Themalteser

Hello everyone,
My wife and I have been thinking about moving to France, Bordeaux area to be precise.

I am a qualified chartered accountant and my wife works in employment law. We also have 2 children ages 6 and 10.

My question is, I am concerned about employment in France as, since I know little French, I may not get a job offer. I was thinking about getting a contract work or employment in London area and I commute weekly from Bordeaux to London at first.

I would like to continue working as an accountant, but I don't care in doing anything else in the meantime.

I welcome your suggestions.

EuroTrash

You don't say where you're moving from. Malta? The UK?

Either way, unfortunately both of you have professions that aren't easily transferable. Being a qualified chartered accountant in the UK will not get you a job as an expert comptable in France because accounting and auditing procedures are different here from in the UK. Company structures are different, taxation is different, fiscal law is different. You would need French qualifications to practise and even if you were prepared to go back to school to requalify, it would need very good French.

Same with employment law, France has its own and it's probably more complicated than in most countries, in fact it's a minefield for the employer, employees so well protected.

People do commute from Dordogne back to the UK to work so that is an option, but it's very much a lifestyle choice and it doesn't suit everybody. It's hard on the one that commutes, but it's also hard on the one that stays here ad has to get to grips with settling the family into a new country, with very little help from their partner.

So it all depends on what you think you as a family stand to gain from a move to Bordeaux, what's the big attraction and how much sacrifice is it worth.

Of course there's the - that'll always help.

cyrian

Hello
The professions are very different in France and while some jobs may get by with limited french IMHO even if you were allowed to practice in France, you would need to be fluent in French.
How would you communicate with clients?
An expert comptable (a CA) is a prized job in France and as such is much sought after by the French.
The "Code de Travail" (employment law) is massive like a telephone directory or a large Bible which uses very complex and specific french.
I would stay in the UK - London if you must and enjoy holidays in France.
I am a retired professional and my qualification would not easily transfer to France and although my french is adequate, I would not have the fluency to practice in France.

Themalteser

Hello and thank you for your swift reply. I am actually moving from the UK, how do you know I'm Maltese ?

It's not easy. I am prepared to commute to a job in London and sustain a life in France. To be honest I used to stay away for week at a time from my family when I had work on projects with a large firm I used to work for and it was hard, but we got used to it in a way.

Being Maltese and lived in the UK for many years (my wife is English), I think that France has everything I love about! The standards of UK and the Maltese climate (in certain parts) etc.

I would also consider changing my career or do something different in France. I know it's easy said than done, but maybe there are jobs that need English speaking?

It seems a dream away at the moment. There are of course schools to consider. We looked at the Bordeaux international school. Also we need to rent a house at first etc.

What do other English speaking who moved to France do as a job? (Unless wealthy of course!)

Themalteser

Thank you Cyrian . It's definitely food for thought. I knew that being an accountant I will be very difficult in France and as you mentioned, fluency in French will definitely be a requirement!

I thought about moving to London area(borders) and be closer to France, to go on holidays much regularly . I live in the south west UK. The lifestyle really attracts me about France and that's why We were thinking about moving.

scrubbedexpat099

How long would it be before you will be fluent in French?

I know my Brother, also Chartered whilst based in the UK travelled a lot so maybe UK operation with a French sub?

Themalteser

I reckon it may take me about a year to be fairly fluent. Thats a good idea. I will have a look at subsidiary organisations in France.

dmu

+1
Wouldn't the OP have to look into the questions of healthcare coverage and Income Tax, if he's working in the UK and his family is resident in France?

Welcome to the Forum, Themalteser!

Themalteser

Thank you dmu - again, that's very good question! I will probably be UK taxed and also French tax because of residency, unless there is a double treaty. Re: healthcare, that's a very good question, especially that I need an annual heart check with a possibility of surgery in the future!

EuroTrash

Healthcare for him and his dependents would be covered by the NHS if he's working in the UK and paying NICs.
Income tax... but he's an accountant
PS yes there is a DTA between France and the UK.

Themalteser

That's great, so that won't be an issue as I would just be taxed UK tax.

Healthcare under NHS is good, but we will not be in the French system, as we won't be contributing to the French NI equivalent. So we would need to pay privately, I suppose, for any treatments in France. I am not sure whether the NHS will cover this under EU. I also have private UK health insurance, so worth me checking whether that covers any treatments abroad. Unlikely though.

scrubbedexpat099

Dependents will not be in UK.

EuroTrash

If you are working and paying NICs in the UK, the UK is obliged under EU rules to cover you and your dependents in whatever EU state you live in. What this means in practical terms is that the French system covers you and reclaims the costs of your treatment from the UK. However, French healthcare is not generally free at the point of delivery, so you'd need to pay the part that isn't rembursed (usually around 30 per cent) either yourself, or take out top up insurance which is what most people do.

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens...r/index_en.htm
click on Working in one country, living in another

Themalteser

This is extremely helpful information and link, thank you very much.

dmu

Just to clarify, every one (unless they are under CMU/PUMA) pays up front for consultations (at present 23€ for a G.P., 28€ for a specialist) and, without a Carte Vitale, they also pay for medicines/blood tests/physiotherapy/examinations, etc... Using the 'Feuilles de Soins' that the practitioner will give as a receipt, the 70% is reimbursed some time later.
Highly recommended to take out a Mutuelle (top-up insurance) esp. with children and ongoing health issues.
On another subject, your 10 year old is at the "awkward age" to consider going into French State School and would indeed be better in an International School, but your 6 year old would have no problem starting school in French Primaire. Take a look at the Schooling thread in the Read-Me: Moving to France FAQs above!