Accounting & law job descriptions

Learning testimonial Paid relocation, work permit sponsorship, annual vacation and other benefits such as medical/pension entitlements are standard parts of the package for jobs in Grand Cayman, Bermuda and the other Islands. For many overseas jobs, there may also be a bonus, overtime or share options component. The inherent nature of the quickly-moving job market offshore means that opportunities for career advancement can be excellent.

Job Title: Financial Services Audit Seniors

Audit Senior roles with the Big Four and Top10 accountancy firms offer an interesting variety of work serving clients in the Investments (/Hedge Funds), Re/Insurance, Risk Management and Banking sectors.

Enhance your professional skills base by gaining expertise in international IFRS, US GAAP, Canadian GAAP and UK GAAP reporting, making you highly marketable to future employers. If you do not already have a globally-known 'big name' employer on your resume, this is an excellent way to achieve that goal.

Even better, you will enjoy significant control over your own portfolio of clients over busy season, taking responsibility in a field manager capacity for all aspects of the engagements, from initial planning through to completion of the finalised accounts.

After just one busy season invested offshore, you will emerge from the experience at a completely different level as a Chartered Accountant. You'll now have financial services experience plus IFRS/US GAAP exposure and an international aspect to your CV. This will open many new doors to you as a finance professional and accelerate your promotion and earnings potential.

Contracts covering two busy seasons are available, usually starting in September. These feature tax-free remuneration packages including relocation, work permit sponsorship, and health/dental/life insurance cover.

Prior financial services and IFRS/US GAAP experience is not needed as training is provided. Successful applicants will be newly qualified Chartered Accountants with 2-3 years' auditing experience, ideally from the UK or Canada.

Please note that for all jobs in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands, you must be fully qualified as an ACA / CA / ACCA or CPA in order to be granted a work permit. Other restrictions may apply for jobs in different jurisdictions. There is no income tax in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the BVI. Caribbean jobs are usually on a two-year initial contract basis.

Job Title: Financial Accountants

US and international Insurance management groups also look for high-calibre qualified accountants for the position of Account Manager or Account Executive.

In this capacity, similar to the way you may have managed a portfolio of audit clients in public practice, you will assume responsibility for managing a portfolio of Insurance-related client companies in a combined financial accounting and management reporting role.

This involves producing annual financial and interim management accounts, providing group reporting to each client's head office (particularly US/UK reporting), risk management, liaising with professional third parties (such as auditors, investment valuers, brokers etc) and ensuring that everything is kept up to date regarding your portfolio. A degree of entertaining may also be expected since clients may take advantage of your location to visit the Island for annual board meetings.

Your portfolio may comprise companies who are in the Fortune 500 and listed on the NYSE. Most of the assets will be marketable securities resulting in regular liaison with fund managers, management of bank accounts and a range of other services.

These Account Manager/Executive positions prove popular because the skills learned are highly transferable (including to future possible non-financial services careers). Successful candidates will be need to be fully qualified by the time of arrival on the Island. Strong accounts preparation and communication skills are essential but previous insurance experience is not required as full training will be provided.

Finally, note that opportunities in this area particularly arise in Bermuda, as it is the largest offshore domicile in the world outside London, with over US$100 billion generated each year. The economy on the Island is booming so this can prove an excellent opportunity for ambitious applicants. There are sometimes occasional such vacancies too in the Channel Islands or Grand Cayman.

Job Title: Fund Accountants

The accounting and administration of Funds will involve collating the Net Asset Values for investments held by the funds, reconciling to various broker statements and calculating the NAVs for the funds themselves.

It may also include preparation of financial statements for presentation to regulatory authorities, trust administrators and auditors. The position involves extensive liaison with institutional clients such as investors, lawyers, bankers and the investment manager, and will provide technical experience in a wide range of international securities. Working as a Fund Accountant offshore provides applicants with an excellent entry to the investment sector.

Successful candidates will be qualified at Supervisor / Assistant Manager level within practice (with or without financial services experience), or will hold a degree and have a minimum of two years' investment/fund accounting experience in the industry. Excellent organisational and deadline-oriented skills are required.

Please note that for all jobs in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands, you must be fully qualified as an ACA / CA / ACCA or CPA in order to be granted a work permit. It may be possible on occasion to find a job as a Fund Accountant even if you do not have one of these designations provided you have at least two years' direct funds experience. Caribbean jobs are usually on a two-year initial contract basis.

Job Title: Secondment Seniors

Opportunities also exist with some of the Big Four to work on client secondments, providing accounting services to a variety of clients, usually in the financial services sector (often in Insurance, Banking, Funds).

Prior financial services experience is not generally required but applicants will need to have strong accounting skills, particularly in the area of financial statements preparation work, a can-do approach and good communication skills.

Contracts typically last two years and it is not uncommon to be offered a higher-paying position afterwards by one of the clients you may have worked on.

Job Title: Trust Officers

International bank and trust group sometimes require recently-qualified accountants to manage a portfolio of offshore trusts and companies for high net worth private clients combining the production of a diverse range of financial information with investment and distribution of trust assets (particularly marketable securities) and extensive client contact with settlors, beneficiaries and professional advisors. If you hold a STEPS qualification, this will help.

Job Title: Tax Manager (US Tax)

As a Tax Manager within a Big Four firm, responsibilities will include preparing practical and creative solutions to clients' tax situations by developing recommendations and developing tax strategies, as well as developing the practice through sales and marketing initiatives.

Qualified candidates will have a CPA (US only) and a minimum of 3-5 years of recent experience in corporate taxation compliance and/or consulting experience within a public accounting environment.

Job Title: Actuaries

Offshore Insurers and Reinsurers have occasional openings for qualified actuaries (ACAS, FCAS or FIA) to be involved in areas such as underwriting, pricing, structuring, negotiating and monitoring of Property & Casualty (and other) finite risk (re)insurance transactions. This will often include evaluating the adequacy of loss reserves and a minimum of two years’ experience in the insurance industry is usually required as well as familiarity with the use of actuarial software.

Please note that for all jobs in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands, you must be fully qualified as an ACA / CA / ACCA or CPA in order to be granted a work permit unless for a specific role such as an Actuary. Other restrictions may apply for jobs in different jurisdictions. There is no income tax in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the BVI. Caribbean jobs are usually on a two-year initial contract basis.

About our offshore vacancies

We always have a wide range of career openings available for qualified lawyers and accountants covering Bermuda, the Cayman islands, the BVI, the Channel Islands and other leading financial services centres across the globe.

As you may already have seen, the key benefits of living & working offshore include the following:

Continued professional development
Earn a tax-free salary
Enjoy an outstanding quality of life
Travel, training and paid relocation

These openings attract a great deal of interest from candidates given the work on offer and the desirability of the locations involved. It is not always possible to list all the vacancies since they can be filled at short notice. However, be assured that the opportunities listed on our site represent just a sample of positions on offer so it is always worth applying. By registering with Hamilton Recruitment, you will gain access to the widest possible range of offshore jobs. Guaranteed.

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