Financial and
cost of living
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Salaries are received tax-free (or with minimal deductions) so you have more disposable income to spend and save each month. This is doubly the case once you start to benefit from tax-free pay rises, promotions or annual bonuses. Employers will pay well to retain quality experienced finance staff |
The cost of living on the Islands can be quite high (similar to London) because of import duties, which are the main way of raising government revenue, and shipping costs |
With no tax, your expenditure above the basics (e.g. rent) is largely discretionary so with a little discipline you can save quite considerably |
Career and work considerations
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You will gain valuable international work experience as well as exposure to US GAAP and the financial services industries - all this makes you much more marketable to future employers |
Most of the roles available are either of a strictly financial reporting or auditing nature, certainly at the newly-qualified level. Openings in corporate finance /consultancy generally arise at a higher level only |
You should make the move to work offshore as part of a combined Work /Life decision.
Hardly anyone regrets such a move - look into it and you'll see why |
| Your work ethic
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You will be treated as a professional and expected to manage your responsibilities accordingly. This is most definitely NOT some form of 'working holiday' |
Good organisational and time management skills are vital, as is your commitment to delivering excellent client service |
As in any other place, employers want motivated, committed staff who are keen to learn and drive the company forward |
Your social skills
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Moving to a new location gives you the chance to make new, like-minded friends and contacts from a wide variety of countries |
If you lack social confidence or are very timid then this will be harder to achieve. However, in reality, normal people don't find it to be a problem at all |
In reality, it is very easy to make new friends provided you adopt a positive, friendly, outgoing and cosmopolitan attitude |
Living on an island
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Island life is like being in a small town – everyone is generally very friendly and welcoming to new arrivals (most new people don't know anyone and still settle in very quickly) |
You don’t get the hustle and bustle (and anonymity) of big city life. Some people find this difficult to deal with whereas others enjoy the informality and community nature |
Everyone gets ‘Island fever’ every few months but you can get it out of your system by long w/e trips (e.g. to Miami or other Islands from Cayman, and to New York, Boston and Toronto from Bermuda) |
Recreational activities
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An outstanding chance to enjoy and take part in outdoor sports and activities in a safe and sunny location, with like-minded people of your age |
Being on an Island, you don’t generally have access to a great deal of 'high culture' such as theatres, art galleries or museums |
But if you like outdoor, sporting activities and enjoy a lively social life then we promise you’ll love it being offshore |
