u/Moncton84

Hi everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well.

I’m looking for some advice and guidance about my career path because, honestly, I feel a little stuck at the moment.

I currently work for the Canadian government as a Tax Officer for small and medium sized enterprises. I have experience in taxation and financial services, but I don’t have an accounting designation such as a CPA. Before joining the government, I also worked as a Financial Advisor at a Canadian bank, so my background is mainly in taxation, banking, finance, and dealing with clients.

A lot has changed in my personal life since the passing of my father. One of my priorities now is to be closer to my mother, so I’m seriously considering either moving to Europe for work or finding a remote position that would allow me to spend more time with her.

I speak both English and French fluently, although neither is my native language. I’m wondering how realistic it would be for someone with my background and experience to find a job in Europe, particularly without a CPA or another formal accounting designation.

I would really appreciate advice from people who have experience working in Europe or who have worked in international companies.

For someone with my background, what types of positions or departments should I be looking at? For example, would I have a chance in areas such as:

• Taxation / international tax
• Banking and financial services
• Compliance
• Risk management
• Financial operations
• Client relationship management
• Finance departments
• Government or public-sector organizations
• FinTech or other financial companies

I’m also wondering whether Canadian government experience is considered valuable by European employers, and whether speaking both English and French could be an advantage.

I’m open to retraining or obtaining additional certifications if that would significantly improve my chances. I’m also willing to start in a different role if it gives me a good opportunity to build a career in Europe.

If you were in my position, where would you start, and what types of companies, positions, or countries would you target?

Any advice, personal experience, or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much in advance for taking the time to read this and share your thoughts. 🙏

Hi there,

My great-grandfather fled what is now North Macedonia in 1912 during the First Balkan War and settled in Turkey. When he left, the family abandoned a significant amount of land and property.
We still have the original Ottoman-era title deeds (Tapu) for these properties in our possession.
I’m trying to determine whether there is any legal avenue to reclaim these properties or seek restitution, or whether such claims are no longer possible under North Macedonian law.

A few questions:

• Are there any lawyers, historians, or legal experts familiar with property restitution in the Balkans who could offer guidance?
• If a claim is possible, what would the process look like, and which government office or institution should I contact first?
• Does possession of the original Ottoman deeds provide any legal advantage today?

Hi guys,

I’m a foreigner who visits Turkey from time to time.

The last time I was here, I withdrew cash from a Ziraat Bank ATM with my foreign card and wasn’t charged any fee. This time, however, the ATM charged me a commission/withdrawal fee.

I checked online and many websites still list Ziraat as one of the banks that doesn’t charge fees for foreign cards.

Has their policy changed recently? Has anyone had a similar experience?

If you’ve used a foreign card in Turkey recently, can you recommend any banks that still don’t charge ATM withdrawal fees?

Thanks