We hear plenty about the brain drain of experienced New Zealand professionals who head overseas to further their careers.

But what about people who are considering moving here? New Zealand is undoubtedly a fantastic country in many respects, particularly for people who have grown weary of the congestion and hectic pace of life in some overseas cities.

The lifestyle is great and in a candidate-short market there are plenty of positions available.

But there is more to consider before uprooting your family; think about the career prospects of your spouse in a population of only four million and how your children will cope with leaving their friends behind and changing schools.

In the field of Chartered Accountancy Audit travels best, so here we consider some frequently asked questions from Audit people looking for a move.

 

I want to live and work in New Zealand. Where do I start?

 

You will need to know what your immigration status is and the best place for this is through the Immigration Service. The rules can be complex and can change. Most recruitment consultancies will shy away from advising you. www.immigration.govt.nz

How will my qualifications be viewed?

 

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority will assess your degree and you may find that it is the equivalent of a particular degree in NZ.

You should also contact the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand (www.icanz.co.nz) to get feedback about the status of your degree or membership of your own professional body, in relation to the New Zealand Chartered Accounting qualification.

Often we find that an equivalent overseas CA membership will only require a couple of papers, such as NZ Tax and NZ Company Law, for full NZ CA membership to be granted.

Qualifications such as CIMA, CISA and ACCA are understood and accepted in New Zealand.

 

What is the market like?

 

A broad question. In the profession, skills are short and therefore there is more ‘tolerance’ of overseas experience. In more senior positions there is some resistance because business networking is important at this level; NZ is a small community and it can be difficult and time-consuming for a newcomer to develop business leads.

It might be more cost effective for a CA firm to use this time on a less experienced local person who can develop the technical skills concurrently with the networking.

In commerce it must be remembered that there are fewer big corporates who can justify the infrastructure of an Internal Audit or Risk Management role, so competition for these roles is fierce.

Having said that, overseas appointments have been made where the industry experience is specific.

 

How do salaries compare?

 

Do not come to New Zealand for the money.

Most currencies pay more on paper than New Zealand offers, and the motive needs to be the lifestyle.

In reality you do not need a large income to entertain yourself or your family, as outdoor pursuits are available to everyone free or relatively cheaply.

Examples of salaries in Risk Management positions, which are comparable in both the profession and in commerce:

Consultant, 5 – 6 years $NZ65 – 70,000

Risk Management Consultant, Manager $NZ85 – 100,000

Senior Manager, Director level $NZ100,000 – 130,000

Partner. Well you might ask…

 

Should I use a Recruitment Consultancy?

Professional positions are often filled through recruitment companies; although being a small community there is an element of word of mouth and who-you-know.

Within the recruitment profession there are many inexperienced people operating with various levels of effectiveness – there is no barrier to working in recruitment in NZ.

The proven players are acknowledged by the market, with the rule of thumb that individual recruiters who have been in their niche market for a number of years would be the safest bet.

The Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (www.rcsa.co.nz) has a list of members who feel strongly enough about the quality of their service to subscribe to the voluntary code of ethics.

 

How do I choose a good recruiter?

While it is true that many positions do not make it to the advertising, whether by newsprint or web sites, these venues are a good place to assess the consultancies who handle your type of work.

Word of mouth from someone you trust in the UK is helpful too. A good recruiter will understand what you do and make enquiries within your market for you.

You are always best to be represented by a professional recruiter in a small market where you do not know the local players.

 

What is the recruitment process in NZ?

Email is the preferred mode of communication, with a CV attached or at least a comprehensive summary of what you have been doing.

You should be up front about your residency status and your family circumstances. If you are married with children this is not going to stop you getting a position – in fact it might be preferable in some positions – but it will be an early and valid question, especially if your spouse needs a position as well.

 

What is the Privacy Act?

 

Having said share your details, we would also remind you that this is a small community and you should bear that in mind when dealing with consultants or even potential employers direct.

We have a Privacy Act, which is designed to protect individuals from having their personal details shared without their permission.

Unfortunately within the recruitment profession there is a tendency to persuade people to sign a declaration giving permission to act, which effectively negates the spirit of this Act.

Take care when signing such declarations and be prepared to alter the text to ensure that your CV is not sent somewhere or your referees contacted without your knowledge and consent.