Moving to America - Impossible?

[RyanKimbo]

Hello to all who can help!

Basically it is a great ambition of mine to be able to pack up and move to the US.

I am currently 19, studying Accountancy with plans to go onto the higher CIMA course, which will be equivalent to a BA Degree. All in all it will take me another 5 years from now to be completely qualified as a management accountant.

I work at a multinational company with offices all over the US. However, the likelyhood of them moving me over there im guessing is pretty slim, as I would imagine they would only do this for managerial positions, which will not come about until I'm 40 and by that time would make things a whole lot more complex having children, a house, etc.

So I would like to know other than family/work sponsors, if there was a way of emmigrating there.

Is it possible to go over to america for a month and apply for jobs/interviews? Or would potential employers avoid you, to avoid filling in all the Visa paperwork.

Any help would be great!

Thanks,
Ryan

[twostep]

Until you have your degree in hand even a willing employer could not sponsor you. Have you read up on the visa stickies?
You may be able to work an exchange semester or an internship in. You employer may be open to supporting you with an in-house posting or at leat a sabbatical.

[RyanKimbo]

Originally Posted by twostep

Until you have your degree in hand even a willing employer could not sponsor you. Have you read up on the visa stickies?
You may be able to work an exchange semester or an internship in. You employer may be open to supporting you with an in-house posting or at leat a sabbatical.

Im waiting until I complete my CIMA first anyways so I have 5 years, Also whcih is good news on educational side of things, I had an email from CIMA saying that they and AICPA (US largest accounting qualification) were joining together and offering an exam to give you a US qualification too.

I suppose when it gets closer to the time I could have some serious talks with some of the companies managers, and talk about my prospects.

[twostep]

Originally Posted by RyanKimbo

Im waiting until I complete my CIMA first anyways so I have 5 years, Also whcih is good news on educational side of things, I had an email from CIMA saying that they and AICPA (US largest accounting qualification) were joining together and offering an exam to give you a US qualification too.

I suppose when it gets closer to the time I could have some serious talks with some of the companies managers, and talk about my prospects.

Project management works on a personal level just fine:>) Keep your goal in mind. In the meantim - network, network, network. Stay in touch with everybody. Volunteer - good face time with the upper crust:>)

[Bevdeforges]

Not trying to splash cold water on your plans, but although the CIMA is recognized as equivalent to a university degree for purposes of sitting the CPA exam, it may not be recognized by employers in the US as equivalent to a university degree. Most accountancy jobs (other than bookkeeping) require a university degree as a minimum, and this also tends to be the minimum required to qualify for a work visa, too.
Cheers,
Bev

[RyanKimbo]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Not trying to splash cold water on your plans, but although the CIMA is recognized as equivalent to a university degree for purposes of sitting the CPA exam, it may not be recognized by employers in the US as equivalent to a university degree. Most accountancy jobs (other than bookkeeping) require a university degree as a minimum, and this also tends to be the minimum required to qualify for a work visa, too.
Cheers,
Bev

Hello,

CIMA is the course you study after going to University or studying AAT, Accountancy Degrees are not very popular with employers as you dont really have any hands on experience. So either way, even if you have a University degree this becomes pretty irrelevant once you have took the next step e.g. CIMA, CIPFA, ACA, ACCA. The degree is merely a foundation to build on, which amongst employers is no better than AAT as AAT allows for hands on experience and you also cover more hours studying with AAT.

Also CIMA is recognised as the equivalent of a Universty Masters Degree (I initially said Bachelors, BAchelors < Masters), not just for the purposes of sitting an exam. See below

"CIMA equivalent to Master's degree, says UK government agency"

"The CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) professional qualification is equivalent to a master's degree, the independent UK agency responsible for government scoring of immigrants' qualifications has said."

[cimaglobal[dot]com/About-us/Press-office/Press-releases/2008/July/CIMA-equivalent-to-Masters-degree-says-UK-government-agency/

[RyanKimbo]

Originally Posted by RyanKimbo

Hello,

CIMA is the course you study after going to University or studying AAT, Accountancy Degrees are not very popular with employers as you dont really have any hands on experience. So either way, even if you have a University degree this becomes pretty irrelevant once you have took the next step e.g. CIMA, CIPFA, ACA, ACCA. The degree is merely a foundation to build on, which amongst employers is no better than AAT as AAT allows for hands on experience and you also cover more hours studying with AAT.

Also CIMA is recognised as the equivalent of a Universty Masters Degree (I initially said Bachelors, BAchelors < Masters), not just for the purposes of sitting an exam. See below

"CIMA equivalent to Master's degree, says UK government agency"

"The CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) professional qualification is equivalent to a master's degree, the independent UK agency responsible for government scoring of immigrants' qualifications has said."

[cimaglobal[dot]com/About-us/Press-office/Press-releases/2008/July/CIMA-equivalent-to-Masters-degree-says-UK-government-agency/

Also

"82% of AAT students passed their CIMA exams, 28% higher than the CIMA worldwide pass rate"

[twostep]

Originally Posted by RyanKimbo

Also

"82% of AAT students passed their CIMA exams, 28% higher than the CIMA worldwide pass rate"

As Bev said - when in the US US rules apply. a) To make the move you need time with one of The Big Four b) CPA is a given

[Bevdeforges]

In the US, what matters is the employer's perspective, not any official equivalency. Note I said "may" as in "the employer may not recognize the equivalence."

There is a management accounting certification in the US, known as the CMA (certified management accountant vs. certified public accountant) and the exams for the CMA are considerably more difficult and cover a wider range of topics. Still, the CMA isn't terribly well known and is not recognized (except by fellow CMA holders) in the job market.

Job hunting in the US is largely an exercise in marketing yourself. Make sure you explain your CIMA qualification in your resume, your cover letter and in any interviews, because it's not one that is widely known in the US.
Cheers,
Bev

[twostep]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

In the US, what matters is the employer's perspective, not any official equivalency. Note I said "may" as in "the employer may not recognize the equivalence."

There is a management accounting certification in the US, known as the CMA (certified management accountant vs. certified public accountant) and the exams for the CMA are considerably more difficult and cover a wider range of topics. Still, the CMA isn't terribly well known and is not recognized (except by fellow CMA holders) in the job market.

Job hunting in the US is largely an exercise in marketing yourself. Make sure you explain your CIMA qualification in your resume, your cover letter and in any interviews, because it's not one that is widely known in the US.
Cheers,
Bev

OP's initial job search will probably be on-line. Employer software such as PeopleSoft operate amongst others on a hit word matrix. CPA is one of the job requirements but it does not come up on resume or application - X amount of points not given.