Home » Blog » Jobs in Canada for Foreigners » Working as an Accountant in Canada in 2023
They say that the life of a diligent accountant revolves around balanced books, numbers on a spreadsheet, and beaten-up calculators, but what if there was more to an accountant’s life than just those three things?
Immigrating to Canada can be one of them, and as an accountant, you can easily make this happen with the right tools for a successful immigration.
At CanadaCIS, we’ve created the perfect guide made especially for accountants looking to migrate to Canada with ease in the year 2023.
Table of Contents
How to Immigrate to Canada as an Accountant
First things first, you’ll need to consider the requirements and your level of skill as an accountant.
There are plenty of accounting jobs in Canada for foreigners that come with high-paid opportunities and exceptional growth in your career as an accountant.
However, foreigners should take note that some accounting positions are considered regulated occupations that require foreign accountants to acquire a foreign qualification recognition.
To get you qualified as soon as possible, it’s best to turn to the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA) or the Public Accountants Council for the Province of Ontario to further learn about the process.
Similar to foreign healthcare professionals, obtaining certain qualifications in order to work for specific positions in Canada may be challenging, but not impossible.
The Fastest Canadian Immigration Programsfor Accountants
Once you’ve received your foreign qualification recognition, the next step is to apply for a Canadian immigration program of your choice.
To get you familiarized with the best programs for accountants, we’ve chosen the fastest programs suitable for accountants to consider.
Provided below are some of the easiest programs to choose from.
Express Entry
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Known as the fastest option to permanent residency in Canada, the Express Entry is an online system that the Canadian government uses to screen and recruit applicants who plan to enter the country to live and work as skilled workers.
Experienced accountants can highly benefit from this program by providing a history of their accounting experience from the country they’re originally from.
LMIA Work Visa
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The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) Work Visa is another great way to enter the country as an immigrant accountant.
If you’ve been hired to work in Canada by an employer, a positive LMIA document will show the government that there is an actual need for a foreign worker to take over the job.
By requesting your Canadian employer to apply for an LMIA, you may then apply for a work permit.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
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Another simple option for accountants to apply for permanent residency is the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, this program is available for accountants who have a job offer from a designated employer and an individualized settlement plan for themselves and their family.
Employers do not need to go through the process of obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under this program, making it another trouble-free immigration program to consider.
Here are the available streams:
- Atlantic High-Skilled Program (AHSP)
- Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program (AISP)
- Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP)
Commonly Asked Questions
Accountants are needed everywhere and every day in Canada!
Studies show from over the period of 2019 to 2028, job vacancies are expected to total to about 79,600, while 79,500 employers are expected to be available for employment.
As mentioned before, almost all companies need accountants and it’s not a surprise that Canadian employers are actively providing accounting jobs in Canada for foreigners.
Canada holds an unemployment rate of just 1.9% for analysts and 2.3% for accountants, auditors, and financial managers.
Accounting is more than a good career in Canada and is known to be one of the most in-demand professions in Canada.
Tips to Pass a Candian Immigration Interview for Accountants
Most Canadian immigration interviews are conducted with a large set of questions.
Whether you’re an accountant, a doctor, or even a flying trapeze acrobat, you’ll need to respond to these questions truthfully and professionally in order to pass your first initial interview.
In order for you to fully prepare yourself for the immigration interview, we’ve provided an updated version of the several commonly asked interview questions for you to practice.
- Why do you want to move to Canada?
- What do you see as the biggest challenge in moving to Canada?
- Tell me about yourself
- Why do you want to leave your home country?
- What is your source of income?
- How many Canadian provinces do you know? Can you name them?
- What do you think is the average cost of living in Canada?
- Do you have family or friends in Canada?
- Are you married?
- Do you have children
- Explain your typical working day?
- What would you do if your application is not approved?
It’s best to practice answering these questions a week in advance before your scheduled interview.
Make sure to answer each of the questions clearly and concisely.
Show your interviewer what makes you, as an immigrant accountant, so special.
Excellent Options for Accounting Jobs in Canada for Foreigners
Searching for the most suitable accounting role for you will definitely be a breeze.
With over a thousand accounting job options available in Canada, employers are always in search of accountants each and every day.
Canada knows that someone has to do the calculations, and it’s definitely not their CEOs.
As for interested foreign accountants, we’ve come up with an extensive list of options for accounting jobs in Canada to choose from.
- Accounting Manager
- Accounting Officer
- Business Analyst
- General Accountant
- CPA
- Accounting Supervisor
- Project Accountant
- Staff Accountant
- Bookkeeper
- Finance Clerk
- Administrative Assistant
- Accounting Secretary
- Revenue Tax Specialist
- Audit Partner
- Financial Auditor
- Internal Auditor
- Assurance Senior
- Assurance Manager
- Internal Audit Director
- Audit Manager
- Auditor-in-Charge
- Comptroller
- Treasurer
- Finance Vice President
- Director of Finance
- School Treasurer
- Finance Manager
- Trust Officer
- Equity Research Analyst
- Planning Analyst
- Real Estate Analyst
- Credit Products Officer
- Investment Analyst
- Portfolio Manager
- Securities Analyst
Learn More: How to Find Work in Canada for Foreigners
Language Requirements for Non-Canadian Applicants
Foreign accountants that plan on applying for immigration should be highly proficient in either the English or French language.
A passing result for the Canadian English or French language test will be required to acquire eligibility for the Express Entry Program.
Accounting Rules in Canada 101
So your final decision is to immigrate to Canada as an accountant.
Before accepting any accounting job offers, it’s important to know that all countries have a different set of accounting rules to consider.
All skilled foreign workers want to keep their job and do great at it, and the last thing they’d want to happen is to lose the job they worked so hard for over one silly mistake.
Not to worry, this can be avoided at all costs with the help of CanadaCIS.
We’ve taken the time to research some of the most important Canadian accounting rules so that you won’t have to.
Tax Year
Accounting Standards
Accounting Reports
Publication Requirements
Professional Accountancy Bodies
Certification and Auditing
The Impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Accountants and How They've Adapted
COVID-19 has drastically changed the lives of Canadian accountants for the better.
During the first few months of the global crisis, accountants were challenged to adjust to the current settings.
In-person meetings and phone calls were replaced by telecommuting such as video conference calls.
This made it difficult to create and build rapport based on trust, ethics, and code of conduct.
Although accountants took a toll from COVID-19, they were able to adapt easily and many advantages were made from the situation.
The pandemic pushed all companies to fast-track their digital performance, reduce carbon footprint, and gave accountants the opportunity to learn how to conduct an audit remotely.
Not only is life in Canada as an accountant during COVID-19 a great way to hone your skills as an accountant, but the current remote set-up options are a great way for foreign accountants to help save the earth.
Fast Facts: The Best Cities To Apply for Accounting Jobs in Canada
Accounting in Canada goes together like two peas in a pod and choosing “The Great White North” as your first option to further your career as an accountant is definitely a promising and rewarding decision.
During your days off, you can also enjoy your surroundings to the fullest.
Canada has some of the best landmarks and attractions in the world, and you can definitely enjoy your life as a teacher by spending your weekends discovering newfound places and exploring other opportunities your local city will have in store for you.
Local attractions and features such as the Niagara Falls, clear blue-water lakes, majestic moose, a warm and friendly community, wonderful healthcare, and of course endless accounting job options to choose from are some things you should definitely consider.
Choosing to migrate to Canada is definitely worth all those years of hard calculations!
If your problem-solving skills as an accountant are excellent, then we’re pretty sure you won’t find it difficult to figure out that Canada is the best country for you.
Learn more about life in Canada:
The ultimate guide to teaching jobs in Canada
Life In Canada: Insurance And Healthcare
Express Entry Explained: How It Works