event. I had always thought that I would be living in the UK but that event encouraged me to consider other options. It was the first time I’d heard about Macquarie, so after the presentation I went home and did my research and discovered that they had a good reputation.

I naturally had the fear of moving to a new country, combined with the fact that I was doing it my own. I was worried about the cultural challenges and that I might find it hard to understand the way that people spoke. Altogether it took me a couple of years to properly settle in. Unless you know people it can be tricky but it does also depend on where you go. If you join a big institutional bank people would usually just go to work and that’s it, but if you are working for a company that’s more retail facing, they tend to have more active social circles.

Macquarie Bank

I started out as an Internal Auditor at Macquarie Bank in Sydney. Whilst I was working there I learnt a lot about Risk Management and decided that it was the area that I was most interested in. There was a very competitive and ambitious work culture, If I’d decided to stay in practice the situation would have definitely been a lot easier.

BNP Paribas

After two and a half years l decided it was time to leave Macquarie. I felt done with Audit and went searching for a job with new opportunities. I managed to find one with one of France’s biggest banks, BNP Paribas.  I was involved within the three lines of defence: Internal Audit, Operational Risk and Risk Management.  Working there allowed me to get exposure to Risk Management but from a back office prospective. I had the best of both worlds, working for a big brand but in a small office environment.

CommSec

“My role has allowed me to travel to Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, UK and New Zealand.”

 I left BNP after fifteen months when the opportunity came up to work for CommSec (Commonwealth Securities), where I have been for the last three years. CommSec is a large stockbroking firm that works with Commonwealth, Australia’s biggest bank. I work in line one Risk Management as a Risk Senior Manager. My role is all about helping businesses succeed and ensuring they do things the right way. I work with a friendly group of people, something which I now really appreciate.

My role has allowed me to travel to Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, UK and New Zealand.  With these trips you could be away for around three weeks at a time, so you’re able to get a proper feel for the countries that you visit. I’ve also taken advantage of my location, travelling around Australia, Bali, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Thailand and Indonesia. My favourite places so far have been Tonga and the Great Barrier Reef.

My Advice

Anyone thinking about making a move should do it. Don’t be put off by the idea of living away from home. Time passes so quickly and before you realise it you’ve been away for seven and a half years. I have learnt so much and have been exposed to many more opportunities. Most importantly, I found out what was available and through that was able to make a decision about what I wanted to do. In South Africa Risk Management has only just started, so I would not have been able to have gained this experience.

“Most importantly, I found out what was available and through that was able to make a decision about what I wanted to do.”

 Anyone that moves abroad will be guaranteed to have great experiences that will shape your life. It’s easier to put off idea of moving and get stuck in one way of thinking, but if you want to be a good accountant you have get out there and find out how different economies work. It’s important to remember that it’s not always about the first place you go, the experience at Macquarie was great but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. However it led to me getting the job I wanted and now I’m happy and settled.

Sydney and South Africa

To any South Africans who may be thinking the countries are identical, they’re not. The tax system and the job specifics are different.  It’s not South Africa 2.0 so it’s important to have an open mindset and then go for it. The sense of humour is certainly different, South Africans are more direct whilst Australians can be quite sarcastic. The thing I miss about home the most is my friends but there are South African expat communities all over Australia which makes it easier.

Australia and South Africa share similar climates. As a nation they have a very outdoorsy way of life, with a big focus on activities like running and swimming. This is great for encouraging a healthy lifestyle and I’ve really embraced it, swimming in the mornings and doing Zumba after work. The move has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

If this story has inspired you then share it and help those who may be considering making the move abroad. To hear more case studies and find out about job opportunities please email pmcloughlin@thinkgr.com

Sun, Sea and Jobs for Accountants - Part One

Our Managing Director, Abigail Stevens, has been away for the past month taking Think Global Recruitment on the international road, seeking out the best opportunities for our accountants. In this blog she visits London and Sydney to kick-start her global tour.

 

London’s Calling

 

On the 1st March I caught my first flight from Edinburgh to a location known famously as the City.  It was there that I met with the very knowledgeable and charismatic leader, Anne Swaine of APSCo. APSCo is the UK recruitment industries trade body of which I have just been appointed the Scottish Forum Chair. The organisation was hosting an international forum for consultancies with an interest in setting up offices overseas or recruiting internationally. These forums provide the expert advice and connections which are utilised to enhance the number of vacancies available for our accountants. After that I was off to Australia!

 

From Jetlag to Business

 

As soon as my flight touched down in Sydney, I began my busy schedule of meeting firms interested in hiring international accountants. Due to the economic downturn in the market businesses were unsurprisingly cautious, however, the market definitely is picking up in a number of areas post-recession.  

 

One of the contacts I met that is now seeking other accountants to join his firm had been helped by Think Global Recruitment, making the move from UK to Sydney, as a recently qualified accountant. Craig, who is still at the same firm today, has been a Partner there for a number years. Yet another success story for a British accountant building an international career overseas and a Life Improved!

 

Whilst in Sydney, I had the fortunate experience of meeting two more women with whom we assisted to make their first move to Australia and have done exceedingly well in their careers since! The first,  Chantal, moved over from South Africa with PKF and after just under four years with the firm, moved into the financial service sector.  She has since worked her way up to be a Senior Director with NASDAQ.  Her story can be read here. The second, Dorota, moved over from South Africa as a recently qualified auditor into an Internal Audit role with Macquarie Bank.  After just under three years she moved on to another two organisations to end up in her current role as a Senior Risk Manager. Her story will be in our next blog post so watch this space!

 

Social Networking

 

Through my contacts in the Scottish Government, I was lucky enough to receive an invitation to a charity luncheon ran by David Bocklehurst OEM of Reuters Charity. The charity arranges events for big businesses across the city to network, whilst donating the profits to a variety of Australian Charities.  The event was to present the chosen charities with cheques which amounted to a total of $1.5 million! The luncheon provided an excellent opportunity to talk with a number of high-profile individuals from some of the top global organisations.

 

My final engagement in Sydney was to go to an Australian British Chamber of Commerce's Whisky  Tasting event.  The chosen Bladnoch distillery could not have been more cross-continental, with the distillery being based in Scotland but wholly owned by an Australian company. The event was a great occasion to foster new business relationships and promote the Think Global Recruitment brand. I was also fortunate enough to win the door prize that had been donated by Whisky Live of a very special Islay Single Malt that was a one off special label and only five people in the world know which distillery it was from! It was the perfect way to end my stay in this beautiful city.

 

 

 

Jason's Story: A professional accountancy qualification is a passport to working anywhere!

Jason attended an event we held in Dublin and before long he was on his way to work for PwC in Sydney. It was there that he met his wife and got introduced to a fantastic new city.

Jason who is now Deputy Director Corporate Finance and Operations for University of Newcastle, Australia, allowed us to catch up with him to hear how his move benefited his career. 

 

Why did you originally decide to move overseas?

I attended the Think Global Recruitment event in Dublin and heard about opportunities in Australia and began to think about that as a location.  I was invited to Birmingham where the Big Four pitched to a room full of recently qualified accountants.  That led to an interview with PwC Sydney and then I got the job! I felt I wanted to break out of my comfort zone and move abroad whilst I was still young.
 

What was the biggest benefit of moving?
 

I found Sydney to be a fantastic city.  Along the way, I met a lady from Singapore who was also working for PwC Sydney and we are now married!  Professionally, I have done better than I would have had I stayed in Ireland.  There is so much to do socially and I love living in a city with a big ‘wow’ factor.  There is a strong Irish ex-pat community, and I’ve had lots of visitors, so have never felt very homesick.
 

Did you feel that your move improved your standard of living?

 

Money was not that big a motivator for my move, but I’ve enjoyed the lifestyle it has afforded me.  There was a ‘living-away-from-home’ allowance and lots of tax breaks.  The outdoor life improved my standard of living too – the culture was initially unfamiliar, but once I got used to it, I loved it!

 

What were the highlights of your location?

 

Sydney is a beautiful city, with amazing beaches, stunning weather, a lovely outdoor, healthy attitude and very sport-orientated.  As a city, it is easy to get around and I was always proud to show it off.

What location are you in now?
 

After 5 years I moved to Newcastle, north of Sydney with PwC. My contract as a foreign employee had been extended and extended and I wanted to put down roots and get Australian citizenship.  I thought this was best done out of a main city and somewhere a little similar to Cork, where I am from.  Newcastle has 180,000 inhabitants and is a major port, similar to Cork.  I had met my now-wife by this point and wanted to buy a house for us both, which I have done in Newcastle.

 

What, in your opinion, are the advantages of working overseas in terms of gaining future employment?

 

In my opinion, overseas working is virtually mandatory to achieve progression in the Big Four.  It is essential for learning new skills and bringing new knowledge back to use in future work.  It demonstrates the ability to be tenacious, self-reliant, to work with a number of very different people in diverse cultures.

What advice would you offer to accountants thinking about working overseas?
 

DO IT! For several years! It shows global companies that professionals are also global in outlook, have a 5 year plan and stick to it.  A professional accountancy qualification is a passport to working anywhere!

 

How did Think Global Recruitment assist you in securing your job overseas?

 

Think Global Recruitment is a truly global company and the contacts you have are unrivalled.  The event that you held in Dublin initially gave excellent information and the Birmingham event was, at the time, really novel.  Having the Big Four pitch to us candidates was great and a nice change from candidates just having to convince employers.

 

What are the advantages of applying for a job through Think Global Recruitment?

 

The events allowed me to hear all of my options and I would not have thought of Australia had it not been for your consultants.  I was given good, honest advice and what I wanted was the most important thing.  The international contacts, the knowledge of the consultants, the willingness to listen and support – all of these things made you stand out.  I have recommended you to people over the years so I’m a huge fan of Think Global Recruitment.

 

 

If this story has inspired you then please share it and help those who may be considering making the move abroad. For any further enquiries please contact pmcloughlin@thinkgr.com