Skilled Migration Pathway

ACCOUNTANT (GENERAL) | ANZSCO 221111

Australian businesses of every size need accountants who can genuinely handle financial reporting, auditing, and compliance work, not just basic bookkeeping and data entry. Under ANZSCO 221111, skilled Accountants are being sponsored by businesses across the country, and this remains one of the most common occupations used for skilled migration to Australia. Like Finance Manager, this occupation is assessed by one of three professional accounting bodies, but it carries a distinctly different set of migration caveats that applicants and employers both need to understand.

This guide covers what an Accountant (General) actually does, the English language standard applicants need to meet, and a full breakdown of two of the most common visa pathways for this occupation: the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme.

Migration Republic, Expert visa pathway preparation for Financial Accountants, Audit Specialists, and Corporate Accounting Professionals

ANZSCO 221111

WHAT DOES AN ACCOUNTANT (GENERAL) DO?

An Accountant (General) under ANZSCO 221111 provides services relating to compliance based financial reporting, auditing, insolvency, and accounting information systems, and advises on associated record keeping requirements. The occupation sits at ANZSCO Skill Level 1, which generally means a bachelor degree or higher qualification, though relevant experience and on the job training may also be required alongside the formal qualification. Registration or licensing may be required for certain services, such as auditing. Common specialisations include Financial Analyst, Insolvency Consultant, and Insolvency Practitioner.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Assisting in formulating budgetary and accounting policies
• Preparing financial statements for presentation to boards of directors, management, shareholders, and governing and statutory bodies
• Conducting financial investigations, preparing reports, undertaking audits, and advising on matters such as the purchase and sale of businesses, mergers, capital financing, suspected fraud, insolvency, and taxation
• Examining operating costs and organisations' income and expenditure
• Providing assurance about the accuracy of information contained in financial reports and their compliance with statutory requirements
• Providing financial and taxation advice on business structures, plans, and operations
• Preparing taxation returns for individuals and organisations
• Introducing and maintaining accounting systems, and advising on the selection and application of computer based accounting systems

One thing worth flagging early: this occupation carries specific caveats connected to the type of role and the size of the sponsoring business, which genuinely differ from the caveat, or lack of caveat, that applies to related occupations such as Finance Manager. More on that further down.

CSOL List

SUBCLASS 482 FOR ACCOUNTANTS (GENERAL) – CSOL LIST

The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa replaced the older Temporary Skill Shortage visa, and a new occupation list came with it. The Core Skills Occupation List, known as the CSOL, brought the earlier strategic skills lists together into a single list covering several hundred occupations across professional, technical, and managerial fields.

Accountant (General) sits on the CSOL under the code ANZSCO 221111, and this is the code an employer nominates against for a Core Skills stream 482 visa. Because it is a Skill Level 1 occupation, Home Affairs pays close attention to whether the nominated role genuinely involves compliance based financial reporting, auditing, and advisory work, rather than a clerical or bookkeeping function.

ANZSCO Requirements

SUBCLASS 482 ANZSCO REQUIREMENT FOR ACCOUNTANTS (GENERAL)

The nominated position has to genuinely reflect the work of an Accountant (General), not just carry the title. The Department looks at the actual scope of the role, including whether the applicant prepares financial statements, conducts audits and investigations, and provides financial and taxation advice, rather than performing routine data entry, invoicing, or bookkeeping tasks under someone else's direction.

Because this occupation sits at ANZSCO Skill Level 1, applicants generally need a bachelor degree or higher qualification in accounting or a closely related field, or substantial relevant experience where a formal qualification is not held. Roles that are largely clerical or bookkeeping in nature are unlikely to meet the ANZSCO description for this occupation, so getting the position description right at the nomination stage matters a great deal.

482 Visa Requirements

SC 482 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR ACCOUNTANTS (GENERAL)

To be granted a Subclass 482 visa under the Core Skills stream as an Accountant (General), applicants generally need to meet the following:

• A genuine, approved sponsor, meaning the employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or in the process of becoming one
• An approved nomination for ANZSCO 221111, with a salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold, the market rate for the role, and the occupation's caveat requirements
• At least one year of full time equivalent work experience as an Accountant, or in a closely related field, within the past five years
• Meeting the Competent English requirement, unless an exemption applies
• A clear health examination through an approved panel physician
• Police clearance certificates from every country lived in for twelve months or more

Salary and income thresholds are indexed regularly, so it is always worth checking the current figure on the Home Affairs website before an employer lodges a nomination. Visa grants can range from one to four years depending on individual circumstances, and a partner along with dependent children can be included as secondary applicants.

482 Skills Assessment

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR ACCOUNTANTS (GENERAL): SC 482 VISA

Accountant (General) is assessed by one of three approved professional accounting bodies: CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and the Institute of Public Accountants. Only one positive assessment from any of these three bodies is needed, so it is worth comparing which one best fits the applicant's qualification and career background before applying.

A skills assessment is not automatically mandatory for every 482 applicant in this occupation, though Home Affairs can request one, and many employers arrange it anyway to support a stronger nomination. Whichever body is used, the assessment generally reviews whether the applicant's qualification includes a major in accounting or a closely related discipline, assessed as comparable to an Australian bachelor degree, alongside relevant employment experience. It is worth noting that a bachelor of accounting or business majoring in accounting is generally required for CPA or CA ANZ recognition, while the Institute of Public Accountants can also recognise a diploma of accounting for its own membership pathway.

A strong application usually includes certified academic transcripts, detailed employment reference letters describing the financial reporting, auditing, and advisory work carried out, and evidence of English language proficiency, since each of the three assessing bodies has its own specific documentation requirements.

Subclass 186

SUBCLASS 186 FOR ACCOUNTANTS (GENERAL) – EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is Australia's main permanent employer sponsored visa, and for many Accountants already working in Australia on a 482 visa, it is the natural next step. The Direct Entry stream is the relevant pathway for applicants who have not yet worked long enough with their employer to qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream, or who are applying from outside Australia altogether.

Unlike the 482, a grant under the 186 gives the applicant and their family permanent residency from the day it is approved, with no further visa renewals needed.

186 Visa Requirements

SC 186 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR ACCOUNTANTS (GENERAL)

For the Direct Entry stream, applicants generally need to meet the following:

• A nomination from an approved Australian employer for a genuine, full time, ongoing Accountant position
• A salary that meets or exceeds the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, the market rate for the role, and the occupation's caveat requirements
• A positive skills assessment from one of the three approved accounting bodies in the nominated occupation, unless an exemption applies
• At least three years of relevant work experience, unless exempt from the skills assessment and experience requirements
• Being under 45 years of age at the time of application, with limited exemptions
• Competent English, at an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 6.0, or an accepted equivalent
• Health and character clearances

This is a noticeably higher bar than the 482, both on English and on work experience, which is one reason a lot of Accountants use the 482 as a stepping stone before applying for the 186.

186 Skills Assessment

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR ACCOUNTANTS (GENERAL): SC 186 VISA

Unlike the 482, a positive skills assessment from one of the three approved accounting bodies is generally mandatory for Direct Entry 186 applicants in this occupation, and it needs to be current at the time the visa application is lodged.

The assessment process is broadly similar across CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and the Institute of Public Accountants, though each has its own processing times and documentation preferences. Because the Direct Entry stream also requires three years of relevant experience on top of the assessment itself, it helps to start gathering employment evidence, academic transcripts, and reference letters well before applying, since assessment processing and document preparation both take time.

English Standards

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Every skilled or employer sponsored visa in Australia comes with an English language test, and the score applicants need to clear depends on which visa they are applying for. For Accountants looking at the 482 and 186 pathways, the bar is different at each stage, which catches a lot of applicants off guard.

For the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, Core Skills stream, applicants generally need Competent English, which works out to an overall IELTS score of 5.0 with no band below 5.0, or an accepted equivalent test result.

For the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, Direct Entry stream, the standard is higher. Competent English here means an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 6.0.

English Exemptions

EXEMPTIONS ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland are generally exempt from formal English testing, along with applicants who have completed a set period of study conducted in English. Test results typically need to be current within three years of lodgement, so if an applicant's score is getting old, it is worth sitting the test again before applying rather than finding out partway through processing.

Caveats & Business Requirements

CAVEATS AND BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCOUNTANTS (GENERAL)

Accountant (General) carries a specific set of caveats under both the Subclass 482 and Subclass 186 visas, all connected to the type of role and the size of the sponsoring business.

A nominated position does not qualify if it is essentially a clerical or bookkeeper role rather than a genuine accounting position, if it sits within a business with an annual turnover of less than one million dollars, or if it sits within a business with fewer than five employees.

Because of these caveats, Home Affairs and the assessing accounting body both look closely at the size, turnover, and staffing of the sponsoring business, alongside whether the position genuinely involves accounting work rather than bookkeeping or clerical support. Employers should be ready to show financial records, staffing information, and a clear position description to support the nomination.

Salary Rates

SALARY EXPECTATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

Accountants holding a CPA or Chartered Accountant designation, or working for larger firms and corporations, tend to sit toward the higher end of the range, particularly once they move into more senior reporting, audit, or advisory positions.

Industry Shortage

WHY ACCOUNTANTS (GENERAL) ARE IN DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

• Australian businesses across every industry rely on accountants to manage financial reporting, compliance, and audit obligations
• Growing regulatory complexity in financial reporting and taxation continues to increase demand for qualified accountants
• Small and medium businesses that have outgrown basic bookkeeping increasingly need genuine accounting expertise
• Insolvency, financial analysis, and audit specialisations remain steady sources of demand within the broader accounting profession
• Jobs and Skills Australia tracks Accountants as one of the largest professional occupations, with consistent demand across the economy

Employer Sponsorship

Employer Sponsorship for Accountants (General) in Australia

Australian businesses can sponsor overseas Accountants through the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa, and other eligible employer sponsored pathways when a suitably experienced local candidate is not available. With demand for qualified accountants continuing across nearly every industry, employer sponsorship has become a common way for businesses to bring in experienced overseas accounting talent.

At Migration Republic, we assist employers with every stage of the sponsorship process, including Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications, nomination applications, visa lodgements, and ongoing sponsorship compliance. Our Registered Migration Agents ensure your business meets all Department of Home Affairs requirements, including the turnover, headcount, and role type caveats that apply to this occupation, while making the sponsorship process as straightforward and efficient as possible.

Whether you need to sponsor an Accountant for a growing business, an established company, or a specialist accounting or advisory firm, we can help you identify the most suitable employer sponsored visa pathway. We work with businesses of all sizes across Australia, helping employers sponsor skilled accountants under the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and secure permanent residence pathways through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, where eligible.

We help businesses with:

• Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications
• Sponsoring overseas Accountants under the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) applications
• Confirming the position meets the occupation's turnover, headcount, and role type caveats
• Employer nomination applications
• Employer sponsorship compliance obligations
• Permanent residency pathways for sponsored accountants

If your business is looking to sponsor an Accountant, or recruit skilled overseas accounting talent more broadly, Migration Republic can manage the entire employer sponsorship process from start to finish, so you can focus on running your business while we handle the migration side.

Interactive Tools

Calculate Points & Check Your Visa Eligibility

Use our interactive self-service migration tools to calculate your points score, test your eligibility, and discover your potential Australian visa options instantly.

Migration Services

HOW MIGRATION REPUBLIC CAN HELP YOU

Migrating to Australia as an Accountant means working through a choice between three approved accounting assessing bodies, a caveat tied to role type and business size, and two visa pathways with different English and experience thresholds. Our registered migration agents at Migration Republic handle this every day, and we can help you get it right the first time.

Here's what we take care of for you:

• Confirming your role genuinely matches the ANZSCO 221111 definition rather than a clerical or bookkeeping role
• Helping you choose between CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and the Institute of Public Accountants
• Checking the nominated position against the occupation's turnover and headcount caveats
• Preparing a complete, decision ready skills assessment application
• Structuring your employment references so they meet the assessing body's requirements
• Comparing the 482 and 186 pathways to find the right fit for your circumstances
• Managing your full visa application from lodgement through to grant

Frequently Asked Questions – Employer Sponsorship for Accountants (General)

Migration Republic is an Australia based migration agency offering paid consultation and visa lodgement services for skilled and employer sponsored migration.