Accountants: Understanding the career ladder and chances for permanent residence in Canada!
Who is your accountant? Your expenses and income are entered by clerks (NOC 14200), tax returns are prepared by technicians (NOC 12200), and your company's finances are monitored by auditors and accountants (NOC 11100).
⁉But are these professions in demand in Canada, especially if you dream of permanent residence (PR)? Let's see what opportunities are open for these specialists and which provinces are interested in these professions.
I'll tell you a secret: officially, only Quebec has announced a shortage of accountants, but in reality, finding a good specialist throughout Canada is quite a quest! This is due to the fact that the work of an accountant in Canada requires deep knowledge of local laws, training and a license, which complicates the path for newcomers.
1. Accounting Clerks, Tariff Clerks, or Payroll Clerks (NOC 14200).
Have you ever wondered who processes your paychecks or enters your utility bills? These are accounting clerks – entry-level specialists who work with financial documents according to clear instructions. They work in corporate offices, government agencies, or startups.
They enter data on expenses and income: bills, invoices, statements, reconcile transactions: from salaries to orders, calculate material costs and help with the budget, answer customer inquiries and do routine work: copying, archiving.
High school or courses required
This is an ideal starting point for a career in accounting with minimal requirements.
Chances of permanent residence:
Clerks (NOC 14200) are not included in the lists of priority occupations for permanent residence in most provinces, as this is an entry-level role with a low skill level (TEER 4). However, in Quebec, where there is a shortage of accounting specialists, such positions are in demand through the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program - ARRIMA (RSWP). They require at least level 5 spoken French and do not necessarily require written French.
2. Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200).
THEY prepare your personal tax returns or small business reports.
Their responsibilities include full accounting: trial balance, general ledger, financial reports, calculating checks for salaries, taxes and utilities, filling out, preparing and sending taxes, preparing statistical reports.
These specialists save you from headaches with tax forms!
Secondary education in accounting and a license is required.
Technicians are the bridge between the routine of clerks and the complex analytics of auditors. They already work with reports that affect the business!
Chances for permanent residence:
In Quebec, they are in demand through RSWP – ARRIMA. You need French level 7 and 5 written, since this is TEER 2.
Under other programs, you can get permanent residence within the framework of qualified Canadian experience, but there is no demand for the accounting field.
3. Financial auditors and accountants (NOC 11100)
They are the wizards of your company's finances. They make sure that the company's finances are in order. Financial auditors and accountants are top-level experts who analyze, consult and monitor compliance with laws. They work in large firms, government agencies or as independent specialists.
- Auditors: Check records, statements, declarations, prepare audit reports and make recommendations.
- Accountants: Manage accounting systems, develop control procedures, advise on taxes, work with bankruptcies.
These specialists can save a company from tax errors and financial losses!
Education: University degree (accounting, finance, economics).
- Professional program (CPA, CA; CPA, CGA; CPA, CMA) with 2-2.5 years of practice and passing the exam (UFE for CPA, CA).
- License for public accounting.
This is the pinnacle where you influence the strategy of companies and work with large clients!
Oleksandra Melnykova, Canadian Immigration and Refugee Consultant.
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