Expert: Robert Clark - 9/27/2006

Question
Hi,
  I am currently a University student at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.  I am just about completed my bachelor of commerce so that I can soon obtain my chartered accountant designation. In the meantime, I am in a co-op program where I work for different accounting firms to gain knowledge that I can take into my career. My ambition is to someday work for an accounting firm in the Cayman Islands. Are there any openings in the Cayman Islands for co-op students such as myself?

Answer
Tracy
I think you would have to approach the accounting firms directly - see the links to some of the firms on my Businesses pages at http://www.gotocayman.com/gcmbusfi.htm

Having said that, I think your chances are low. My understanding is that the employer would have to apply for a work permit for you, and to do that they would have to show that there wasn't any Caymanian that could fulfill the role. Furthermore, Cayman is very expensive to live in, so I would have thought that if they did have any schemes that they would be made available to students from the schools and colleges on Cayman.

I think that your best bet is to look for jobs once you are fully qualified and have a couple of year's experience.

Good luck!

Robert