We all know its a bit of a struggle with anything less than 250K but we are in difficult times and I guess we all need to learn to adapt.
I'm still waiting for the question on whether the OP can survive in Zurich on SFr. 140K.
Addressing a few things mentioned
Director (UBS)/VP (CS) used to given away with breakfast cereal.
One of the banks reviewed roles/responsibilities and downgraded folk. They kept the title (it's contractual) but otherwise you'd be one of the proles again.
At director level in IT risk you'd be running the team. And should know better then to post on a public forum where your future minions are liable to read about it. There's a *risk* right there.
If it's not a real managerial position then I'm in the wrong job of course.
My dealings with IT risk convinced me that it's full of folk too stupid/IT illiterate/unable-to-give-definitive-answers to be coders, project managers, or even IT auditors. Unless you're paid to compensate for the fact that we'll all hate you.
Seriously, as for salary: it's what you negotiate and what they're prepared to pay. It's a buyers market generally if you hadn't noticed...
And what you earn elsewhere is irrelevant. Tax rates alone in France compared to Zurich make it obvious they can pay less than what you expect. You did research this, right?
hahahahahahahahaha yeah right
You've obviously never worked at credit suisse........
You are only worth what somebody is willing to pay you !