Hi ladies and gents, I am new to this forum and have chosen to sign up to it to basically ask for some information.
I’m currently a week away from moving to London for at least a year with the aim to really push forward my career in accounts, I have studied book keeping with the IAB, I have just begun both C.A.T (Certified Accounting Technician) and C.I M.A (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), I intend to have completed C.A.T within the year that will exempt me from the first 4 papers of ACCA. Now I know that this may be study over kill to some of you, but to me it’s to increase my options, I do aspire to become a forensic accountant but for now my goal is to get as much experience under my belt and to open as many doors for myself as possible, but my situation is this; my gf who has dual nationality has just landed herself a job in NYC after a temping job for a few months at Pepsi ( Chicago ) and well she wants me to come out. But I am kind of determined to do what I need to do here first, i.e. get some more work experience, save some money, and get these qualifications as got into as possible.
Now I know I can get into the states via a fiancé/spouse visa but if I am totally honest I’d rather not use that route as I would much rather my impending proposal be done on my terms as opposed to a necessary move. Plus I think being in the frame of mind that I have, one in which I want to kind of earn my ticket over there myself isn’t exactly a bad thing, can’t do me any harm after all.
The problems I have however are; firstly I dropped out of university a few years back, I was studying sports science totally unrelated to what I’m doing now, the way I have attempted to remedy that situation is to enroll on a CIMA + MBA program me, but as CIMA will take me at least 2 1/2 yrs and then the MBA likely a further year, it may mean I can’t get out there as soon as I would have hoped. Secondly I’m not exactly too sure on how valued these qualifications are, I mean every website I go onto speaks highly of one and not another and then another site does the opposite, I have been on job web sites just to see what jobs in the states usually ask for and where I seem to see ACCA being the one held up most I have actually seen CIMA asked for mostly in job descriptions, however I think it’s only the ACCA that allows you to sit the CPA exam.

I guess what I’m asking is, I have pretty much written off this year as one where I will simply work and study and get out to see the gf as much as possible, hopefully shake a few hands while I’m out there and maybe see if I can make some connections. But in the mean time I’d love to hear from any of you guys who have any idea of what’s required, especially those of you in the accounts industry.

As I have said I will marry my gf eventually, id just rather do it on my terms, when we are ready, and I’d love to get out there on my own steam? I have been working as an accounts assistant for a year now and by the end of next year that will be a further year plus more qualifications etc, I’m kind of hoping it will all count for something to prospective employers.