According to figures released by the Department of Home Affairs, a total of 305 invitations were issued on April 4th but there was no accountant among them.
Registered migration agent Rohit Mohan told SBS Hindi, “A total of 4785 accountants were to be invited in this financial year," he said. "However, this number was set for class 189. Later we were told that 4785 includes every category including class 189, employer-sponsored visa and state-sponsored visas too.”
“The number of invitations for accountants crossed 2,500 in December last year. And it may have crossed the set limit earlier this year.” Mr Mohan added.
However, accountants received invitations in the SkillSelect invitation round on 18 April 2018 and the point score was 80. And Migration and Education Expert Chaman Preet, on the other hand, believes that this is not the end of the road for accountants. She says, "Accountants are back on the invitation list. It’s a positive sign for those who have been waiting for the invites. We are hoping more invites will be received in the next few rounds before July 2018. July should bring some positive sentiments as new seats get allocated and permanent migration through other visa categories (employer sponsorship) declines."
Source: Dept of Home Affairs
According to the Department of Home Affairs website, “SkillSelect first allocates available places to Skilled – Independent visas (subclass 189) and then the remaining to Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visas (subclass 489). If all places are taken up by subclass 189 visas, then there will be no invitations issued for subclass 489 visas in these occupations.”
“SkillSelect first allocates available places to Skilled – Independent visas (subclass 189) and then the remaining to Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visas (subclass 489). If all places are taken up by subclass 189 visas, then there will be no invitations issued for subclass 489 visas in these occupations.”
Source: Department of Home Affairs
Australia will need to fill any gap in demand with suitably qualified accountants from overseas, according to the CAANZ, the organisation of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand.
A CAANZ spokesperson told SBS Hindi, “We noted that no accountants were on recent offer rounds. This may be because the quotas for overseas accountants have previously been filled. Speaking more broadly, the Government often seeks advice from a range of sources on skilled migration and CAANZ contributes to this discussion.”
The two main bodies of Accounting- CPA and CAANZ, are on board with identifying a vast shortfall in the number of required Accountants in Australia. In a report issued by them to DHA (Department of Home Affairs) about the future of the Accountant occupation, they have pointed out that the declining number of accountants migrating permanently to Australia through the skills stream is of significant concern.
Rohit Mohan, however, believes that the number of invitation will increase in the next financial year.
“I assess that next year will see an increase in invitations as the number of visas issued under employer sponsorship is plummeting,” he said.
Accountants are back on the invitation list. It’s a positive sign for those who have been waiting for the invites. We are hoping more invites will be received in the next few rounds before July 2018. July should bring some positive sentiments as new seats get allocated and permanent migration through other visa categories (employer sponsorship) declines.
But Chaman Preet advises visa hopefuls to focus on communication skills.
"It’s important for international graduates to focus on Communication skills as it will hold the key to permanent migration in this occupation over the next few years. Research conducted by Department of Jobs and Small Business on Accountants in Australia in June 2017 shows that despite holding relevant qualifications, a significant proportion of accountant applicants were deemed unsuitable for the surveyed vacancies. The reason behind this was the employers feel accounting graduates are often lacking the ‘soft skills’ that they are seeking," she says.
