Marge shares her experience of living and working in Brisbane, her tips for things to do in the area and how you can connect with the local ICAS community.
What is your day job?
I’m Financial Reporting Manager at Vela APX.
How long have you lived in Brisbane?
Seven years. I cannot believe it has been that long!
Where was home for you before Brisbane?
I spent a couple of years in Sydney upon arrival in Australia, which was a great experience.
Where did you train as a CA?
I trained with EQ Accountants in the Forfar office for the first five years of my career and earned my CA qualification during my time there. I was fortunate to be given training opportunities by the firm in several areas across Financial Reporting, Taxation and Audit.
What was it about Brisbane that made you want to come here?
I feel Brisbane has a great balance between city living and a more laid-back lifestyle. The city is very focused on green spaces and walking / cycling tracks due to the good weather and warm climate. The locals in Brisbane are friendly, which has been the case everywhere we’ve stayed in Australia.
Which part of Brisbane do you call home?
Morningside (lots of suburb names here are place names from the UK – the next suburb over is Balmoral).
What’s the one thing I shouldn’t miss if visiting the area?
If staying within the city limits, going to one of the parks / restaurant areas to spend the afternoon by the Brisbane River (South Bank, Kangaroo Point, Howard Smith Wharves and the Powerhouse are all great options).
If doing a day trip, a visit to Australia Zoo near Beerwah is a must.
I’m new to the area, can you recommend somewhere for:
A business lunch – IRIS Rooftop, it has an excellent view of the Story Bridge and the city.
An evening out – Howard Smith Wharves.
A weekend getaway – Gold Coast if looking for lots of places to go, Stanthorpe if looking for a quieter time with good food and wine.
Describe the local professional community in three words:
Friendly, enthused, international.
What are the best things about living and working in Brisbane?
The friendly culture and good climate. The central business district is also relatively concentrated, which makes it easy to walk around.
What are the biggest challenges?
The height of summer is usually hot and humid. The city’s infrastructure is catching up with the increase in population, so traffic can be bad in rush hour. The time zone can make it challenging to have meetings with other offices if you work at an international firm, usually one of us is finishing for the day just as the other office opens.
What advice would you give to another CA considering an opportunity in Brisbane?
If you require a visa to work in Australia, do your research thoroughly to understand the cost and requirements. I spent several months before leaving Scotland getting my paperwork in order for the visa application, including Migration Skills Assessment, English Language Test and Medical Tests. The fees are substantial and non-refundable if your application is not successful. It is a long process and can be quite stressful.
On the technical skills front, familiarise yourself with the general tax landscape in Australia. The ATO website, as well as webinars by the Big 10 Accounting Firms, are useful introductory training. The sister institute CAANZ offer modular courses in Accounting and Tax topics.
What made you decide to get involved and become an ICAS Ambassador?
ICAS got in touch with me a couple of years ago to introduce a member who was moving to the Brisbane area. When I asked if there were any upcoming events in the Brisbane area, the ICAS team let me know about the Ambassador programme. The programme offers opportunities to be involved in organising events and meeting other members in the area.
What have been the biggest takeaways for you personally and professionally?
How much it has expanded our members’ professional network. There are around 40 active members in and around Brisbane, some had lived here for 20-plus years and had not met a fellow CA here before. We have also started hosting joint events with Brisbane branches of other institutes, allowing us to grow our network further.
On a personal note, it has been a great to meet fellow CAs who share the same experiences I have about moving to another country and setting up a new life here.
How can I connect with you?
I'm on LinkedIn. I’m happy to hear from any fellow CAs in the area, or any considering making the move to Australia.
Connect with Marge on LinkedIn
