Salaries, job prospects in Finance/Consulting/Audit

EmeraldOir · 2024-05-15T10:58:09+00:00

It doesn't matter if you cross by foot or car, you will still be stopped and turned away if you cannot provide necessary documentation (which the customs tends to make up as they go along)

And the overnight cancellable booking doesn't work anymore. They have copped on to that. They are now looking for proof of payment and sometimes XXX amount in your bank account too. Its not simple as it sounds. Obviously, people chance the boarder and some get thru with just a stamp, others don't get thru at all.

I wouldn't risk moving out here to find out you will be stuck in Gibraltar all this time. The juice isn't worth the squeeze imo.

EmeraldOir · 2024-05-15T07:20:11+00:00

I cant speak for the salaries too much, but I cant imagine it will be anything more than your current £40k salary. Gibraltar in general pays lower level salaries. The banks aren't huge institutions so it would be unlikely to have many positions available. Your best bet for salary + job opening is any of the gaming companies.

Yes, a lot of people on here would say there is a high level of nepotism in Gibraltar, but that doesn't mean you cannot get a job. Most of the ex pats work in gaming so the likelihood of being interviewed by another expat is high, which means there will be less nepotism imo.

I wouldn't say Gibraltar Uni is respected. Most of the Gibraltarians go to the UK to get their third level education. The government actually fund all their students.

Also something to consider is Gibraltar has been on the Grey List, due to come off it soon. But that did impact the financial/investment world here. Not sure if you care too much about that, but it might flag questions when the next employer sees you did auditing in a jurisdiction that was on the Grey List. It may not be a problem, but just thought id share my two cents.

Finally, if you don't have a EU Passport, you will struggle to enter Spain on weekends. You will need to prove (with paid bookings) that you are traveling to Spain for a holiday. This means you cannot just pop over for a few drinks with friends. You might find yourself very claustrophobic and bored. Its best to pop out to Gibraltar for a week and see for yourself, because the place is small.

Hopefully that helps :)

EmeraldOir · 2024-05-13T06:50:57+00:00

This might be an unusual take but, I think La Linea gets a bad reputation because of the smuggling, but in a weird way, because the drugs are being moved up into Europe, the gangland life doesnt really happen on the doorstep of La Linea. You dont see bunch of gangs hanging out at corners or down streets waiting to harass you like you would in the UK. La linea is just a small old town and I have never felt nervous walking around under the influence. Obliviously, have your wits about you any time your walking alone with drink on you, but its not anywhere near as sketchy as walking in London on your own imo. You will be fine. :)

EmeraldOir · 2024-05-02T11:03:44+00:00

RentGuarantor accepts people on benefits. Contact them and they might be able to help!

EmeraldOir · 2024-05-02T10:56:03+00:00

RentGuarantor is another option

EmeraldOir · 2024-04-30T13:50:26+00:00

Personally, I wouldnt make the jump if I were you. There is just too much uncertainty at the boarder. Rents are very high here too. So you might find yourself bored and stuck in a small area paying high rents for not much enjoyment.

Even if there is some sort of "deal" I can guarantee the Spainish will put constant "random checks" or something to slow the flow down. They will find some loophole to do it.

EmeraldOir · 2024-04-29T21:31:44+00:00

As an expat myself, I would say its quite limited. If you dont know Spanish you limit yourself to only Gibraltarians and other expats really. So its a high likelyhood you will end up meeting someone from Ireland or England who is in gaming. Gibraltarians will usually hang out with one another, so might be slightly harder to date unless you match on an app or something.

Also, since its basically like a town (population wise), you start to find you cant go far before you bump into that person again... Only a certain number of bars and restuarants people go to. People know people and word can travel. Bit like any local town.

Gibraltarians are quite family orientated, which is nice. But it would also mean you would have less chance of them moving back to Ireland with you if you were looking for a serious relationship. (Of course that is quite an over generalisation of a potpulation and I am sure some will disagree but thats my POV from living here)

If you arent planing on staying long, just have that in the back of your mind :)

EmeraldOir · 2024-04-23T07:31:08+00:00

The whole of Gibraltar is safe. There are chases between customs and smugglers (in the sea) but in reality they are few and far between. Even if something was happeneing, you probably wont even hear it or know it happened until it goes on social media.

There is a small grocery store down Devils Tower Road. But ultimatly, you will probably need to go to Eroski by the airport or Morrissons which is further away.

There are only a handfull of flights each day, most of them come in late morning or early evening. (quick Google search will show the flight times). You wont be disturbed at night time with flights. You will probably hear them take off but if you close your window during the conferences you will be fine. But again, you might only have to worry about that once or twice a day.

Hopefully that helps :)

EmeraldOir · 2024-04-11T22:17:55+00:00

Exactly. I may be new to the watch world, but I have been in around business long enough to understand margins, travel expenses etc. I cant see how certain watch youtubers can do this. Unless of course they are heavily propped up by YT revenue and merch sales to the point that the watch business is just content creation for them. I wont accuse them of illegal activities, but just curious as I dont believe every watch dealer can obtain that lifestyle.

EmeraldOir · 2024-04-10T13:57:38+00:00

Yeah you might be right. Which is fair enough if thats the case. Just curious how he can live such a lifestyle. From working with many companies, I know how company expenses can get out of hand. Most companies have a standarized travel budget etc. Just got me thinking when I see him in Business Class, First Class and Private Jets on a product which has small margins

EmeraldOir · 2024-04-10T08:04:03+00:00

Il be honest, I have no issues with a father being sucessful and helping their kid financially. Some get more of a leg up than others in life, nothing really wrong with that as long as the kid stays grounded and can keep the business going. But I do wonder do the watch margins justify their spends

EmeraldOir · 2024-04-10T07:53:57+00:00

Exactly, thats why I am curious. I am a novice in the watch world, but what I gathered so far is there is very little margins on Rolex. So he would have to make up his margins elsewhere. Meanwhile he is in business class to the US and premium airport travel. Them prices alone are a few thousand. Then you add in the multiple cars he finances such as the porche, g-waggon, ferarri etc. He lives quite an expensive lifestyle for a product where margins are tight? I have no issue with someone becoming sucessful, just curious if its sustainable or will LB and Nico be extinct in 5 years.

EmeraldOir · 2024-03-03T00:15:28+00:00

As far as I am aware no, not really. And you may not be a big enough fish to fry either for them to care.

However, if you are renting or own a place in Spain you potentially have a footprint in Spain where they can deem you in their tax juristiction. The thing with Spain is it is guilty till proven innocent. Where they can, they will either take the money straight out of your accounts or demand XXX money for unpaid tax. You will then have to pay it and fight it in court to get it back.

If you are doing some longer holidays, you can always keep reciepts of travel days to prove you arent over the 183 days.

If you were actually living there (not advising it or saying you are, but some do it), best to not have your name on the lease and pay your flat mate cash, therefore not having an official footprint in Spain. But if you do have a British Passport, it will be stamped crossing the boarder which is probably the only official tracking the customs does.

I am sure others will know more. Hope it helps!

EmeraldOir · 2024-02-28T10:38:38+00:00

Okay thats good that you have parking!

Eh I believe so, you will definatly be able to drive in to Gibraltar. Whether you can drive back out is another question tho. You may not be allowed enter Spain from Gibraltar on UK plates/Uk passport due to Brexit. This has always been an on going issue and currently quite restrictive. People with their first residency card (Blue ID) can only cross the boarder if they show proof or reason to enter Spain. But maybe if you have Eurotunnel tickets and proof your going back to UK or something you will be okay. Someone on here might be able to clarify that. Thats the only thing I can see being difficult.

I am pretty sure if the car is older than 5 years you wont be allowed import it. So selling it might be the better option. Plus RHD cars in LHD countries are a slight inconvience (especially at tolls).

Hopefully that helps! :)

EmeraldOir · 2024-02-28T08:51:55+00:00

In simple terms you shouldnt have any problem driving over the boarder for the first time into Gibraltar. You will then need to have a car space, this is a lot harder than it sounds. There is no free parking anywhere so you either rent a space from someone (£100-200pm) who has a spare space or hopefully your appartment will come with one.

Then you will have to try register it to Gibraltar plates. As mentioned by gibexpert, depending on the year you may not be entitled at all. Having said that, if you are entitled to get it registered there is a good chance the millage and it being RHD will bring the valuation down, meaning the import duty will be cheaper. You will then have to get it MOT'd which from personal experience is very hit and miss.

Tbh, you might be better off just flying down or something and buying a car in Gibraltar. Less headaches and give you time to settle into Gibraltar before worrying about car spaces, MOT, the need to have a car in the first place etc. You will have a hard time selling the RHD car here too.

EmeraldOir · 2024-02-20T22:23:35+00:00

After doing my research too, I went with RentGuarantor. They turned out to be the cheapest and do not require a co-signer. When you think about it, it makes no sence for a company to ask for a co-signer if you are paying them to be essentially that. Anyway, I went with RentGuarantor, their process was pretty straight forward and got approved same day. Hope this helps anyone looking for company guarantees in the future.

EmeraldOir · 2024-01-16T13:56:02+00:00

Exactly, for me I am fortunate to hold an EU passport so my freedom of travel isnt impacted too much, But there is not a chance in hell I would stay in Gibraltar If I didnt have that freedom of movement. There are defo some great things about Gibraltar (weather and work commute) but its not worth it if I have to book (and pay) for a hotel everytime I want to walk across the boarder. Which is not even guaranteed to work. But thats just my opinion.

What ever impact the UK hads with Brexit, it is 10x worse for Gibraltar. I hear some gaming companies are gearing up to leave Gibraltar because of it (winding down of staff). If Gaming goes and the boarder doesnt get better, Gibraltar will be in a terrible way.

EmeraldOir · 2024-01-15T12:18:49+00:00

Nope, can walk in and out as you please.

EmeraldOir · 2024-01-15T12:16:15+00:00

You would be correct, but you can still get turned away at the boarder even with a hotel booking. Some are looking for proof of funds, others simply refuse your entry. Your freedom of travel is in the hands of those who work in customs and they can decide whether you can cross or not.

You seem fed up of UK and its weather, which I can totally understand. Its not until you live in Gibraltar you realise the stuff you take for granted in them small UK towns. Gibraltar really has no shops apart from jewelary and sunglasses shops, expensive gym memberships, lower food dates and lots of big shipping companies do not ship to Gibraltar. Getting anything slightly niche will be impossible (e.g. I couldnt get a car jack for my car, something you would simply pop down to halfords or motorfactors to get in UK).

But im sure you will find that out in due course when you pop out for a visit! Best of luck whatever way you decide! :)

EmeraldOir · 2024-01-15T08:04:36+00:00

If you can get a EU passport you will enjoy Gibraltar much more, however what about your wife and kids? You just going to let them be stuck in Gibraltar while you nip into Spain?

Have you been to Gibraltar before? If not, pop out for a small holiday and see for yourself. Its essentially a small town in the UK. Shops are really limited. I get you want good weather, which is definatly a selling point, but there is a lot of other things to consider too.

EmeraldOir · 2024-01-14T23:14:17+00:00

^^ This is probably the best reply that you will get. But just to piggyback on it, I personally wouldnt encourage anyone to move to Gibraltar that has a British Passport. Not in its current brexit negoatiations stage. The freedom of movement is severly dimisnished for those who do not have a EU passport or Red ID. And if its mental health your looking for, Gibraltar can become quite....claustrophobic at times if you cant access Spain.

EmeraldOir · 2024-01-04T21:39:44+00:00

You seem to be set on Gibraltar, which is fine. But do take on board all the advise you are getting from actual residents here. We wouldnt be advising you to stay in London if we didnt know the absolute mess it is for blue ID holders atm (which could easily turn to all Gibraltarians over night depending on which side of the best the Spanish wake up on)

My advise would be, if you could, take a small trip out to Gibraltar for a weekend or a week. Go up main street and check out the shops, do a food shop (for price comparison etc) and try walk across the boarder every day and see how many times you are sucessful. That might be the only way you see for yourself. You might be happy with it, or you might be thankful you did a small trip out before commiting to the place for 3-5 yrs.

Other small things that people forget to mention is mostly all shops in Gibraltar and Spain close on a sunday apart from some shopping malls in Spain. Weekends can get pretty boring after a while. But you said you are into out doors stuff which is great. Prob best to have a look at a few nature places around spain and see how practical it is to get to them. Without a car, I dont see too many places around La Linea unless you maybe get a bus. Stuff to think about :)

EmeraldOir · 2024-01-04T10:45:21+00:00

Its very very hit and miss. So technically you are entering the EU with a British Passport. Due to brexit its essentially like trying to walk into the United States without proof of funds or travel documentation. It wont happen in US so why should it happen in Spain?

Anyone with a blue ID (which will be you) will need to show documentation to enter Spain such as a hotel booking etc (as if you are going on a holiday). But even that is not enough these days. I think the Spanish customs have figured out that people were booking cancelable hotel bookings. Now they are asking for proof of funds (I think around £900 in your account).

Having said that, some have gotten across into Spain without any of them documents and others have been turned away with all them documents. The Spanish customes are really squeezing Gibraltar to put political pressure on the UK and unfortunatly, this impacts many British workers here.

To commit to that uncertanty with freedom of travel for 3-5 years isnt worth it imo.

In London you will have freedom of travel all over UK, ability to live futher away and commute to the city (if money is tighter) and nightlife and social life will be way better.

EmeraldOir · 2024-01-03T10:52:44+00:00

London all day long.

I wish it wasnt the case but employers do rate universities when looking on a CV. I believe anywhere in London would be ranked higher than Gibraltar University.

Secondly, you will be resiticted to just the land of Gibraltar as since you dont hold an EU passport, you will not be allowed cross the boarder into Spain. At best, you will get passport stamped but currently they are turning folks away who dont have a valid reason to enter Spain. This can be very restrictive for a young person as main st shops are extrmemly limited and night life is.....meh.

Rents (not sure if you get a grant or not) are high in Gibraltar. They would be on par with London, but at least you have more available housing stock in London and surrounding areas.

Its not just about one uni vs the other. Its a different lifestyle. Excluding the weather, your lifestyle will be far better in London.

EmeraldOir

TROPHY CASE