Whilst there is talk from governments of imposing stricter restrictions on international tax havens, this is unlikely to impact legitimate business carried out through offshore jurisdictions.
The offshore accountancy jobs market is still thriving as firms expand their operations and take advantage of the tax benefits offered in these locations, creating excellent opportunities for accountants abroad.
The predominant offshore opportunities for accountants lie in audit, insolvency and restructuring. In some cases there are opportunities within corporate finance, especially in the Channel Islands and Bermuda.
There are opportunities across most levels. If you are newly-qualified, you will be most in demand within audit. Larger firms have a yearly audit intake, consistently hiring staff on a long-term contractual basis.
That said, there are also some senior manager, director and partner level jobs available as a result of significant team moves within the Caribbean and the expansion of Top 10 firms in the British Virgin Islands as Big 4 firms centralise their operations in the Caymans and Bermuda.
Senior accountants see working offshore as an attractive career option due to low tax rates, high salaries and the social expat community in the region. The Caribbean is also increasingly seen as an attractive place to raise a young family in a relatively unspoilt natural environment that is hard to match in Europe.
The offshore accountancy jobs market is still thriving as firms expand their operations and take advantage of the tax benefits offered in these locations, creating excellent opportunities for accountants abroad.
The Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands are key job hotspots, along with the Caribbean. Accountants are attracted to these locations because the work tends to be interesting and of a high quality.
Firms in the Channel Islands are continuing to grow as well. Jersey and Guernsey are the two main islands and are home to internationally renowned financial services centres.
If you are interested in working offshore, you will need to take visa restrictions into account. Each area has their own visa and qualification requirements. You should also understand that the work can be very different to the UK. The work varies depending on the level you are at within your career, so you’ll need to have the right experience and personality fit for this type of work.
We have consultants who focus on offshore accountancy and would be happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have about living and working offshore.
Robert Walters' new guide for accountants details some of the professional and lifestyle opportunities available to professionals interested in working offshore, as well as insight into local life and culture, qualification requirements, current market conditions, salaries and benefits.
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