Jonathan shares his experience of living and working in Sydney, his tips for things to do in the area and how you can connect with the local ICAS community.
What’s your day job?
I’m a Senior Manager in Corporate Finance at PKF International.
How long have you lived in Sydney?
Five and a half years.
Where was home before Sydney?
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
Where did you train as a CA?
I trained in Commercial Audit at Grant Thornton in Edinburgh, UK.
What was it about Sydney that made you want to come here?
After completing my training contract with Grant Thornton in Edinburgh I moved to Grand Cayman with the firm for a year. Despite loving aspects of Caribbean beach life, an island 4km by 20km was too small for me on a long-term basis – which is why I moved to the much bigger and more cosmopolitan island of Australia. I visited Sydney as an 18-year-old backpacker and fell in love with the city, vowing to return one day.
Sydney is truly one of the greatest cities on earth, in fact it has just been voted the 2024 world’s greatest city. There’s normally one great downfall of any city, but Sydney has everything. You can be in a national park within 15 minutes of the city centre and there are lots of beaches and wonderful things to do for free. It’s very outdoorsy, but there’s good shopping and nightlife as well. As a city of over 7 million people it has a rich diversity and has a wonderful LGBTQIA+ community, which has been great for me too. I fell back in love with Sydney the moment I returned.
Which part of Sydney do you call home?
I live in Mascot, which is an inner-city suburb near the airport. However, I previously called the CBD district of Potts Point home and prior to that I lived beachside in Collaroy which is in the Northern Beaches of Sydney. All of Sydney’s suburbs offer a unique blend of cultures, from surf boards and sand through to cocktail bars and art galleries. There’s something for everyone.
What’s the one thing I shouldn’t miss if visiting the area?
Do I have to stick to one?
Outdoors - The Royal National Park is a 30-minute drive or train ride from the city centre and feels like another world away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD. Think Jurassic park without the dinosaurs.
Sydney Harbour – Despite living in Sydney for nearly six years now, friends and I still always say Circular Quay, Sydney Opera house and the Harbour Bridge never get old. One of the best ways to see them is to grab a public transport ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. For the price of $5 you can take in one of the most iconic harbour views in the world and the Fast Ferry service even has a bar on board.
Great food – As a cultural mixing pot of the Asia Pacific region, Sydney is literally awash with awesome food establishments. You name a cuisine and there is likely a new restaurant opening this week from fine dining to street food. Truthfully, however, I would say the heart of Australia’s food culture is the humble Chicken Snitty or Parmi, this pub classic is on almost every pub menu in Australia and truthfully I am yet to have a bad one.
I’m new to the area, can you recommend somewhere for...?
A business lunch – Café Sydney. This institution in the heart of the CBD is on the rooftop of Customs House in Circular Quay and offers breathtaking views over Sydney Harbour, a killer wine list and relaxed fine dining, indoor or outdoor. It’s a great spot to close a deal or celebrate with a team lunch.
An evening out – You would struggle to go wrong with selections of pubs, bars and restaurants across Sydney. Paddington and Potts Point are home to many wine and cocktail bars, the CBD has numerous open air rooftop bars and Oxford Street is the beating heart of the LGBT area of the city and has several large bars and nightclubs serving drag shows and drinks until the wee hours of the morning, so there is something for everyone.
A weekend getaway – Hunter Valley: Within two-hours’ drive of the city is Australia’s oldest wine region, which is home to over 200 wineries you can visit. There really is something for everyone, however, with world class wineries, breweries and distilleries, hotels, spa resorts, hot-air balloon rides, Michelin-star restaurants, spectacular scenery and hikes. And in the winter months you can cosy up round the fire with a warming glass of world renowned Hunter Valley shiraz.
Describe the local professional community in three words.
Diverse, welcoming, collaborative.
What are the best things about living and working in Sydney?
Australia has a really good work-life balance. Everything is more relaxed, my salary is better, and the quality of life is very good. Everything just works better – I reckon if I want a doctor’s appointment, I could get one tonight. I think the greatest metric of its success is the fact there are 25 million people in a country almost the size of the US. When you compare that with the UK, where there’s 67 million people, it’s nuts.
There’s a real shortage of accountants and finance professionals in Australia currently, so there are big opportunities here if you want them too from a professional perspective – and the ICAS network is a good place to start.
And what are the biggest challenges?
The cost of living is certainly more than the UK on average (housing particularly), however, when compared to London, the cost of living is comparable. The only big downside of Sydney is being on the other side of the world from family – even then, Scotland’s only ever a day away.
What advice would you give to another CA considering an opportunity in Sydney?
Absolutely give it a go and see if it is for you. There is ample opportunity, as a CA it is not difficult to get a work visa sponsored by an employer for you and your family. The quality of life (professionally and personally) is fantastic and I would argue worth exploring as a CA.
If you are considering relocating from the UK, my advice would be to connect with a good recruiter or a local contact from your network prior to arrival. A recruiter will be able to help you navigate the local job market, salary and role expectations, visa logistics and help guide you away from things which might not be of interest to you.
Sydney is a city of health, fitness and food, so in terms of ways to meet people, lean into your natural interests. Local sports clubs, the ICAS network (of course), Scots in Sydney Facebook groups are all great ways to meet people.
What made you decide to become an ICAS Ambassador?
I got involved in 2022 following the Covid pandemic with the intention of broadening my professional network and connecting with fellow Scottish CAs in Sydney.
And what have been the biggest takeaways for you, personally and professionally?
Personally and professionally the opportunity has had a profound impact on my life. More than anything else, as an ex-pat living in Sydney, I have had the opportunity to become part of a local community of Scots in Australia, many of whom I consider to be good friends I can call on professionally or personally, even when so far from ‘home’.
Professionally, I can’t speak highly enough of my experience. I have had the privilege to co-host events, panel discussions and work with senior leaders from industry and other institutions. This has given me the unique opportunity to develop public-speaking and leadership skills and has also allowed me to refer work and employment opportunities to new ICAS members in Australia, as they arrive from Scotland.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway for me is that it has given me the opportunity to professionally “put myself out there” meet new people and develop new skills. Ultimately, despite this seeming like a “scary” thing to do at the time it has and continues to pay dividends.
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