Relocating from the UK to the Channel Islands – This is one audit professional’s experience

Making any career move is an important decision, one that is only intensified by the possibility of relocation.

We have reached out to a number of individuals we have assisted over the years who have successfully made a career move overseas.

We spoke to Andrew who we assisted make a move from a mid-tier practice in the UK to join a Big 4 Practice in the Channel Islands.

Nationality: British

Location from and to: UK to the Channel Islands

Experience background: Audit Supervisor with a mid-tier practice in London. ACA Qualified.

Role secured: Audit Senior with a Big 4 practice focussing on financial services clients.


  • Why did you first consider making a move overseas? To expand on my professional experience, and gain exposure to overseas work and gain experience in the Financial Services Industry.
  • What locations were you interested in and why? Initially Australia and the Caribbean, but decided on the Channel Islands given the Covid Restrictions that were started to come into force around the world at the time I was looking to move jobs.
  • What were your personal circumstances at the time of the move – single/married/homeowner? Single person, non-homeowner.
  • How did you find out about opportunities and start to apply for roles? I heard of the opportunities in the Channel Islands from Scott Lowes from Levitate Recruitment, and a former colleague who used to work at a top 10 firm in Jersey.
  • What useful information was provided to you by the recruiter? Yes, I was given a good insight into the types of roles available in the Channel Islands and the recruitment process.
  • How did the Interview process work? There were two interviews, the first one was over the telephone with someone from the HR Department. The second interview happened a few days later, being an online video call with a Manager and Senior Manager from the Audit Department. I received my offer a day after my second interview.
  • How long did it take to secure a Visa or work permit and what was required from you? The work visa took several weeks I believe to get sorted out. I believe I was only required to show a copy of my passport for this being a UK Citizen. I also had to undertake a vetting process which is conducted by a third party, who conduct reference checks and checks over qualifications etc. This took about 4-5 weeks.
  • Please can you walk us through your first 3 months in the new location/job and how you managed to settle into your new life? When I first arrived I had to spend about a week quarantining in a hotel that was paid for by the company, due to Guernsey’s Covid restrictions in place at the time. Part-way through this, I was able to start my work where I did compliance training and other admin. Once I was able to go to the office I was shown around and introduced to the majority of people who were present. For the first three months there was a lot of learning of the systems and processes in place at KPMG, but there were plenty of people on hand to offer assistance when needed. Guernsey is a rather small place, and so it was relatively easy getting to know the local area. The people at work were great at recommending were the main things nearby were, shops, gym, restaurants etc. There are usually a few people heading out to town on Fridays, which is often a good opportunity to get to know people and the local area when you’re relatively new to the island. I was able to go out a few times when I first joined, and also took part in several activities organised by work in the first few weeks of me joining, which allowed me to get to know more people faster.
  • How do you feel it benefitted your personal development? The move has allowed me to gain exposure to new country, at a time when worldwide travel became severely limited.
  • How do you feel an international move benefitted you professionally? The move has given me a great exposure into the world of Financial Services, where I previously didn’t have any experience in. Working in a top 4 firm has meant that I often have to work with teams in different parts of the world, and work in much larger teams. This has been one of the biggest changes from my previous role and has greatly improved my teamwork and leadership skills.
  • How long was the process from you speaking with your consultant to you actually making the move? I initially touched base with my consultant about a year before I actually made the move. However, the initial discussions were about what potential options there were for as I had recently qualified, at that stage I wasn’t 100% sure whether I wanted to move overseas. From the point of focussing purely on discussing roles in the Channel Islands, to me moving over there, it was about 3-4 months.
  • What value do you think working with a recruiter had in securing an opportunity overseas? Enabling me to gain a greater insight into the opportunities over there, and the recruitment process. Working with a recruiter also gave greater access to contacts of those working in the HR Departments of the firms in the Channel Islands.
  • What was the hardest part of making an international move? Deciding whether leaving the firm that I trained with was the right move, as I really enjoyed working where I was previously.
  • What advice would you offer someone thinking of making a move overseas? Do as much research as you can on the places you’re thinking of moving to, in order to determine as much as possible whether you think you’ll be happy living there. Research on the firms who work in those areas and the type of work that you’ll be doing.

There is currently a soaring global demand for qualified accountants and insolvency professionals. With our extensive network of relationships with large international accounting firms and insolvency specialists, Levitate Recruitment are well-versed in placing talented professionals in overseas roles.

If you are interested in making your career a journey and are considering a move overseas, do not hesitate to contact us.

There is currently a soaring global demand for qualified accountants and insolvency professionals. With our extensive network of relationships with large international accounting firms and insolvency specialists, Levitate Recruitment are well-versed in placing talented professionals in overseas roles.

 

Relocating from the UK to Australia – This is one Insolvency professional’s experience

Making any career move is an important decision, one that is only intensified by the possibility of relocation.

We have reached out to a number of individuals we have assisted over the years who have successfully made a career move overseas.

We spoke to Karlien who we assisted make a move from a Big 4 practice in the UK to join an Insolvency specialist in Perth, Australia.

Nationality:  Originally from South Africa but has dual British / South African nationality.

Location to and from: Moved from the UK to Perth, Australia

Experience Background: Senior Insolvency Administrator with a Big 4 practice. No professional qualifications at the time but had 13 years of insolvency experience.

Role secured: Senior Insolvency Administrator with a leading Insolvency Specialist.


  • Why did you first consider making a move overseas? My partner is an Australian and was keen to go back home to Perth.
  • What locations were you interested in and why? Perth as that was where his family and friends were located.
  • What were your personal circumstances at the time of the move – single/married/homeowner? De-facto Relationship, renting.
  • How did you find out about opportunities and start to apply for roles? Through Scott Lowes at Levitate Recruitment after applying for an advert I saw online.
  • What useful information was provided to you by the recruiter? Scott had excellent knowledge of the Australian market and knew of the local firms in Perth that would be suitable. He had several contacts so was able to assist my needs and secure an interview at a firm that was a good fit.
  • How did the interview process work? I was already in Australia so was able to attend interviews in person.
  • How long did it take to secure a Visa or work permit and what was required from you? I went in on a De-facto partner visa which I had applied for circa 6 months prior to the visa being granted.
  • Please can you walk us through your first 3 months in the new location/job and how you managed to settle into your new life? The biggest hurdle was finding rental accommodation as a very high percentage of people own their own properties.  Fortunately, we were able to stay with friends.  Getting bank account, driving license, Medicare etc. sorted took less than 2 weeks to sort out. The Australians are very laidback easy-going people, however very driven and hard-working. I joined the social club at work, which helped to get to know my colleagues out of the office and make friends.   Taking part in networking events also broadened my social circle as well as joining study groups for when I was doing some exams.
  • How do you feel it benefitted your personal development? Moving from London to Perth was a big adjustment, however a good one. There is more focus on the importance of family life here.  People tend to start early and only work past 5:30 pm if necessary. I’ve learned to slow down a bit and not to rush around everywhere!
  • How do you feel an international move benefitted you professionally? I’ve had to do some Insolvency Law exams and almost had to start again in respect of the different types of Insolvency here compared to the UK. There was a steep learning curve, but it has definitely been beneficial especially with the increase in cross-border insolvency matters.
  • How long was the process from you speaking with Levitate to you actually making the move? I left London in March to go travelling and arrived in Australia in November. In this period, I was in touch with Scott and I had an interview lined up within a couple of weeks of arriving in Perth and secured the job a week after my 2nd
  • What value do you think working with Levitate Recruitment had on you securing an opportunity overseas? Arriving in a new country is stressful enough without having to try and find a job as well. So, I could concentrate on getting accommodation, and improving my surfing skills whilst Scott was doing all the hard work of finding me job opportunities!

Route to Partnership – UK Wide Opportunities

We are currently working with a wide range of UK based accountancy practices that are searching for their directors & partners of the future. Clients have asked us to speak with people at management & director level regarding career opportunities that vary from relationship managers where you are responsible for 100% of the services provided within the client portfolio through to 100% audit focused positions within mixed and specialist sectors.

Whilst we work with the Big 4, Top 10 and Top 20 accountancy practices, we are finding that the strong regional firms can offer a more flexible approach to career development and still provide a portfolio consisting of large International clients and strong SMEs. Working for firms of this size provides a more mixed portfolio where you can develop your skills across different specialisms and become more of an all-round business advisor.

Currently, we have roles available across the following locations:

  • Greater London
  • Home Counties
  • South Coast
  • South West
  • Midlands
  • North West
  • Yorkshire

As the market is extremely ‘job rich’ at the moment, it offers professionals a great opportunity to make moves that are not just financially more rewarding but also more aligned to the type of work they want to do. Firms are also providing more flexibility to ensure people are realising a better work/life balance.

Why work with Levitate Recruitment?

As a specialist in this market, we are not just here to drop you into a live position or call you every time a role pops up based on a clients requirements. We are experienced in building an understanding of professional accountants’ career goals and will create a success assured project that will assist you in making that next step forward based on your career desires.

If you are currently considering your options or you are generally just looking for some market knowledge then we would love to hear from you. Even if now is not the right time we can offer experienced and tailored advice that can assist you in working towards your short, medium and long term goals.

Now really is a great time to be speaking with people and even if you decide not to make a move, an exploratory conversation is always a step forward.

Please contact Scott Lowes at the Levitate Recruitment offices or email me so that we can arrange an appropriate time to meet up for a coffee or speak on the telephone.

 

Thinking of relocating?

We are often contacted by professional’s keen to relocate to another part of the UK who need to secure the right job first. They are unsure of the options in their chosen locations so are looking for some advice on the firms and opportunities.

Major cities tend to be the popular locations such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol. However, we do get requests for smaller towns all across the UK.

The large Accountancy Practices typically have offices in or close to all the major cities and towns. We are a preferred supplier for these firms and are well placed to inform you of potential opportunities in your desired location.

As a specialist, as well as the larger practices we are also aware of the local accountancy practices in the different areas of the UK that you may not have heard of. We are able to give you some background information on these practices and advise you why they would be a suitable option for you based on your career aspirations.

We have assisted a significant number of Insolvency and Accountancy Practice professionals to find a new job prior to them relocating. Their reasons for relocating included; to be closer to family and friends, moving to a bigger town/city or smaller town life, moving back ‘home’ or just for a change.

Whatever your motivation for relocating and regardless of where in the UK you are thinking, get in contact with us to understand your potential options.

For advice about your career options, speak to Scott Lowes at Levitate Recruitment, specialists in placing practice-trained accountants and insolvency professionals across the UK, and find the right role to suit your ambitions.

 

How to handle a telephone interview

Telephone interviews have always been a big part of the recruitment process for those looking to make an international move, however, we have seen an increase in the number of our clients in the UK requesting an initial telephone interview with prospective employees.  In a competitive market, they see them as an opportunity to speed up the recruitment process. It is often quicker and easier to arrange a telephone call than it is to align diaries to meet face to face.

As well as fast-tracking the recruitment process it also allows the employer the opportunity to assess an individual’s viability for their opportunity before committing to a face to face interview. They are an easy way for companies to cut down the number of applicants.

The questions are usually more general than in a face to face interview and will be a chance for you to really sell yourself. The key is to treat a telephone interview just like any other interview. Below are some suggestions to help you make the most of the opportunity.

Prepare!

One of the biggest advantages of a telephone interview is that you don’t have to be seen. This is particularly useful if you’re nervous because there won’t be any issues with body language.

It also means you can have notes prepared to give you a quick reference point. Write down a list of your skills and the answers to any potential questions you might be asked. However, be careful not to sound like you are reading or shuffling papers around.

Practice your telephone manner

We all speak on the phone quite a lot, whether this is in a professional setting or not. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean we have a good telephone manner. If you have concerns about the way you conduct yourself on the phone, practice with a friend in advance so you can nail the professional phone voice. Alternatively, record yourself speaking and listen for any issues of clarity or pronunciation.

Where you sit for the interview can make a massive difference. It can be tempting to slouch on the sofa, but this has an effect on your breathing, which in turn affects your speech. Sit at a table or desk with your back straight, and speak with a calm, clear voice. If you think you have issues with your pace, speak slower than you think is acceptable. It’s all too common to speed up when you’re nervous.

A tip I was given a long time ago was to smile whilst talking on the phone to clients and candidates. When you smile whilst talking your voice can sound warmer and friendlier.

Be professional

As much in the same way as dressing appropriately for a face to face interview you should ensure that you are all set up and ready for the incoming call.

This might only be the first stage, but showing your professionalism now is a good way to stand out from the crowd. It almost goes without saying, but make sure there are no distracting noises (TV, pets etc) in the background, and that you have a good signal on your phone.

In conclusion

Listen carefully to their questions, and don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat something if you missed it. Make sure you don’t become too casual while talking and keep your answers short and sweet. It can be all too easy to forget who you’re talking to during a telephone interview. If appropriate, take notes during the call so you can be ready to ask any questions at the end.

At Levitate Recruitment, we think every stage is important, and so we’ve provided these tips to help you excel. As always, research the company and be prepared with any information that might be relevant. It’s always better to have too much than too little.

My opinion is based on my 14 years+ of recruiting for Accountancy Practice and Insolvency professionals across the UK and Overseas.

For advice about your career options, speak to Scott Lowes at Levitate Recruitment, specialists in placing practice-trained accountants and insolvency professionals across the UK, and find the right role to suit your ambitions.

 

 

Tips on handing in your notice

Handing in your notice can be both a great and awful experience. Whether you’re moving on to your dream job or you’ve just had enough of your current role, it can be easy to use your notice period as a time to not adhere to rules and to tell them what you really think. However, it’s always best to remain professional.

Here are a few tips to help you when handing in your notice.

Write a resignation letter

A resignation letter is one of the few documents you should still deliver by hand, rather than email, and this is for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it’s always best to make sure it’s been received, and it gives you a chance to discuss things further with your boss.

There’s no need to go into too much detail in a resignation letter. In fact, you need little more than to notify them that you intend to leave the business state your notice period.

It’s not necessary to state why you’re leaving, but feel free to include this information if you wish – just keep it professional.

It’s always worth including a thank you for the opportunities they’ve given you, even if you didn’t enjoy the job. After all, you might need a reference from them in the future.

Choose the right time

Picking the right time to hand in your notice makes all the difference to the reaction. Try to avoid busy or stressful periods, as you don’t want an over negative reaction to your news. Try to pick a quiet time of the week that will give you plenty of chance to discuss the matter in detail. The more respectful you are in dealing with the situation, the better the reaction is likely to be.

Prepare what you’re going to say

Knowing what to say when resigning can be difficult, especially if you have a good relationship with your employer. It’s worth practicing in advance or writing down the main points you wish to discuss. Whatever you choose to say, keep your emotions in check and remain professional. If your boss chooses to take your resignation badly, the worst thing you can do is rise to it.

If your reasons for leaving the company are negative, then choose your words very carefully. It’s not unreasonable for a boss to react badly to negative feedback about their company or management style. Consider phrases such as “the role just isn’t for me” or “I think it’s time I explored opportunities elsewhere.” If they ask for more information don’t feel obligated to give it. After all, you’re the one in control of this situation.

Be aware

This is often the time when your employer will tell you that they can resolve all your concerns, increase your salary or offer you the ‘world’ so you will stay.

Remember, you are handing your notice in as you have already gone through the decision-making process to find a new job. You have met with new companies and established that you can advance your career elsewhere.

Don’t let your employer’s reactive response to you leaving stop you from progressing your career. We have seen it time and time again, that those who decide to stay based on promises made when handing their notice in are typically looking to leave again within 6 months.

The main thing to remember when handing in your notice is always to remain professional. It’s much better to leave a job with your head held high than to voice your true feelings. Leaving a good last impression makes all the difference and will work in your favour in the long run.

For advice about your career options, contact Levitate Recruitment. We are specialists in assisting practice-trained accountants and insolvency professionals secure new opportunities across the UK and Overseas.

 

Relocating to the Channel Islands – A Candidate’s Experience

Making any career move is an important decision, one that is only intensified by the possibility of relocation.

We have reached out to a number of the individuals that we have assisted over the years who have successfully made a career move overseas.

We spoke to Hugh who we assisted make a move from the Caribbean to a Top 10 Accountancy Practice in the Channel Islands.

Overview

Position before moving: Insolvency Assistant Manager 

Company before moving: Specialist Insolvency Firm

Location to and from: Moved from the Caribbean to the Channel Islands

Experience Background: ACA Qualified Accountant with over 3 1/2 years of insolvency experience in Ireland and the Caribbean.

Role Secured: Insolvency Manager with a Top 10 Accountancy Practice    


  • Why did you first consider making a move overseas? I had previously worked in the Caribbean, following which I moved to the Channel Islands. Due to the nature of the work I had previously specialised in the move made sense. I had heard nothing but good things about the Channel Islands. The location allows me to continue specialising in offshore work whilst being slightly closer to home.
  • What locations were you interested in and why? I was initially offered a job in Hong Kong, again this was due to the nature of the work. I was also interested in the Channel Islands for the same reason.
  • What were your personal circumstances at the time of the move – single/married/homeowner. I was single.
  • How did you find out about opportunities and start to apply for roles? I had heard Levitate Recruitment were the best at what they do in sourcing tailor-made roles for applicants. Therefore I reached out to Scott at Levitate Recruitment and discovered a number of options that suited my requirements.
  • What useful information was provided to you by the recruiter? I was provided with a number of differing options that allowed me to have a better understanding of the variance in roles within the jurisdiction. Levitate Recruitment also provided me with a market overview in the Channel Islands, enabling me to form a more definitive opinion on my choice alongside managing expectations regarding salary and position.
  • How did the interview process work? Due to being in the Caribbean the interview process was all done over Skype.
  • How long did it take to secure a Visa or work permit and what was required from you? The process was very quick, my new firm did the majority of the leg work prior to my arrival. It took no longer than two months.
  • Please can you walk us through your first 3 months in the new location/job and how you managed to settle into your new life? Due to how busy my firm is at the moment I have had to hit the ground running, this suited me perfectly as I prefer to jump straight in. I had moved previously to the Caribbean so was prepared for the period of upset and readjustment. The key piece of advice I can give to anyone who is considering a move is to say yes to all social events when you arrive in a new jurisdiction.
  • How do you feel it benefitted your personal development? I feel that it has benefited me greatly, it widens your social circle whilst also motivating you to push yourself beyond your comfort zone constantly. The juice was very much worth the squeeze.
  • How do you feel an international move benefitted you professionally? I can safely say moving abroad has benefitted my career hugely, I have been exposed to a huge array of cases that would never have been possible had I stayed in the UK or in an onshore jurisdiction.
  • How long was the process from you speaking with Levitate to you actually making the move? Levitate were fantastic at pushing matters forward for me, I initially reached out in March and made the move in June.
  • What value do you think working with Levitate had for you securing an opportunity overseas? Levitate are renowned for their professionalism and expertise in the offshore market, therefore they had access and points of contact in the larger firms that would not have been possible otherwise with other recruiters.
  • What was the hardest part of making an international move? The hardest part is always moving away from a pre-existing friend group and comfort in a current role. However, once you start thinking about making such a move internationally the positives always outweigh the negatives.
  • What advice would you offer someone thinking of making a move overseas? Consider why you truly want to make the move, it should not just be for something different, it should tick the boxes personally and professionally. I am incredibly pedantic, so I make lists. Make a list of the positives and the negatives of moving and this will answer the question for you.

There is currently a soaring global demand for qualified accountants and insolvency professionals. With our extensive network of relationships with large international accounting firms and insolvency specialists, Levitate Recruitment are well-versed in placing talented professionals in overseas roles.

If you are interested in making your career a journey and are considering a move overseas, do not hesitate to contact us.

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