The below FAQ’s have been designed for people looking to complete their articles in London, or qualify as a CA (SA) in London.
For FAQ’s for Qualified CA’s moving to London, see Qualified CA’s FAQ’s
What are the requirements to be eligible to apply to complete articles in London?
In order to apply to work in London, you have to have the right to work in the U.K. This means having either an EU or UK passport, or having access to an Ancestral Visa. For more guidance please view UK regulations in terms of right to work at gov.uk.
Once you are a qualified CA, a number of firms are able to sponsor your visa which allows you to work in London.
Are there any negatives / down sides to completing one’s articles outside of South Africa?
No. There are a number of registered training offices in London, including Deloitte & BDO. Both of these firms are a SAICA accredited training office and have been subjected to the same quality assessment as all other training offices. Within these firms, there are other UK recruits training on the ACA programme who you will work with.
At Deloitte, there is a strong drive to integrate the British and South African intakes, giving you the same opportunities to network with others as you would in a South African office.
How does the programme in London differ from being in South Africa to complete your articles?
You will still qualify as a CA (SA) through SAICA. You will write APC in London and you will be required to meet the continuous assessment deadlines. The only difference is that you will be working alongside people from all corners of the world, and in a city that is far more globalised. Some of your clients are also likely to be a lot bigger.
Are there many people already completing their CA (SA) in London?
Yes. To date, there have been more than 50 people who have completed their articles in London and there are currently more than 120 busy completing their articles in London.
The SAICA programme at Deloitte London has just over 100 trainees completing their articles, with the programme extending in 2019. This not only proves the strength of the programme but also the support that is already in place. The BDO programme has around 20 people completing their articles in London.
What if I have an offer accepted already from another Accounting Firm?
That’s okay, we understand that you have probably been in dialogue with several firms for a while. We do appreciate the South African market is different and therefore we will need to know when you contact us if you do have another training offer from an accounting firm so we can determine how best to move forward with your application.
How does the application process work?
The application process for each firm differs according to the firms specific requirements. We at Green Mamba can help you through the entire application process to ensure you have the best chance of succesfully getting a job.
How do I improve my chances of getting accepted at one of these firms?
Your best chance of getting accepted will revolve around understanding the specifics of the application process, and being fully prepared for the interviews. At Green Mamba we strive to ensure that all the candidates we put forward are fully prepared and are given the best chance of securing a job.
What things do I need to start thinking about when I move to London?
You are moving your whole life to London. That means a great deal of change, however we can help you through that process and put you in touch with the right firms and people to ensure your move is as simple as possible.
Below are some of the things we can help with, but not limited to:
- National Insurance Number Assistance
- UK Bank Account Setup
- Cheap international calls with UK Mobile SIM card before you leave home
- CV Creation and Job Seeker Assistance
- Rental Accommodation Service
- Free International Money Transfer
- Gym Membership
- UK Discounts with 100s of top London partners
- UK Information Guide to help you get settled into London life
Got any other questions?
Let us know by contacting us and we’ll endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.
The Green Mamba 