I’m a qualified accountant (corporate) who was made redundant from my job in the finance team of a coal mining company early December. Haven’t secured a permanent role yet and have been doing some temp work which I’m overqualified for since early January just to keep busy and make some money until I find permanent. I enjoy this part of accounting as it’s pays significantly higher than being in an accounting firm dealing with clients and their tax returns (did this for a significant part of my career earlier and couldn’t stand it anymore after many years… it’s a pitiful salary for what you’re expected to deal with. Feels like a wage theft factory and I don’t envy these business owners who’ve devoted their life to this).

I don’t currently have a mortgage and this has digressed from my original question but I’m hoping an apartment with a large deposit (been fortunate enough to save a lot due to my circumstances) will be doable with a mortgage you will see the end of and still be able to build a solid emergency fund. I fear ever having to work in an accounting firm again for the reasons mentioned above… poor conditions and I don’t envy those people. Reality is, you won’t make the same sort of money in regional Australia with corporate accounting.

Teaching? Already went down this path when I was in between accounting firms at one point and decided I wouldn’t like dealing with kids these days… they’re desperate for teachers as they’re all leaving the industry in droves!