Management Accountant Migration to Australia: CSOL, CPA/CA ANZ, 482, 190
Can this field migrate to Australia?
A Management Accountant (ANZSCO 221112) can migrate to Australia, but with specific conditions. This occupation appears on the CSOL (Core Skills Occupation List), so it is eligible for the 482 visa (employer-sponsored), the 189 visa (independent points-tested), and the 190/491 visas (state-nominated). Those seeking permanent residence can follow the 482 → 186 TRT pathway, the 190/491 → permanent residence pathway, or the 189 independent points route.
ANZSCO and CSOL: position on the occupation list
A Management Accountant is classified under ANZSCO code 221112, within Skill Level 1 — meaning a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. A clear distinction matters: code 221112 (Management Accountant) is different from code 221111 (Accountant — General). Management accounting focuses on cost analysis, budgeting, financial forecasting and supporting internal management decisions, not simply general bookkeeping.
This occupation is on the CSOL , the occupation list maintained by the Department of Home Affairs, which identifies the fields permitted to sponsor foreign workers. Being on the CSOL means: an Australian employer can sponsor a candidate for a 482 visa, and states can nominate through the 190 or 491 program.
Skills assessing authority: CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants ANZ
The two authorities recognised by the Australian government to assess skills for code 221112 are CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ). An applicant only needs to lodge with one of the two — not both. The choice usually depends on the membership program the applicant is in or intends to join.
CPA Australia assesses based on a recognised accounting qualification, subject results equivalent to the CPA program, and relevant work experience. The assessment fee for an accounting authority (CPA/CAANZ/IPA) varies; check the current fee schedule on the website of the authority you choose. Processing usually takes from 12 to 16 weeks, and can be longer if the application needs additional documents. CA ANZ has a similar process and comparable processing times.
Common requirements for both authorities: a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field (economics, finance) from a recognised institution; a course of study that covers enough core accounting subjects (financial accounting, audit, tax, business law, management accounting); and post-graduation work experience in the management accounting field. Overseas qualifications are assessed for equivalence — the outcome depends on the specific course of study and the length of experience.
Suitable visas: an overview
A Management Accountant is eligible for three main visa groups: the 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage — employer-sponsored, temporary duration), the 190 (Skilled Nominated — permanent residence by state nomination), and the 491 (Skilled Work Regional — regional permanent residence by state or family nomination). The 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme — employer-sponsored permanent residence) can be sought after working at least 2 years on a 482 visa through the TRT (Temporary Residence Transition) stream.
The 482 — employer-sponsored
The 482 visa is for candidates whose Australian employer is an approved sponsor willing to nominate them. Management Accountant sits within the Core Skills stream, and the visa is usually granted for 4 years. To be eligible for the 482 visa , an applicant needs: a skills assessment from CPA Australia or CA ANZ, a number of years of relevant full-time work experience in the field (varies by pathway/visa — check official sources), and to meet the English language requirement.
On the employer side: the company must be an approved sponsor (or newly register), lodge a nomination for the specific position, and commit to paying a salary of at least the current TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) (check at homeaffairs.gov.au before applying), or the actual market rate — whichever is higher. The employer bears the SAF (Skilling Australians Fund) levy when sponsoring a foreign worker.
The pathway from 482 to permanent residence
After working for the sponsoring employer at least 2 years on a 482 visa, a worker can lodge a 186 visa under the TRT (Temporary Residence Transition) stream. This is a direct route to permanent residence with no EOI or SkillSelect score required. The conditions to meet: 2 years of full-time work in the same or an equivalent position for the same sponsoring employer; the employer nominating for the 186 visa; and the applicant still meeting health and character requirements.
To be eligible for the 186 TRT visa , note that not every employer agrees to sponsor a 186 after 2 years — this is the company’s voluntary decision. It is wise to discuss and reach a clear understanding with the employer before starting the 482 visa.
The 190 and 491 — state nomination
The 190 is a permanent residence visa nominated by a state or territory. Management Accountant (221112) is included on the occupation lists of many states, including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia — however each state’s occupation list changes by financial year and by remaining quota. To be nominated for the 190, an applicant needs to lodge an EOI (Expression of Interest) through SkillSelect, reach a sufficient score (usually 65 points or more, plus 5 state points), and meet the state’s own criteria such as a local skill shortage, experience in the state, or working there at the time.
Management Accountant (221112) is on the MLTSSL — eligible to lodge an EOI for the independent points-tested 189 visa when a sufficient score is reached (usually around 85–90 points or more depending on the time). The 491 is similar but requires living and working in a regional area for at least 3 years, after which the holder is eligible to lodge a 191 visa to move to permanent residence. The 491 has a lower competitive cut-off than the 190, suiting people willing to work in a less competitive state or region such as Tasmania, regional South Australia, or rural Queensland.
English language requirements
For the Core Skills stream of the 482, the minimum English requirement is IELTS 5.0 in each component (or equivalent PTE Academic 36, TOEFL iBT 35). However, if the applicant later wants a 186 visa, the requirement is usually higher — IELTS 6.0 in each component or equivalent.
For the 190 and 491, the English requirement is Competent English: IELTS 6.0 in each component, PTE Academic 50, or TOEFL iBT 60. A higher English score (Proficient: IELTS 7.0; Superior: IELTS 8.0) earns additional SkillSelect points, improving the chance of receiving an EOI invitation. For management accounting — an occupation that involves frequent communication with management — employers in practice often expect a higher level of English than the visa minimum.
Reference salary
The figures below are reference points, not guaranteed salaries. Actual pay depends on city/region, seniority and experience, type of employer, full-time/part-time/casual status, the classification level under an award, penalty rates, compulsory superannuation (super), and the visa/sponsorship context.
Labour-market benchmark (official): According to the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile (data from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours), the median weekly earnings for the Accountants group (ANZSCO 2211) is 2,003 AUD/week — equivalent to roughly 8,680 AUD/month or 104,200 AUD/year on a simple 52-week conversion (pre-tax, a reference point only, not a guaranteed salary). This is the median for full-time, non-managerial, adult-rate, pre-tax workers — neither the minimum nor the maximum, and a figure for the whole occupation group rather than a single position.
Salary range from job ads (market): Sites such as SEEK Salary Insights publish ranges based on job advertisements. At the time of this update, AustraliaHub has not verified the range from SEEK; you should look it up directly and compare it against the median above.
Legal minimum floor (legal floor): Many management accounting positions are award-free professional occupations; in that case the minimum floor is the National Minimum Wage and the employment contract. This is a legal minimum floor, different from the market salary; the specific level depends on the classification, the type of work, allowances and overtime. Look it up with the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool (https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/).
Official sources (checked 12/06/2026):
- Jobs and Skills Australia — occupation profile for Accountants (ANZSCO 2211): https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/2211-accountants
- Fair Work Ombudsman: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/
The pathway to permanent residence: summary
The most common route for a management accountant: (1) complete the skills assessment through CPA Australia or CA ANZ, (2) obtain a 482 visa through an Australian employer’s sponsorship, (3) work 2 years and apply for a 186 TRT visa for permanent residence, or in parallel monitor the state lists to lodge an EOI for a 190 if competitive on points. The 190 route is faster if you have enough points, but depends on the probability of an invitation from a state — which hinges on the quota and competition each year.
Common mistakes
- Wrong ANZSCO code: Lodging under 221111 (General Accountant) instead of 221112 (Management Accountant) because the job descriptions overlap — this affects the skills assessment outcome.
- Lack of clear management experience in the application: CPA/CA ANZ assess experience that must clearly show management accounting activity (budgeting, cost analysis, management reporting) — not just general accounting.
- Not checking the state list before lodging an EOI: The 190/491 occupation lists change annually; many people lodge an EOI when a state has already closed its list or exhausted its quota.
- Misunderstanding the 186 visa: The 186 TRT does not happen automatically after 2 years — the employer must actively nominate, and there is no legal obligation for them to do so.
- Overlooking the English requirement for the 186: Some people reach IELTS 5.0 for the 482 but do not prepare for the 6.0 needed when moving to the 186 TRT, delaying the permanent residence application.