16300 QR a month in a big 4 office - is it good?
Hi All,
I am Tunisian, 32 years old, Tax Consultant in a multinational in charge of North & West Africa region and former Tax assistant in Deloitte (1 year Deloitte + 2 year multinational).
I am also an academic teacher of financial accounting.
I have been offered a position of Tax Senior Consultant in a Big 4 in Doha and I wanted to know if it is good.
I am single.
The offers provides a total salary (inclusive of housing and transport allowances) of 16 300 Qr a month (53 K USD yearly). The fist offer was of 14 500 QR but I managed to negotiate a little but.
I addition the office will pay the first 4 weeks for my stay in hotel upon my arrival, they will sponsor 1 or 2 round-trip ticket a year, full medical coverage (except dentist - don't know why), life insurance, accidents, End of year Bonus...
I wanted to know if that offer is good and is worth that I abandon everything for it. (we can say that I have an average life in Tunisia).
Will I be able to have a good life and make some savings?
What is the min salary that I would need in the case that this offer is "not good"?
Knowing that I smoke, drink alcohol, not fan of parties but once in a month is ok. I am gamer and I can stay without going out for 2 or 3 months in a raw (Work ----> Beer ---> world of Warcraft).
Thanks in advance for your help
That does not make any sense. Perhaps I am wrong, but whether a company or individual - both are able to issue an NOC if they so wish
Re- I discussed with my employer regarding the NOC and he advise that I will not be liable to it.
Noting that my Kafil (in the Visa) in a company and not a person.
Do you have any idea? Should I trust him or do I need to be more carefull?
Thanks.
Razzhil: you' re talking about Non Competing Clause in your contract that prohibit you to move to/work for any company of similar business that is competing with your employer to-be.
NOC is something else. Without a NOC from your current employer you can not work in ANY kind of company in Qatar.
You should be fine with that salary. I recommend you accept the offer.
Yacine, Clear no issues with my life style, I m in forum here so I can say whatever I want with staying anounymous :p
I have 3 years experience as professional and 2 years as academic teacher.
What is the total years of experience you have?
The NOC is different and that clause is bullshit anyway as you can join whatever company you want after you leave them and they have no authority on you legally. That said what they can do is that they can refuse to release you to a competitor and force you to go back to Tunisia and stay there 2 years at least before you can come back.
Also, by saying you are not fit for life here, I meant here the country is conservative and even talking about yourself drinking beer with your Arab/local colleagues will be frowned upon. You should be cautious and discrete with things like pork and alcohol even though you are allowed to have them. You will need a permit from your employer to get them though, but I think most companies will give you that. Bear in mind that alcohol is expensive here. You do not want to ruin your savings plan with your drinking habit. :)
Basically, this provision excludes firms other that large accounting or business advisory firm (i.e KPMG, EY, Price, Mckinsy, Mazars...). So I can join every other type of company (Cars companies, IT companies, Medicales....)
My Field is Finance / accounting / Tax Consulting.
I understand the part of they will not release me but based on the contract, I can confirm that the restriction is only for other professional services firm (not including, other companies, meaning I can join IBM or Microsoft...as accountant, finance, tax). Here is the exact text of the clause "the Employee acknowledges, agrees, undertakes and covenants that it shall not engage in employment or other professional activity, either directly or indirectly, by way of subcontract, consultancy agreement or otherwise, with any other large accounting or business advisory firm or organisation, including its successors, that provides professional services in competition with the Employer in the territory/country and for the period referred".
other than that its a good deal to start with i hope you enjoy ;)
well i agree with u i think a senior within Your experience (but notice i have no knowledge into your field of work or its positions) shall get more regardless to his social status , this suggest the valid next question about raises , on a basis of a very personal experiment i tell that clause you mentioned means they will not release you what so ever to any company having a role in your field even in anther position unrelated to Your current position
Hi Yacine, thanks but not sure that I get what you lean by "fit for the life in Doha", can you clarify?
@Summerlight, thanks.
@Britex Thanks for the link, but it does not fit to what I ve founf in my research:
Housing: 6000
Car rental / Costs: 1500
Personnal expenses: 3000
Other expenses (variable): 1000
That gives 12000 a month.
But the question is also how good is this offer, regarding NOC as stated there's no restriction to join another company if its not a professional service firm.
Honestly from the description you do not seem to be fit for a life in Doha. Also, from your experience you can get a better salary if you wait a little bit and apply in a different company. That said, and as someone mentioned above, ask if they will give you the NOC and are willing to commit to it in the contract.
Hi Amaghrebi, Thanks for your feedback.
I've made some calculations and I would need 5,5k to 6k for furnished 1 room apt or Studio, 3k for myself and 1,5k for the car (I will take a used car..) this gives an average of 11k to 12k per month for a descent life which leaves me 4K (1000 USD) for savings and extra-expenses if any.
Do you confirm this? or maybe I am under / over estimating the number?
Not sure if its a good offer for a senior position in a big 4.
For the question related to leaving this office, there's an anti-concurrence clause that prevents me to join another big professional services firm (but I m used to this and it is the same thing in Tunisia) but nothing is specified if I want to join a company as back-office or manager. The restriction only applies to other concurrent consulting firms.
It is all subjective and dependent on your lifestyle. There are many who live on a lot less..
See link below - It will give you guidance
http://www.qatarliving.com/forum/advice-help/posts/cost-living-doha-2015
6-8K per month for a good 2 BR apt rental. food/gas cheap.
for a family with kids its a very different story specially schools prices are astronomical
well u need to know that if u need one proper bedroom unfurnished apartment (very hard to aquire for a single) it may start minimally from 4000 and any resident in Qatar also have the above health benefit but its butter if they provide u with free access to private hospitals because you may wait an average of 3 hours in the governmental hospitals jut to get a physician to look at u and as mobile connection u ll need a minimum of 300-600 per month if u dont use ur phone alot , anyway i think its a good offer but ask if they ll give u NOC (to transfer from a company to a company without getting kicked out of qatar for two years) when u need it and let them write it in the contract if possible for personal budjet you ll need minimum 3000 and a car loan of minimum 2000 per month because here u cant live with out it ( taxis very expensive , mass transit is not available where u need )