Big 4 Audit SM Job Offer Dubai
 

Hi I’m a SM in Audit in Canada with 13 years experience. And recently got offer for SM audit role at a big 4 in Dubai for 35k AED plus allowance for annual flights plus 70% kids education.

In my office we don’t have a director role but understand that in the Middle East it is normal before partner. I feel the offer is low given my experience and frankly I should be a director so wanted to check with others if this is reasonable and how to potentially negotiate and push back?

Would appreciate any insight as this will be a pivotal change in career.

Re: Big 4 Audit SM Job Offer Dubai
 

We live in KSA rather than Dubai but I wouldn't want to be there for that kind of money on my own, let alone with a family. It's a recruiter's market at the moment though, salaries are definitely being pushed down by the amount of people that want to make the move. Do your numbers and see if you can make it work while saving some money.

Re: Big 4 Audit SM Job Offer Dubai
 

First, don't ever take anything they tell you as true. Directors do exist in the Big 4 there and this is likely just bait.

Second, a two bedroom in Dubai, last I looked a year and a bit ago, sets you back something like 12-15k pm alone. The remaining 20k will go on daily life, (expensive and boring) entertainment and inevitable frequent flights elsewhere because you will go insane if you spend the whole year there. In other words, you may break even but not really save much unless you are super frugal, which is, for aforementioned reasons of boredom, fairly difficult.

Third, if you are a SM in Canada, you are way overqualified to be a SM in Dubai. The Big 4 in the Gulf is, shall we say, not quite the same as in North America/Europe in terms of quality. As a SM and even director, you will do a lot of junior work and be expected to also perform usual SM/Director roles (client management, sales, admin). This is so because the juniors will be local and frankly even Chat GPT will do a better job than them, yet you will be expected to delegate, then rework their crap and praise them for their excellent efforts.

Thus, if you are a decent performing SM in Canada, you are likely qualified to be a Director as a minimum. Even then, it would be a frustrating role. Going for a SM is not worth it at all in my view. If you are still really bent on going there, ask for a Director position and 50k pm + existing benefits on offer.