Miller Hay
2015 Salary Survey
‘Many aspire to change the world but few realise that everyone accomplishes that goal’
Middle East Recruitment
Current Market Trends This report provides an overview and analysis of salary and benefit trends observed during the past 12 months in the UAE business support market. We have also examined placements by industry sector and it can be concluded that Legal, Financial Services and Banking have been the most active during the past year for Miller Hay. Below we have highlighted some specific trends that have become very apparent in recent months. Processes In recent months, the recruiting processes for business support roles (Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants, Office Managers, etc.) have become very drawn out. With the UAE’s robust economic climate, notably after Dubai’s successful bid to host Expo 2020, clients have a far greater talent pool from which to choose. The result is that more candidates are being interviewed to fill each vacancy and multiple interviews with senior management are being scheduled by clients, prior to reaching a hiring decision. In addition, as the salary demands of the candidates increase, the hiring criteria of the clients become very specific, which further adds to the length of time it takes to secure a new hire. This has a knock-on effect and in many cases clients who draw out the process for too long will lose the highcalibre candidates to other companies who have more agile hiring practices.
benefits, e.g., enhanced medical cover and annual travel benefits for the employee and their spouse / immediate family.
Remuneration / Salary Packages Salaries are steadily increasing due the rising cost of living in the UAE, particularly the escalating cost of accommodation in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In many cases, employers are choosing to increase the housing/accommodation allowance rather than the staff member’s basic salary, which gives the company the flexibility to adjust the housing allowance in the event that the market stabilizes. By increasing the housing allowance as opposed to the basic salary, the hiring company protects itself from having to pay higher gratuity settlements for staff members that are leaving the company. Another way which employers are attracting and retaining talent, while still managing their bottom line, is to offer attractive supplementary
Top Tier Professional Support For very select, senior EA roles we have seen dramatic salary increases. These EA’s would typically be supporting CEO and Chairman level executives or High Nett Worth Individuals (HNWI). Salaries demanded by EA’s of this calibre range from AED 30,000 – AED 60,000 per month in addition to highly attractive benefits. While this salary range may seem inflated, the duties and responsibilities of these EA’s are far-reaching and highly demanding, these are true 24/7 roles and require the EA to be on call at all times.
Legal Support There is a constant and unwavering demand for experienced Legal Secretaries in the UAE, particularly those who are native English speakers. The Legal Secretaries who are looking for a new role are aware of their favourable position in the market, resulting in salaries being inflated to secure top talent. Clients are also more willing to counter-offer when their desired candidate has a competing offer from another company, occasionally resulting in a bidding war. Another market trend is the increased use of technical testing in the hiring process for Legal Secretaries, which highlights the differences in various candidates’ abilities.
Industry Analysis The pie chart below illustrates the percentage of placements by industry during 2014 in Miller Hay. It can be seen that the most active industry last year was Legal with 24.3% of our placements in this industry followed by Financial Services at 12.1% and Banking at 9.3%. Private Office
1.9%
Financial Services
Banking
9.3%
12.1%
Media
5.6% Hospitality
Private Equity
1.9%
11.2% Advisory
Executive Search
5.6%
Placements by Industry (%)
3.7%
Construction
Management Consulting
6.5%
0.9%
Oil & Gas/Engineering
1.9% Security
4.7%
Legal
Holding Groups
24.3%
2.8%
Retail
Manufacturing
4.7%
FMCG
1.9%
0.9%
Salary Range (per month AED) During the past 12 months Miller Hay have been gathering data and information on remuneration and benefits by industry. Below is a summary of salary ranges in our busiest industry sectors, on the next page we have given a comprehensive overview of benefit options in the UAE also. Finanical Services / Banking
Legal Firms (US/UK)
Management Consultancy
High Networth Individual / Private Office / CEO Executive Search
Receptionist Personal Assistant Executive Assistant Arabic EA/PA Receptionist Legal Secretary Arabic Legal Secretary Office Manager Receptionist Personal Assistant Executive Assistant Arabic EA Personal/Executive Assistant Executive Assistant
Minimum 12, 000 18,000 20,000 22,000 10,000 18,000 22,000 27,000 10,000 17,000 20,000 18,000 22,000 16,000
Maximum 15,000 22,000 33,000 38,000 15,000 28,000 26,000 35,000 14,000 20,000 25,000 25,000 60,000 24,000
Benefits Summary Benefits Medical
Life Insurance Flight/Travel
Bonus
Housing
Travel Education Stock/Shares Gratuity Holidays
Car Park
Complimentary Meals Relocation
Variations Compulsory that the employer provides this as per UAE law. Options: Company cover the cost for the employee, spouse and dependents Company cover the cost for the employee only but allow them to add family members to the policy at their own expense Not compulsory. Option: 1-4 times annual salary At companies discretion. Options: • Allowance paid in salary on a monthly basis to contribute to the cost • Company book flight once per year (sometime restrictions at peak times) • The employee books their own flight and the company re imburse the cost • Offered after the employee completes 1 year of service • Usually Economy class At companies discretion – can be based on the company performance, employee performance or completely discretionary. Options: • % of annual basic salary • % of total annual renumeration • Bonus to the value of 1-3 months basic salary • Bonus to the value of 1-3 months total renumeration • No bonus Paid in monthly salary. Options: • Salary received on a monthly basis is usually split 60:40 or 70:30. The lesser percent represents living allowances (housing and travel) and the remainder is the basic salary • Interest free loan every year • Interest free loan for the first year • Interest free loan calculated as a % of employee salary Paid in monthly salary. Salary received on a monthly basis is usually split 60:40 or 70:30. The lesser percent represents living allowances (housing and travel) and the remainder is the basic salary. Very unusual, a select number of companies offer it at this level. If offered it is for 1-3 children. No Yes, usually paid as % of annual basic salary. This means the living allowance (housing and travel) allocation is not included in the calculation. Options: • Mimimum holiday allowance is 20 days • Most common holiday allowance is 22-25 days • On a rare occasion companies do offer more than 25 days • Some companies offer an additional holiday day after each calendar year of service • Discretionary leave for religious holidays Options: • Not offered - employee’s responsibility to organise it • Free parking - usually dependant on company location • Parking allowance - employees are reimburse for RTA Municipality parking. Cost: 400-700 AED for 3 months • Parking allowance to rent a space in the company building or the allowance can be taken in cash when their salary is paid each month Sometimes offered, not standard. In certain cases if employees are asked to work through lunch or early morning food is provided Not standard. Option: 1 month accommodation, flight and container – not necessarily all offered
About Miller Hay Miller Hay is a Dubai based recruitment company that specialises in placing professional office support staff. Our original focus was in the financial services, legal and accountancy sectors within the region and they remain crucial to our success, but as our reputation for quality service and delivery has spread we have gained exposure to other sectors including FMCG, oil & gas, private offices and pharmaceutical. Our History Miller Hay was founded in 2007 by Philippa Hay. New Zealand born Ms. Hay is a recruitment professional with over fifteen years’ experience in placing professional office support staff in various sectors across Europe, Australasia and the Middle East. Miller Hay relocated to the Dubai International Financial Centre in 2012, where it remains the only specialist recruitment firm that focuses solely on office support staff. About Miller Hay Since our formation Miller Hay has gained an unrivalled reputation in the local market for our levels of service, responsiveness and our pursuit of excellence, all underpinned by our employees’ passion and pride in their work. Miller Hay’s staff value the strong relationships they build with both clients and candidates alike, seeking and attracting the very best in both.
Recruitment Services Miller Hay is engaged by senior management and human resources departments to place staff in line with structured growth plans or to build capability for clients new to the Middle East market. Sourcing from within the UAE and other financial and commercial centres around the world, candidates are personally screened by Miller Hay’s recruitment team, their credentials rigorously checked and their technical competencies challenged all prior to meeting a client. If required, candidates also undergo psychometric testing. With a passion for uncompromising quality, Miller Hay has a market-leading reputation for providing an honest, transparent and personal service where the long term needs of clients take priority over all else.
Leadership Team With over fifteen years’ experience in recruiting professional office support staff for the financial, accounting and law sectors, Miller Hay offers a unique and personal service. Philippa Hay Managing Director and Founder
Jessica Owens Managing Consultant
With over fifteen years’ international experience in recruiting professional office support staff, Philippa Hay offers a unique depth and breadth of recruitment experience in the UAE. Philippa has lived and worked all over the world throughout her recruitment career to date. She has been in the UAE since 2002 and throughout that time has been an instrumental figure within the ever-growing professional office support recruitment market.
Jessica Owens is one of the key figures within the Miller Hay team. Having worked in Ireland and the UAE Jessica brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the company. With integrity, dedication, drive and her strive for excellence Jessica is an integral part of Miller Hay since joining in early 2014.
Prior to relocating to Dubai, Philippa worked for a number of years within recruitment in the United Kingdom and Australasia. She has travelled extensively both personally and professionally. She recently attended an Art in Business Programme at Sotheby’s in London where she focused on Islamic Art. Her undergraduate degree was in Education and her postgraduate diploma was in Business Administration.
Prior to relocating to Dubai Jessica gained international recruitment experience, she has been successful in partnering with clients across Europe and AsiaPac. Jessica is dedicated and passionate about delivering tailor made solutions to her clients. She holds a Bachelors (Hons) Degree in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and has been published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry as part of her thesis.
About Miller Hay’s Pattern Miller Hay’s proprietary pattern is a fusion of its New Zealand heritage and Arabian culture, inspiring prosperity and good fortune.
W: www.millerhay.com | E: office@millerhay.com | T: +971 4 388 7467 | F: +971 4 388 7463 Al Fattan Currency House, Tower 1, Level 1, Office 114, DIFC, PO Box 506761, Dubai, United Arab Emirates