Question on Career Prospect

Laboogee on 31/07/2014 - 22:03

Hi people…

I have a question (career related) which I hope you guys can help clarify.

My girlfriend is a qualified doctor from China who has the following qualification from USYD and UNSW

  • Master in Public Health
  • Master in Professional Accounting

She is now a book keeper with an Australian company and has (somewhat) extensive experience in GST, PAYG, and MYOB skills.

She recently went for an interview in a small tax / accounting firm. The firm is owned and operated by a CPA.

THE PROBLEM IS:
The CPA said that in Australia, companies would prefer to hire an accountant with full 3 years BCOM(Acct) qualification rather than a doctor with full 2 years Master in Professional Accounting experience. Also, he was saying that it was quite impossible for my girl friend to find a job in Australia with her current visa. My gf is currently on temporary resident visa and is currently preparing for IELTS for her PR application. After all the "negative" comments, the CPA was prepared to offer her a full time internship on the basis that my gf looked "decent & diligent" - but without pay until she is able to prove productivity, which itself is vague as well as it was not clearly defined. The CPA also did mention that the maximum period for the internship would be 3 months (may be with or without pay), after which he would make a decision as to whether a permanent position would be offered to her or not.

Now the dilemma is, he did promise that the internship would be structured well like a training program. The CPA was very frank in that my gf would not be dealing with any tax affairs until at least 1 year when she is familiar with her work. She would be building on her accounting fundamentals for a start, which I thought was reasonable. Personally I thought that the whole deal was good except I just dont understand why is it a job without pay. I dont think my gf is so inexperienced that she doesnt deserve at least the minimum pay.

What are your thoughts guys?

Education & Work

Comments

  • p1 ama on 31/07/2014 - 22:21

    Has she applied for any other firms or just the one?

    It's hard to form an opinion based on only one firm. She should apply for a variety of firms from the top-tier firms, e.g. PWC, KPMG, to the middle-tier firms, e.g. William Buck.

    To answer your specific questions, though:

    1) The CPA said that in Australia, companies would prefer to hire an accountant with full 3 years BCOM(Acct) qualification rather than a doctor with full 2 years Master in Professional Accounting experience.

    Well medical qualifications aren't really relevant to Accounting. However, I do believe this to be the general trend, that a BCom degree is generally more highly regarded than some short Masters programs. It is important to note that it will depend on many other things, most importantly what her marks were during the course.

    2) Also, he was saying that it was quite impossible for my girl friend to find a job in Australia with her current visa. My gf is currently on temporary resident visa and is currently preparing for IELTS for her PR application.

    This is true, many employers are reluctant to hire people on temporary resident visas, because they tend to not be long term workers, i.e. many just work for a year or two before returning to their home countries.

    3) Personally I thought that the whole deal was good except I just dont understand why is it a job without pay. I dont think my gf is so inexperienced that she doesnt deserve at least the minimum pay.

    You'll have to apply to more firms to see if the offer is generous. It's hard to say when I don't know anything about her.

  • scotty on 31/07/2014 - 23:57

    My gf is currently on temporary resident visa and is currently preparing for IELTS for her PR application.

    I think things will be easier once IELTS is passed and PR status is settled. I am not even sure whether unpaid internship is legal. Maybe she should continue her current bookkeeping job, work on passing IELTS and start on doing CA/CPA.

    One fact is that there are just way too many accounting graduates out there, many aren't doing anything related to accounting. My wife spent 2 years getting her CPA, although she has never worked a day as an accountant. She did audit & project management stuff, and I, an engineering grad, ended up doing the tax return for her. So maybe don't get fixated on getting an accounting job?

    • mini2 on 03/08/2014 - 17:14
      +1

      One fact is that there are just way too many accounting graduates out there

      With CA/CPA lobbying to keep accountants on the SOL, it doesn't help their members one bit which stirs the uni to pump out more BComm/BBus/BAcct candidates, become their members and more people in the resource pool for prospective employers to pick from. 200+ applications for a role isn't exactly unheard of (according to Whirlpool anyway).

      So maybe don't get fixated on getting an accounting job?

      Hear, hear. IMHO the whole prestige and money racking capability of an accounting career is long gone. Instead of racking in money for yourselves it will ended up for the partners/owners of the firm. There's still good money in accounting but similar to IT, it will be a long road ahead and often difficult.

      With the medical background, perhaps become an Enrolled Nurse? At least there's a bit more cash there than trying to fight for an assistant account role.

  • one man clan on 01/08/2014 - 09:22

    The offer they made sounds at best dodgy and at worst, illegal. I'd stay far away.

  • humdogg on 01/08/2014 - 09:24

    your main question:

    Personally I thought that the whole deal was good except I just dont understand why is it a job without pay. I dont think my gf is so inexperienced that she doesnt deserve at least the minimum pay.

    Broadly speaking it depends who is getting the benefit out of the arrangement. If your gf is getting the training & experience, then it is not inappropriate that it is unpaid.

    If the firm gets any productive work out of her, then she should be paid.

    http://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/policies-and-guides/fact…

    • one man clan on 01/08/2014 - 10:01

      Agree with your point on the law.

      I think it would be a long bow to suggest that someone with a masters in professional accounting and actual work experience would benefit from an unpaid work role.

  • Dumax on 01/08/2014 - 10:30

    Unpaid internships are illegal.

  • aboogee on 01/08/2014 - 19:34

    Thank you guys. Really appreciate your comments. Will decide on this soon after discussing with the "boss" but really appreciate those who have contributed.

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