18 months ago Justin Stirling ACMA emigrated to Perth in Western Australia with his family. He tells Insight about his experience and how CIMA turned his world upside down.
When did you first get involved with CIMA?
I remember the day that I decided to become an accountant. It was in a dingy office in Kyzil-Kia, Kyrgyzstan in October 1998 where I was working as a buyer for a tobacco merchant. I saw the pivotal role that the accountant had on the operation over there.
Kyrgyzstan! How then did you prepare for your exams?
I decided to quit my job and return to London and study for my CIMA stage 1 exams (as they were then).
With little finance experience, the only job I could get was in a call centre working for a telecoms company chasing bad debtors - hardly the glamorous life I had imagined, but at least it was a foot on the finance ladder.
Was your employer supportive?
Er… no. I had to pay for all of my stage 1 exams and tuition, but after I had passed them, I decided to find an employer who would take a greater interest in my career.
With the experience I had, another telecoms company was the answer. I spent the next four years gaining invaluable analysis and statutory and management accounting experience.
And after your exams?
Having initially been drawn to accountancy and CIMA for variety of work and the potential to work for myself one day, I decided to look into different industries.
I had roles in financial services, retail and consultancy, before we made our decision to emigrate to Australia to seek a better quality of life and greater professional opportunities.
How was the emigration process?
For us, pretty easy. There was a lot of form filling and accreditation needed, but as accountancy was on the occupations in demand list our application was fast tracked.
The whole process took about nine months and cost about £1,500.
When did you arrive in Australia?
October 2007. Western Australia was in the middle of a mining boom fuelled by China, and I had no trouble finding a short term contract job. It took me three hours, to be precise.
Were people aware of CIMA in Australia?
Yes. In fact in my first role, I worked with a Sri Lankan and a Singaporean, who were also associate members - testament to the global recognition of CIMA as a professional qualification.
So what are you doing now?
After contracting for a few months, I took a permanent role with a consulting firm in Perth. So far, things are working out well. I am a senior consultant and my role is to help companies improve their business processes through the selection and implementation of enterprise resource planning software; and mentor consultant level staff. Recent project examples have been; a mining company that I helped select and implement SAP; and a marine engineering and services company that I helped select and implement Microsoft Dynamics NAV.
Any regrets?
Yes - that I didn’t come here years ago. The global downturn has reached us here in Perth, although we appear to have suffered less than the UK - possibly as a result of the UK being so dependent on the financial services sector.
On a personal front though, you can’t beat it. Home from work, cold beer, in the pool, shrimp on the barbie, you know the score! Of course we miss family and friends, but we’ve made some great mates over here. Like most things in life, if you put in the effort then you’ll get the rewards.
And the future?
Having been drawn to CIMA as a qualification that offered diversity and an ability to work for myself, I am weighing up my options. What I can say, though, is that I am in the right place to achieve my ambitions, and I can’t ever see myself going back.
CIMA Australia
'Emigrating to Australia'
July 2009