Both my fiance and I are Chartered Accountants in Melbourne, having moved over in April 07 on 457 visas. Your wife should have no problem finding a job, they are desperate for qualified accountants over here.
If you are still in the UK, your wife could use a recruitment agency there to get a job at a big 4 in Aus (that's what I did originally), or alternatively try some agencies in Aus, Hays is over here, or just google recruitment agencies, or she could even email her CV directly to the firms. Some of the decent sized non big 4 firms include PKF, BDO, Pitcher Partners, William Buck, Grant Thornton, Moore Stephens.... Check out the link below for a full listing!
http://www.forsythes.com.au/images/h...ng%20Firms.pdf
We had interviews over the telephone and it wasn't as issue.
Can't help on the metal polishing though I'm afraid!
Sarah