would much appreciate your advice. I’m going to move to Australia in 1-1.5 years from EM country through Skilled Independent visaand thinking of corporate finance job. To the date I have ~ 3 years exp in CF (mostly valuation) and 2 years in management consulting. Additionally I’m thinking of passing CFA (1-2 levels) and perhaps 1L FRM (worth it?!). So, basically, a few questions:
will this enhance my CV in comparison to aussies and or UK/US immigrants, won’t I be treated as 3-lay class due to EM experience and what are the alternatives if not getting CF position (for e.g. smth like Financial analyst etc.).
where to move in respect of better opportunities: Sydney or Melbourne?!
what certifications to pursue? (CFA, FRM, anything else?)
Australians dont recognise international experience as highly as Aussie expereience or some reason. CFA levels well help, but at the end of the day a lot of hiring managers and HR departments here are ignorant of it.
I wont lie, you are facing an uphill battle here, also due to the fact that hiring in CF has not been good here for quite a while since the GFC. Its not impossible but will be hard. Perhaps your EM experience will be useful try and work that angle. If you are from somewhere like China and can speak Mandarin, well then you are in a fantastic position.
Sydney - the financial sector there is 10 times bigger than Melbourne. Although Melbourne is a better city in my opinion.
CFA, CA wont hurt. But experience counts the most here in Australia than degrees, thats why its so hard for young people to break in here. if any of the experience you have is with big name internationally recognised name brands, that will help.
How do you intend to get the skilled visa? Those are hard to get here, and I would think even harder to get for CF considering that skill is easily found here and plenty of locals floating around here with the skills to do CF that are seeking work.
I have accounting degree and 1 year internship at audit department of big4 (which I haven’t mentioned above). Thus, will try to get through accounting or audit (both are in the SOL list). From my understanding I’ll have 70-75 points out of 60 required for consideration. I’m quite yound with 5 years exp to the date, have a wife who gives us additional points :), hope this works.
I’m from Eastern Europe, don’t think this will help much as Chinese background.
Would be very grateful if you give any advice of ‘to do & not to do’ from your exp.