Hello

[prunewarrior]

I am fresh out of school I am an American with Mexican citizenship and I am looking into moving to Madrid. My biggest concern at this point is being able to find work in my field...any one have an idea what an accounting degree can do for a gal in Spain??

Thanks

[Bevdeforges]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

I'm not sure if Mexican citizenship will get you around the Spanish visa requirements, but as a fellow accountant, I can tell you that a few years experience in the US would probably yield big returns in the job hunt in Spain. Experienced accountants with US training are in demand in lots of international companies - and the fact of having more than one language is definitely a plus.

Fresh out of school you're not nearly as interesting, as there are plenty of new graduates out looking for jobs. But with a few "war stories" to tell...
Cheers,
Bev

[synthia]

Does Spain have some special work visa provision for citizens of its former colonies? Otherwise, unless you also have an EU passport, your biggest problem is that you not only have to find a job, but you have to find an employer who is willing to vouch that they are not able to hire anyone in the EU (not just Spain) to fill the position.

I think your best bet is to find work with a big accounting firm that has offices there, and tell them you would like, eventually, to be assigned there.

Your other option is to look for a company that needs an American accountant for some reason, but with no experience, your chances of finding such a job are probably slim. To get some experience in international accounting, you could look for work with some American companies with operations in Mexico. From what Stravinsky has posted, that would give you something to sell.

[Bevdeforges]

One other thing I forgot to mention in my first post - especially if you're concerned about your qualification: it's probably a good idea to pass the CPA exam before you go. Many professional degrees in Europe are completed by passing an exam. Though not everyone will recognize the CPA qualification, the fact of having passed an exam to "validate" your studies will give you a leg up.

And, at least when I did my exam, in Illinois you are "certified" simply by passing the exam - you only needed to do the practice part to get licensed. That may have changed by now. In any event, having a CPA qualification to put on your CV, plus a bit of practice in the field, should do for getting your degree recognized.

And, as Synthia mentioned, getting an employer to handle the visa and transfer details is, far and away, the easiest way to get yourself overseas.
Cheers,
Bev