Escape to Luxembourg

"Ireland is one of the best places to find experts in fund administration," says Jean-Marc Benker, head of the Belgian and Luxembourg affiliates of recruitment firm Robert Walters. "Our Luxembourg clients often have subsidiaries in Dublin: the roles are very similar."

Robert Walters has recently opened a website (www.robertwalters.com/funds) to help facilitate the flow of staff between Dublin and Luxembourg. Rival recruiters with Luxembourg operations appear equally keen to promote migration between the two cities: Badenoch & Clark is planning a seminar to inform Dublin's fund administration professionals of Luxembourg's appeal.

"People are attracted to Luxembourg by the lifestyle," says Richard Neale, head of the Luxembourg office of Badenoch & Clark. "It was voted the safest city in the world for 2004 and 2004, 35 days a year holiday are common, and it's possible to take day trips to Belgium, Germany and France for skiing or sightseeing."

There are also financial incentives to make the move. Although pay in Dublin has now caught up with pay in Luxembourg, recruiters says the country's low rate of taxation makes emigration financially advantageous. "Gross salaries here may not be higher, but personal rates of taxation are low - especially when you're married with kids, in which case they're virtually non-existent," says Benker.

Before migrating with your children, however, it's worth considering the issue of languages. Although business in Luxembourg is frequently conducted in English, you'll be at an advantage if you can also operate in French or German. "If you only speak English, it can be perceived as a limiting factor," says Benker.

On the other hand, with unemployment in the country of just 3.5%, Benker says Luxembourg employers are in no position to be choosy, so Dubliners who can't converse in French about corporate actions should still apply.

The only other deterrent may be the weather: Dublin may be cold and damp, but in Luxembourg it's currently 2 degrees and snowing.