Looking for PR in Canada as an Accountant from Saudi Arabia?

There is a high demand for qualified accountants in Canada, as well as many opportunities in accounting, taxation, auditing, and financial management.

The Canadian accounting profession is a good choice for people who have recently completed undergraduate studies in accounting or have been practicing members of their country’s professional accounting body.

Canada is attempting to fill the gap between its labor needs and the supply of available workers by inviting foreign immigrants to the country.

As a result, more people are immigrating to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or (PNP) of the Express Entry program.

Through this program, Canada can target specific occupations and businesses that are struggling to find qualified employees for their economic livelihood.

Accountant jobs are among the most in-demand occupations.

The demand for Chartered Accountants in Canada

The Canadian job market for chartered accountants remains strong, and it is expected to grow over the next five years.

The unemployment rate of qualified accountants in Canada is well below average, making it an attractive place for people with these skills to work.

A chartered accountant plays an important role in advising clients on tax matters and helping businesses manage their finances by working behind the scenes for them.

The profession is stable, always in demand, and helps thousands more keep their jobs. The average salary for a chartered accountant in Canada is between $63,000 and $75,000.

Candidate must have sufficient training for employment as a chartered accountant in Canada. However, he/she can start their carrier as an accounting bookkeeper or an Assistant profile until one clears the necessary licenses/Training to work as a CA.

The main requirements of the job are a bachelor’s degree in accounting, economics, or any other broader field such as business administration.

For managerial roles, a master’s degree is also required. In addition, internships and a little experience will be a plus.

Also Read: Top Benefits & Advantages of Permanent Residence in Canada

The Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation is the license and registration of a Chartered Accountant in Canada, a mandatory requirement to work as a Chartered Accountant in Canada.

Newly chartered accountants with less than five years of experience in Canada earn an average salary of $ 75,000; mid-level experienced CPAs earn an average salary of $ 75,000. Total compensation for CPA firms averages $ 96,000.

Reasons for moving to Canada as an Accountant?

High Salaries:

The average income for accountants in Canada varies depending on the province and level of seniority, but accounting jobs generally pay well.

The median hourly wage for financial accountants is around $35.75, and experienced accountants—especially Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs)—can earn over $60 per hour.

A demanding Job:

Employment opportunities for accountants are expected to be strong in several Canadian provinces, including Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. According to the Government’s Job Bank, demand for skilled accountants will continue to outstrip supply until 2028.

Also Read: Is Hiring a Canada Immigration Consultant Worth it?

Programs that allow Internationally Qualified Accountants

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program

The Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program allows internationally-trained skilled workers to apply to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents.

Under the FSW program, applicants are ranked and selected based on their Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS), rather than their profession.

Each CRS score is based on individual factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and other relevant information.

If you have a Canadian job offer or provincial nomination (see below section on PNP), you may qualify for additional points.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

Provincial Nominee Programs allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate applicants with the skills and experience needed to address labor shortages.

While Quebec and Nunavut each have their own PNP programs, the remaining provinces and territories operate PNPs that are similar in structure but differ in their requirements.

The CRS scores you receive when applying under Express Entry PNP streams determine your eligibility, but other Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams allow provinces to nominate skilled workers in specific in-demand professions or National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes.

You may have a better chance of receiving a provincial nomination from a province looking for qualified financial auditors, accountants, or bookkeepers. See the section on in-demand accounting jobs below for more information on relevant NOC codes for your profession.

Other Essential Programs for Accountants

Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP)

The immigration program of the Canadian province of Quebec invites applicants with the skills, training, experience, and language skills to work and settle in the province.

Under the Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP), applicants in all occupations can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Selection is based on factors such as age, language proficiency in French and English, years of experience, education, and more.

If selected, you receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (also known as a Certificat de sélection du Québec or CSQ) and can apply for PR with the IRCC.

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), a federal program administered by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, allows skilled foreign workers and international students who studied in Canada to settle permanently in one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces:

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick (NB), Prince Edward Island (PEI), or Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program selects immigrants based on the skills they will bring to the region’s economy, not by their occupation.

Applicants must have at least one year of full-time paid work experience (1,560 hours) in the last five years, meet language requirements, and have a full-time job offer from an Atlantic Canada employer.

Canada PR Requirements for Chartered Accountant

As a chartered accountant, you are able to apply for permanent resident (PR) status in Canada just as in any other profession.

However, you have three options to choose from: the Express Entry program, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

The fastest way for a licensed accountant to move to Canada is through the Express Entry program.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is the ideal subcategory for immigration as an accountant since candidates can immigrate to Canada in 6 months or less under this category.

Candidates can access the Express Entry website to file their PR applications online.

For Canadian CAs who wish to immigrate, the most sought-after provinces are British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta.

Thus, if a candidate wants to get a Provincial Nomination Certificate (PNC) in these provinces, he can apply through the PNP.

This will increase your CRS score by an additional 600 and help ensure your invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

However, Some provinces require a job offer, while others do not.

Canadian Provincial Nominee Programs allow you to obtain Canadian Permanent Residency immediately, although you will have to live and work in the nominating province for two years.

After these two years, you will be free to live and work anywhere in Canada.

The Final Step

The final step in immigration to Canada is to receive your invitation to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry program.

This invitation will be based on your Express Entry profile, which will have either been strong enough to have been selected directly on a federal basis, selected through the provincial nomination described above, or selected based on obtaining a formal job offer in Canada.

Vertex Consultation will be thrilled to have helped you (accountant candidate) in your Canada PR process.

Book an appointment with our expert Canada PR consultant now.