Beth shares her experience of moving to Alderney while working remotely for a Guernsey finance company.
What is your current job/jobs?
I currently work remotely on Alderney for a large privately-owned fiduciary business based in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. The company sets up and administers trust, company and family office structures for high net worth (HNW) individuals around the world, and I help those customers find tax-efficient ways to manage their finances.
I’ve been working for this company for about six years, of which the last three have been fully remote. I moved from living in Guernsey to living in Alderney, but kept the same job. My employer wasn’t resistant to this change at all – once they understood that this was just a chance of address within the Bailiwick and that payroll, tax and employment conditions all remained the same, they were fully supportive.
What do you enjoy about your current job?
My work is really varied, and some days can involve helping clients with transferring funds or assets; dealing with family changes, adjusting a portfolio to better meet client goals (such as aiming for growth vs stability) or working with tax or legal specialists on particularly complex aspects.
I really enjoy working remotely, and have found it a good way to manage my work-life balance. I set up a desk and screen in a space in my home (complete with a ‘Britney Spears’ style headset!) and find it quite easy as an experienced worker to communicate with clients and team members. Working remotely on Alderney gives a great work-life balance – I can swim in the sea each morning and still be at my desk easily in time for work. And there are no traffic jams, except when two people stop to talk to each other!
I also really like the fact that my skills are in demand. Working in this sector for a Guernsey company has meant that I could take time out to pursue further education (I did an additional degree, this time in Sports Science), and also go travelling for several years. When I returned, I was able to find a job in the same sector very quickly, because the skills and experience were very transferrable.
What has your career path been/how did you end up in your current job? What skills and qualifications have you obtained and found most useful?
I first started in audit, but moved into trust and company work which is more variable and exciting. When I first began work there wasn’t much guidance available, but these days there are many more clear processes and procedures to follow, so it’s easier to get started.
I had a degree in Business and Finance, but you don’t need a specific degree to get started – or even a degree at all! Employers will often pay for staff to get qualifications on the job, and most people will follow a qualification with an organisation like STEP (https://www.step.org) to gain a diploma or similar. Although you may have to sign a training contract, this is often very flexible and if you move employers often the new employer will pay off your training contract with the old one.
There are many opportunities in finance, from accountancy to joining the regulator. If anyone has questions about a career in finance, do get in touch with the team at the Hub and I can give some guidance.
What are your next career or education plans?
I’m thinking about a move into Property Management in the future – watch this space!
What was your motivation to move to Alderney?
My family had strong connections to Alderney already, as my grandfather lived here before the war and was evacuated during it. We often came over the Alderney for family holidays, and when our circumstances were suitable we jumped at the chance. We were able to afford a ‘doer-upper’ property in Alderney, which we couldn’t have afforded in Guernsey.
Alderney is still like Guernsey was when I was younger – there is such a strong community feel with regular events like jumble sales, we don’t have to lock our doors and everybody waves, whether they know you or not. If someone fell over, everyone would be there to help, not walking by on the other side of the street.
Do you work remotely? If so, what do you find are the benefits and drawbacks?
I find remote working from Alderney very effective, and there have been some useful lessons I have learned. Initially when I started, I have to think more about communication, and use the phone instead of walking round the office to see people. Verbal communication is still really important remotely, and you should think about the person at the other end too – are they in an open plan office which might make it difficult for them to take a Teams call?
It was easier as an experienced staff member to manage remote working – junior staff or new starters would need more guidance, and I think new starters should spend some time in the office with the rest of the team for the first couple of months, to make sure they know the people and processes. Nowadays, as an experienced remote worker, I only need to pop into the office once every few months to catch up with people face to face.