Anybody have experience of working in the Cayman islands?

[Countdown]

As above.

The role on offer is with one of the Big 4 and pays approximately $120,000. On the plus side there's no income tax, on the downside it's 20 days annual leave and the cost of living appears to be significantly higher than the UK. I'd be interested in hearing of the pros and cons of moving there, how easy it is to find accommodation, are there any cultural issues and so on

Thanks in advance

[WH16]

Employed by a CI company yes. Being physically located and working in the CI, no.

I have had a few issues with finance applications in the UK, usually a 'computer says no' type of thing as my employer had no UK postcode or something like that. Nothing major though.

[PorkInsider]

No experience of it, but I did hear the cost of living is high from others who've worked over there, as you mention.

(Assume the $120k is Cayman dollars not US?)

[StevieBee]

I've done a fair bit of work in the Caribbean (currently on a project in Barbados).

Cayman.......

Work ethic is the complete opposite of the rest of the region. Work/Life balance leans very much to the former. This is because once you've got used to the beaches, the bars, the weather and seen the sites (a point you'll reach in about two weeks), there's not much else to do. Work tends to alleviate the boredom.

Culturally, enclaves tend to form; groups of Brits, groups of Americans, etc... Not much in the way of integration outside of work.

Traffic can be horrendous.

And as you've mentioned, it's a very expensive place to live. Almost everything is imported. Water is desalinated which costs a fortune so utilities are very pricey.

And Hurricanes tend to visit annually.

But, it is a nice place. It's safe. There is fun to be had and of course the lack of tax can be appealing. Living and working there is a Marmite thing for most. Some completely absorb themselves into it, others last barely a month.

[mikef]

GC is a small island, and even harder to get away from than, say, working in the Bahamas. The people I knew there working for an offshore trust couldn't wait to get away to their office in the Bahamas, or travel to Jamaica or the US. Mix of living cost and island fever. And getting away costs money unless its a work trip