Former Big 4 employee shares how he got an intra-company transfer to Deloitte Canada

• Hi, I am Azhar Sakriwala and in 2013 as a CA fresher, I started my career with Deloitte India.
• After dedicating five years to Deloitte India’s tax team, I made a bold choice to start my professional chapter in Canada.
• I was lucky to get an internal transfer to Deloitte Toronto, Canada. Here is how I did it.

Back story

In 2013, I became a CA and started working at Deloitte Mumbai. As a Deputy Manager, I provided tax compliance and advisory services to corporations and high-net-worth individuals.

But, the long hours and desire to live abroad led me to consider moving to a different country.

After careful consideration, I decided to focus on immigration to Australia and Canada. Ultimately, I found Canada to be the better choice for immigration.

I first started looking into migrating to Canada in 2017.

There are numerous ways to immigrate to Canada; I began my immigration process through the express entry program route.

As an Indian CA with three plus years of work experience along with an IELTS score of 8+ me in a great position to qualify for the Express Entry program.

I started the document collation process in March 2018 and applied for my Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) simultaneously.

Pursuing an internal transfer within a Big 4 firm

To join one of the Big 4 accounting firms in Canada, which are part of global networks, there were two feasible options;

• Getting a secondment for 3 to 6 months.
• Internal transfer! This route was way less stressful for me, but I still had to join the dots which required some navigating.

After receiving my PR confirmation, I decided to spend more time with my Indian organization (Deloitte) rather than quitting immediately.

Post discussion with the management and with a possible extension of my notice period I was able to create a case for an interview with the Canadian team.

An internal transfer to a Canadian branch/subsidiary of your organization can always be an added advantage however internal moves are difficult and may require many stages of approval.

Step-by-step process for an intra-company transfer

Network

I  networked with my Canadian counterparts to understand the skills needed to be absorbed within the firm network in Canada.

The discussions with my Canadian peers helped me develop a better understanding of the job market.

Prepped myself for the job role

I spent time understanding Canadian tax laws which were a requisite for my profile.

International mobility portal

One of the best aspects of working in a Big 4 firm is its international mobility portal. You can find a list of all the global roles available there.

I researched what opportunities were available in Canada and found the one most suitable for me.

Additionally, we had access to the firm’s internal Skype network. You can just drop an email or Skype message to a relevant employee in a company in your preferred country and check if there are any suitable roles open.

I got in touch with the hiring partner

I then discovered the name of the hiring partner in Canada through official portals within the Big 4. I asked him whether they would consider granting me an internal transfer.

Similarly, you could simply send an email or a message on Skype to request a meeting or a coffee chat to discuss potential opportunities and a suitable role.

Good relationship with your team

If you are considering an intra-company transfer, start building a good rapport with your team members and partners immediately.

An internal referral from your partner, director, or immediate manager in a Big 4 firm goes a long way in setting up the foundation.

Started the discussion early

You cannot just spring a surprise on them.

When you have the confirmation about the paperwork and passport, you can approach your partner saying, ‘This particular team in this region is hiring. I had a quick chat with them, and my skills match the role.’

Ask if your partner would be willing to facilitate the internal move or put in a recommendation.

Employee documentation

When you are immigrating to another country, you need an Employment Verification Letter.

It is a document from your employers to certify that you worked in that organization.

The firm’s Partner to accelerate the process

When the partners from different regions communicate with each other, they can determine when you will join. This means you don’t have to be concerned about the timing of leaving your current company and starting at the new one.

In my case, the Partner at my division recommended me, after which I had to follow up with the relevant team in Canada.

Afterwards, I had an interview and we agreed on a possible starting date for Canada. This was a much more seamless process.

Served a longer notice period

Sometimes your existing firm may ask you to serve your notice period a little longer, to find a replacement. You should oblige.

It also helps, because when the partner sees you are more cooperative, they’ll go that extra mile in helping you out.

Also read: This Indian CA immigrated to Canada in his late 20s in search of work-life balance. Here is how he went about it.

Challenges you may face

Yes, there are many upsides of working and living in Canada. But it comes with downsides.

Partners may not always be cooperative

Your company may not always facilitate the process to get you an internal transfer. It is understandable since doing it for one person might prompt others to follow suit, creating a bad situation.

In that case, you can go about it on your own, and then reconnect with the partner later for referrals.

Join a level below your current role

If you have transferable skills, you may be able to move at the same level or slightly below in Canada. It is rare for someone to move up a level.

For example, if you work in the audit department, such as SOX or SEC audit, which are highly transferable, you may be able to move to the same level.

However, if you are in a specialized field like tax, where the regulations differ in different countries, you may have to start a notch below.

I had to sacrifice my promotion back in the previous organization, but that was a small price to pay for a better future.

Do not rely on sponsorship

I had a PR so that made it easy. Sponsorships don’t get first preference in countries like Canada.

Companies usually don’t sponsor intra-company transfers unless you have already completed a secondment there for a specific project and they want you to stay permanently.

If you are just applying for jobs and hoping for sponsorship, the chances are very slim, unless it’s for a high-level position like a C-suite role.

Also read: How this 26-year-old Indian CA Immigrated to Canada, Found a Job and Qualified her CPA Canada

Wrapping up

Canada offers a better lifestyle and healthy work culture, that attracts numerous Indians.

Health care and Education are included as part of the social security structure.

Here is a heads-up before you make the move…

1. Make sure that you have a year’s worth of savings before moving to Canada as settling costs will eat up your capital and you will get into a desperate position.

2. It is advisable to do a soft landing (i.e. arriving in the country to collect the PR Card) and spend the time exploring. That will give you a first-hand experience of what it’s like living there.

3. There are many good places to settle in Canada such as Halifax, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Quebec, Edmonton, Ottawa, etc. where competition is less, and the cost of living is low.

4. If you have kids, you should relocate first. When everything is settled only then bring your family to the new place. This makes the transition much easier.

5. If you cannot live in snowy and freezing weather, Canada is not the place for you!

Need any advice from Azhar? Comment below and he will get back.