On your marks, get set...
Its usually a nice feeling when you slip in your latest degree-certificate into your file. But I was almost embarrassed this time as I seemed to have amassed quite a bit of card paper in there already.
The part that really stings is that the card papers may have helped me get more subsequent card papers, but haven't really helped me get back any of the hard-earned and getting-harder-to-manage paper that I've put into these things.
That's why I need to get down under, remember? So that I can earn a lot of money in a respectable profession of my choosing and have plenty of time to enjoy life with my family in a beautiful country that respects nature and takes care of its citizens and seems to have more chances of surviving into the next decade/ century than where I am currently.
I need to keep that in mind, because sometimes we get so involved in short-term goals and objectives that we forget the broader vision that keeps escaping us like a mirage.
So, back to short-term goals and objectives, among the top priorities in my life right now are to:
1. Qualify for the Australian immigration visa as a management accountant
2. Have real skills in demand for the Australian job market
3. Set aside some savings to buffer me between jobs and down-time (not to mention, pay for all the processing fees)
Qualify for the Australian immigration visa as a management accountant
Unless my AUD $350 doesn't come through, I am pretty sure that I can qualify assessment with my current qualifications and a 7x4 band score.
However, if I am mistaken, then the Advanced diploma or full CIMA membership will definitely qualify me (as CIMA is a recognized/ partly recognized accounting body by the assessing authorities). Which means I need to continue to move fast towards full membership, as per the original (amended) plan.
At the same time, my qualifications would be assessed for entry into the CA program.
The ICAA assessment details what this process would be like. Most probably, what it would entail would be taking an AUD $600 entrance examination or a Graduate conversion course from Deakin University (ring a bell, anyone?).
The Deakin program is no longer a possibility unless I'm working in Singapore, Malaysia or Australia.
While it may be easy to assume membership will land me a well-paying job much sooner than being partly qualified, at least 9 out of 10 management accounting jobs in Australia are for qualified or part-qualified CA/ CPA, while less than 1 in 50 jobs ask specifically for a CIMA qualification or membership.
If this is the case, then a slice of the CIMA pie is just as good as the entire thing, since that will suffice to provide entry into Australia as a management accountant.
Also, each CIMA examination digest sets me back by approximately 50% of my current monthly. Supposing that I were to continue my studies while being employed down under, this would be a much smaller percentage and thereby much more manageable financially. Secondly, studying for CIMA could be complemented with studies towards qualifying as a CA/ CPA.
It is worthwhile mentioning that job boards like Career One are flooded with postings for management accountants.
In order to move fast, I'll need to take a chance with my assessment. Hopefully all the prayers will come through for me like they always do ever since I straightened up and I'll receive a positive assessment.
As soon as I have this, I'll be submitting my documentation to the Australian Visa Bureau, which will be processed within one or two years depending on which priority I fall into. By this time, I would hopefully be a fully qualified CIMA member and should be able to qualify an Australian CA/ CPA much sooner than I would if I were not a member, and be eligible for senior-level jobs.
Also, while I'm currently 5 points above the points test (I'm guessing), I'll have the exact number of points by January 9, 2011 (my 30th birthday). So there's no time to waste - in case the points get upped by a further few number of points (which would make it ridiculously difficult to enter, but them Aussies would sure be going for gold then).
Have real skills in demand for the Australian job market
One silly strategy I have been pursuing all along is to hedge my options by pursuing work experience in the role of an ICT business analyst so in case accountants are off the list, computer technicians are still in demand. There's a number of big, ugly moth holes in that hat I'm wearing for reasons including the fact that:
1. I don't really like programming (especially the geeky type) , though I do love designing databases and can handle some SQL scripting
2. I'm not getting relevant accounting experience and I'm not keen on being top-programmer-of-the-year so I'm neither here nor there really.
However, like I blogged previously, accountants with IT skills are the future.
Right now accountants with MS Excel skills are good enough, and I fit that profile quite well.
Analytical, data-intensive jobs similar to my current role may not be disastrous, but some core management accounting skills should feature in my resume, such as variance analysis (though this is outdated), or at least a financial application BI tool.
In case I find myself in a niche market, the number of jobs may be fewer, but are likely to offer much better packages.
If my plans come through as quickly as I'm hoping, I will be emigrating at a senior-level rather than at mid-career or junior level. That means I need at least a few more years experience in a reputable firm.
The thing is that I don't believe there are a whole lot of relevant jobs that suit me here in Pakistan. I may need to consider a hop over to another place with a better job market, like Dubai, Malaysia or Singapore to gain more suitable experience though I don't know how I may fare.
I do need to be actively on the lookout.
Set aside some savings to buffer me
Right now I have negative equity. My earnings are in a worthless currency and I'm barely meeting my expenses (I can't even consider buying a car, or even a decent cell phone for that matter). To think I can set aside savings makes feel like both laughing at the incredulity of it, worrying about what it'll take and crying because that stress-related leg cramp won't let up.
So far my attempts at eking an extra income out of giving tuition, selling laptops and other crazy ideas have not really brought in any dough. Reckless behavior has also cost me, in terms of money, time and stress.
Unless something like one of my applications to universities as a part-time lecturer comes through or some other unlikely event to at least double my income, I'm down in the pits, i.e. Karachi.
However, I could continue with my humble existence as it is, qualifying the Advanced Diploma and/ or becoming a fully qualified member while I'm at it, and then even if my immigration doesn't come through, may be I can just go else where.
On the other hand, switching to an more enriching position would not be the worst thing I can do.
Summary
So the bottom line is thus:
1. Get that diploma assessed. Have all the docs ready and the AUD pay order so that as soon as that 7+x4 lands in the mailbox, we're being assessed the very next day.
2. Keep working on CIMA and look out for jobs anywhere, everywhere
3. Do whatever it takes to set aside some cash
So better register for the next IELTS and the November exams. No more snoozing.
The part that really stings is that the card papers may have helped me get more subsequent card papers, but haven't really helped me get back any of the hard-earned and getting-harder-to-manage paper that I've put into these things.
That's why I need to get down under, remember? So that I can earn a lot of money in a respectable profession of my choosing and have plenty of time to enjoy life with my family in a beautiful country that respects nature and takes care of its citizens and seems to have more chances of surviving into the next decade/ century than where I am currently.
I need to keep that in mind, because sometimes we get so involved in short-term goals and objectives that we forget the broader vision that keeps escaping us like a mirage.
So, back to short-term goals and objectives, among the top priorities in my life right now are to:
1. Qualify for the Australian immigration visa as a management accountant
2. Have real skills in demand for the Australian job market
3. Set aside some savings to buffer me between jobs and down-time (not to mention, pay for all the processing fees)
Qualify for the Australian immigration visa as a management accountant
Unless my AUD $350 doesn't come through, I am pretty sure that I can qualify assessment with my current qualifications and a 7x4 band score.
However, if I am mistaken, then the Advanced diploma or full CIMA membership will definitely qualify me (as CIMA is a recognized/ partly recognized accounting body by the assessing authorities). Which means I need to continue to move fast towards full membership, as per the original (amended) plan.
At the same time, my qualifications would be assessed for entry into the CA program.
The ICAA assessment details what this process would be like. Most probably, what it would entail would be taking an AUD $600 entrance examination or a Graduate conversion course from Deakin University (ring a bell, anyone?).
The Deakin program is no longer a possibility unless I'm working in Singapore, Malaysia or Australia.
While it may be easy to assume membership will land me a well-paying job much sooner than being partly qualified, at least 9 out of 10 management accounting jobs in Australia are for qualified or part-qualified CA/ CPA, while less than 1 in 50 jobs ask specifically for a CIMA qualification or membership.
If this is the case, then a slice of the CIMA pie is just as good as the entire thing, since that will suffice to provide entry into Australia as a management accountant.
Also, each CIMA examination digest sets me back by approximately 50% of my current monthly. Supposing that I were to continue my studies while being employed down under, this would be a much smaller percentage and thereby much more manageable financially. Secondly, studying for CIMA could be complemented with studies towards qualifying as a CA/ CPA.
It is worthwhile mentioning that job boards like Career One are flooded with postings for management accountants.
In order to move fast, I'll need to take a chance with my assessment. Hopefully all the prayers will come through for me like they always do ever since I straightened up and I'll receive a positive assessment.
As soon as I have this, I'll be submitting my documentation to the Australian Visa Bureau, which will be processed within one or two years depending on which priority I fall into. By this time, I would hopefully be a fully qualified CIMA member and should be able to qualify an Australian CA/ CPA much sooner than I would if I were not a member, and be eligible for senior-level jobs.
Also, while I'm currently 5 points above the points test (I'm guessing), I'll have the exact number of points by January 9, 2011 (my 30th birthday). So there's no time to waste - in case the points get upped by a further few number of points (which would make it ridiculously difficult to enter, but them Aussies would sure be going for gold then).
Have real skills in demand for the Australian job market
One silly strategy I have been pursuing all along is to hedge my options by pursuing work experience in the role of an ICT business analyst so in case accountants are off the list, computer technicians are still in demand. There's a number of big, ugly moth holes in that hat I'm wearing for reasons including the fact that:
1. I don't really like programming (especially the geeky type) , though I do love designing databases and can handle some SQL scripting
2. I'm not getting relevant accounting experience and I'm not keen on being top-programmer-of-the-year so I'm neither here nor there really.
However, like I blogged previously, accountants with IT skills are the future.
Right now accountants with MS Excel skills are good enough, and I fit that profile quite well.
Analytical, data-intensive jobs similar to my current role may not be disastrous, but some core management accounting skills should feature in my resume, such as variance analysis (though this is outdated), or at least a financial application BI tool.
In case I find myself in a niche market, the number of jobs may be fewer, but are likely to offer much better packages.
If my plans come through as quickly as I'm hoping, I will be emigrating at a senior-level rather than at mid-career or junior level. That means I need at least a few more years experience in a reputable firm.
The thing is that I don't believe there are a whole lot of relevant jobs that suit me here in Pakistan. I may need to consider a hop over to another place with a better job market, like Dubai, Malaysia or Singapore to gain more suitable experience though I don't know how I may fare.
I do need to be actively on the lookout.
Set aside some savings to buffer me
Right now I have negative equity. My earnings are in a worthless currency and I'm barely meeting my expenses (I can't even consider buying a car, or even a decent cell phone for that matter). To think I can set aside savings makes feel like both laughing at the incredulity of it, worrying about what it'll take and crying because that stress-related leg cramp won't let up.
So far my attempts at eking an extra income out of giving tuition, selling laptops and other crazy ideas have not really brought in any dough. Reckless behavior has also cost me, in terms of money, time and stress.
Unless something like one of my applications to universities as a part-time lecturer comes through or some other unlikely event to at least double my income, I'm down in the pits, i.e. Karachi.
However, I could continue with my humble existence as it is, qualifying the Advanced Diploma and/ or becoming a fully qualified member while I'm at it, and then even if my immigration doesn't come through, may be I can just go else where.
On the other hand, switching to an more enriching position would not be the worst thing I can do.
Summary
So the bottom line is thus:
1. Get that diploma assessed. Have all the docs ready and the AUD pay order so that as soon as that 7+x4 lands in the mailbox, we're being assessed the very next day.
2. Keep working on CIMA and look out for jobs anywhere, everywhere
3. Do whatever it takes to set aside some cash
So better register for the next IELTS and the November exams. No more snoozing.
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