Skilled Migration Pathway

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT | ANZSCO 221112

Australian businesses that need genuine forward looking financial insight, not just historical compliance reporting, rely on management accountants to guide budgeting, costing, and strategic decisions. Under ANZSCO 221112, skilled Management Accountants are being sponsored by businesses across the country. This occupation sits alongside Accountant (General) within the same unit group and shares the same three approved assessing bodies and caveat structure, so applicants and employers both need to understand exactly how the classification works.

This guide covers what a Management Accountant 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 Cost Accountants, Budget Analysts, and Strategic Management Accounting Professionals

ANZSCO 221112

WHAT DOES A MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT DO?

A Management Accountant under ANZSCO 221112 provides services relating to performance based financial reporting, asset valuation, budgetary systems, cost management, pricing, forecasting, and the strategic governance of organisations. 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. The alternative title Cost Accountant is also used for this occupation.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Providing performance based financial reporting, asset valuation, and budgetary systems for the organisation
• Managing costs, pricing, and forecasting to support business decision making
• Providing advice on financial planning and risk management
• Advising on carbon sequestration projects and carbon pricing where relevant
• Providing management with reports to assist in strategic decision making
• Providing insight into cost performance and supporting benchmarking and quality improvement initiatives

One thing worth flagging early: this occupation carries the same caveats as several related accounting occupations, connected to the type of role and the size of the sponsoring business. More on that further down.

CSOL List

SUBCLASS 482 FOR MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS – 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.

Management Accountant sits on the CSOL under the code ANZSCO 221112, 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 performance based reporting, costing, and strategic financial advice, rather than a clerical or bookkeeping function.

ANZSCO Requirements

SUBCLASS 482 ANZSCO REQUIREMENT FOR MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS

The nominated position has to genuinely reflect the work of a Management Accountant, not just carry the title. The Department looks at the actual scope of the role, including whether the applicant provides costing, budgeting, forecasting, and strategic financial 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 MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS

To be granted a Subclass 482 visa under the Core Skills stream as a Management Accountant, 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 221112, 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 a Management 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 MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS: SC 482 VISA

Management Accountant 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 genuinely focused on costing, budgeting, and management reporting rather than compliance reporting alone.

A strong application usually includes certified academic transcripts, detailed employment reference letters describing the budgetary systems, cost management, and forecasting 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 MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS – EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is Australia's main permanent employer sponsored visa, and for many Management 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 MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS

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 Management 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 Management Accountants use the 482 as a stepping stone before applying for the 186.

186 Skills Assessment

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS: 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 Management 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.

It is worth noting that the assessing accounting bodies may apply their own English language benchmarks as part of the skills assessment itself, which can be higher than the visa's minimum requirement, so it pays to check the specific body's current criteria directly.

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 MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS

Management Accountant carries the same set of caveats as Accountant (General) 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 management 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 costing, budgeting, and management reporting 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

Management Accountant salaries vary depending on the size of the business, the industry, and the scope of the role.

Management Accountants working in mining, resources, and large corporate head offices tend to sit toward the higher end of the range, reflecting the scale and complexity of the costing and reporting work typically involved.

Industry Demand

WHY MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS ARE IN DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

• Australian businesses across every industry rely on management accountants to guide budgeting, costing, and strategic decisions
• Growing focus on cost performance and benchmarking is increasing demand for accountants who can provide forward looking financial insight
• Mining, manufacturing, and resources businesses in particular rely heavily on strong cost accounting expertise
• Emerging areas such as carbon pricing and sustainability reporting are creating new demand for management accounting skills
• Jobs and Skills Australia tracks Management Accountants as part of the broader accounting profession, where demand remains steady across the economy

Employer Sponsorship

Employer Sponsorship for Management Accountants in Australia

Australian businesses can sponsor overseas Management 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 management accounting expertise continuing across many industries, employer sponsorship has become a practical way for businesses to bring in experienced overseas 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 a Management Accountant for a growing business, a resources company, or a broader corporate finance function, 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 management 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 Management 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 management accountants

If your business is looking to sponsor a Management 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 a Management 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 221112 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 Management Accountants

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