Filipino Accountants Abroad
I got this nagging email from a friend and an ex-colleague who now lives in Canada saying that I should submit my resume as soon as possible. In my curiosity, I tried to look up the recruitment agency for professionals seeking accounting jobs offshore. Seems like a credible one. I also dug my files to check on the calling card a friend brought with him when he went to work in the Grand Cayman Islands a couple of years ago. There surely are plenty of accounting jobs abroad. He once said that there are plenty of young Filipino accountants in the Caribbeans. He even wished to go back there someday.
Another offshore accounting job opportunity popped out in my email this morning: An accounting job in the UAE. I checked where they got my email, and I found out that Monster is the source. I almost forgot that I have a resume in there. This afternoon, I updated my files.
The other day, I happened to chat with another ex-colleague who worked at one of the big four accounting firms in Chicago. She has now transferred to a new company in Texas. I asked her about life in the auditing firm. She said that it was very very stressful and was glad with her new-found job. She added that she hopes to come back to the Philippines someday.
Yesterday, from out of nowhere, a message popped out from my YM. This time it’s from another ex-colleague who works at a big four firm in Australia. “I miss the Philippines!” she said. “No one takes care of us here when we get sick”. I can just imagine the loneliness in the foreign land.
“But what inspires you to seek greener pasture abroad despite leaving behind your family?” I asked that friend who worked in the Grand Caymans. “It’s the desire to give my family a better life” was his simple reply. This was also the same reply I got from another friend who worked in Angola as an accountant of a logging company. He braved the malaria and the terrorist attacks.
I know that there are only few CPAs produced by our country every year. With a board passing percentage of under 25%, it’s one of the hardest and one of the least desired by graduating high school students. IT and Nursing are the most tempting these days. Our company and its affiliates are also having a hard time recruiting accounting graduates. It seems like demand has exceeded supply of accountants. With the globalization of our accounting standards, we can easily keep up with the world’s best. In the near future, more countries will need and hire more Filipino accountants.
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Ceblogger is a CPA trapped in his cubicle while his mind wanders outside watching the world, and exploring possibilities his mind conceived.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:40 am
I have a friend whose(tama ba ang ‘whose’ ko?, forgetting my english already) sister works in the Cayman Islands as an accountant as well. Their salaries are even bigger than IT professionals in Japan (for starters at least).
So what’s your next plan? ^^
Missing the Philippines will come natural to anyone who decides to work or migrate abroad, syempre, this is where they grew up and this is where family is. (^O^)v
Don’t worry, you’ll have all the money you need so you can visit any time you want. (But maybe not all the vacation leaves? hehehe) In Dubai, they’re allowed to take 1 month leaves! (accumulated for some time, I think). However, knowing you and E, instead of going home, I bet you guys will opt to put the money in more good use.(^O-)v
Promote naman ako dito.
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August 27th, 2008 at 8:46 am
My friend is working as an auditor in KPMG NY. She is always stressed out and would often complain to me how her boss would give her all the problem clients, often telling her that she is doing that because she is the most hardworking among her managers. UNFAIR!
And yes, she is lonely. I remember her telling me that it’s better here in the Phils because even if you only have a couple hundred pesos, you can already go to the mall, watch a movie and relax. Dun daw you can’t really do that because everything is expensive.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:56 am
i could partly relate (having been in the industry for sometimes)..and my sis too..
as per my working experience abroad is concern, i observed accountants here in the UAE is like Engineers and Architects are highly in-demand..and if only, they get a language knowledge in Arabic they will become more competitive..and more well paid even..
the good thing is: theres no much difference bet the certified and the nonCPA applicants..ability and years of experience did matters for most companies/employer, it seems..and if you happen to employ in big companies, a good future awaits..
true minsan malungkot esp if your new in the country and knows very few people..but things are diff now, marami na tayo sa ibang bansa, and they’re into a lot of productive things to stay away from homesickness.
rgds bro.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:58 am
ps: looking forward for your own expat/immigrant stories someday..:)
August 29th, 2008 at 1:10 am
I have a cousin who worked as auditor in Singapore, I think she was earning S$5K a month but she keep on denying it.
Although she was earning more than her salary as a manager in one of the biggest firm in Manila, she decided to leave the job. Iba rin kasing klase yung work nya. She works even in weekends.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:41 am
so where to next? it’s been ages since your supposed plan to leave Pinas, maybe you can go abroad as an accountant, given your credentials it’s going to be faster and easier.
Most have left the country and there are several BPOs hiring accountants too, so it’s sooo hard to find a good one these days.
i’m making guesses as to who you were referring to. hehe
August 30th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
We don’t know where life will take us but I do hope to meet you someday in my neck of the woods.
The globalization of accounting standards will certainly provide a lot of overseas opportunities for Filipino CPAs. This is indeed a very positive development. I think our Accounting education is pretty much at par with the rest of the world.
August 31st, 2008 at 7:34 am
I think this is good news and bad news. Of course, the good news is more opportunities for some of us.
Th bad news is, baka wala ng maiwan dito sa bansa natin. No, I am not blaming the ones who left and those who want to go.
I am just saying baka lalong lumubog ang bayan natin kung kokonti ang magaling.
Globalization is good if we are here helping each other. Otherwise, we are just helping our competitors grow.
Just sharing my thoughts.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:41 pm
yay! i’m an accountancy graduate but i haven’t had the chance to use my degree here in korea…
one of my brothers has been lucky to find an accounting job in guam 13 years ago… he’s now a US citizen and enjoying his job at a hospital in CA…
September 1st, 2008 at 6:40 am
sunjun, the jobs abroad are very tempting. promote all you can here my friend.
sasha, filipinos abroad are known for their being hardworking, sacrificing even the leisure activities we usually do here in pinas. The leisure days are sometimes cramped into their vacation which happens once in two years.
Bro AJ, I used to have a staff here who’s now in UAE working as an accountant. She’s earning pretty well despite her not being a CPA. I guess in that side of the world, experience matters over the license.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
melai, CPAs who worked in large auditing firms work 60-90 hours a week especially during busy seasons. S$5k ain’t bad. The going rate i think is between S$5-7k depending on the position. In the US, some got US$60-100k annual.
freeze, you know who I am referring to. shhh…hehe.
pan, because of SOX many filipino CPAs got hired in the US. That was in 2003-2005.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
angel, this is good part of globalization. Our best goes out and they usually go back to share the knowledge they obtained while working outside. Those who are left also get the chance to learn.
betchay, i think they have a different practice and standard there in korea. two of my ex-colleagues happened to be assigned there in a PWC office sometime in 2002-2004.