Almost half of Australia’s young accountants plan to work overseas in the next two years, according to a study.
An Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICA) survey shows 43 per cent intend to go overseas, half are male and just less than half are younger than 25 years old.
The most popular destination at 66 per cent remained with the UK according to the national results, the same as the 2006 survey.
Asia was the second most popular destination, pushing last year’s second choice, USA, to third place.
“It is well documented that China is presently looking for 100,000 Chartered Accountants and with the Olympics next year, Asia has overtaken America in its appeal to young accountants,” ICA Chartered Accountants program and admissions general manager Sheena Frenkel said.
“However the lure of Europe and the international experience the UK can provide, continues to be the strongest influencer when young accountants are considering an overseas stint.”
Young accountants in Victoria were the most keen to pack their bags, with 51 per cent saying they would travel in the next two years. Western Australia was 44 per cent, New South Wales and Queensland were 42 per cent and South Australia 25 per cent.
“Of our 46,000 Chartered Accountants, 14 per cent are presently living overseas, spanning 87 countries from Canada to Kazakhstan,” she said.
The ICA advises employers to adapt their human resources policies to encourage international accountants and retain their generation Y staff.
The survey, undertaken by The Leading Edge, polled 680 accountants studying the Chartered Accountants Program.
