Skilled Migrant EOI - Help required

[jkhosking]

Hi - Can anyone provide advice regards my situation below?

This is an email i sent to an immigration officer at New Zealand Immigration. Details are as follows:

I want to complete an EOI and am having difficulty interpreting the immigration requirements around the Long Term Skill shortage list, and am hoping by some miracle I am able to collect at least 140 points. In light of the info below, can you advise whether I would be able to collect additional points from my qualification to get me over this threshold:

1) I want to apply for a skilled migrant visa as a qualified auditor - see ANZSCO code 221213 but am not a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants
2) I have a BCompt degree in accounting & audit via University of South Africa (which will give me 50 points, as it is included on the list of universities on your website)
3) I am also a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the UK (this is a post graduate qualification, but is not listed on the Immigragtion website. I understand that i can get this qualification assessed by the NZQA, but this would not really benefit me, as it will only get me an extra 5 points - so i would still not get over the 140 point threshold). ACCA is a global accountancy body organisation and has presence in NZ. Their website is ACCA Australia & New Zealand
4) I have at least 10 years accounting/audit experience and work for a blue chip bank in London UK


Upon inspecting the Long Term Skills shortage list, I noticed that NZ has a shortage of auditors, but according to the supporting comments, you need to be a holder of a relevant degree (which I have), but you also need to be a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, (which is where I fall short)

I would really appreciate your help on this - as I cannot convert my qualification across to the New Zealand Institute of CHartered Accountants as they would make me sit a whole range of examinations.

Any advice you can provide would be appreciated

Her response was as follows:
Hi Justin

I have good & bad news for you. The bad news is, I spoke with NZICA & unfortunately there is no way around this requirement. The reason being, in order for you to

be an auditor here in NZ you need to have studied New Zealand law of entity structure (e.g. company and partnership law) & New Zealand taxation.

The good news is this college recognises ACCA & you can apply to become a provisional reciprocal member. However, before you become a full member you will

need to do the 2 papers above first, but at least you'll be a reciprocal member for now. I would recommend once you become a reciprocal member you go for the

points on the LTSSL(long term skill shortage list) & then when it is selected, I would then recommend you to advise Immigration NZ that when you arrive here in NZ

you would then study the 2papers needed in order for you to become a full member. There are a list of universities on their website in which you can study at &

more details of the information Ive mentioned above. This is the link: Institute | Home

Hopefully, this will help you. Good luck!

Im struggling to understand why NZ Immigration are so prescriptive, as my qualification is recognised in NZ. I just dont see why they do not accept ACCA qualified auditors? - I do not want to register for any further studies

Any advice or would be appreicated

Kind Regards

Justin

[fevziye99]

I agree - the approach seems myopic. If you're a qualified Chartered Accountant, and your GAAP is British, which is what the folks here in AUstralia / NZ also follow - I don't understand the need to give the exam again. Perhaps it would warrant a second opinion or get intouch with someone who is an NZ resident and followed your ommigration path - hard to find, but give it a try.