Recruitment - Accountancy Age

Recruitment and salaries to pick up, say accountants

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:27:00 GMT

MORE THAN HALF of finance professionals expect their companies to hire at the start of 2012. Morgan McKinley's survey of 350 senior accounting and HR professionals found 52% expect recruitment at the start of the year. Some 48% expect their salaries to increase, with a further 14% expecting salaries to grow elsewhere in the business. More than half (58%) anticipate bonuses will be up to 20% of base salaries...

Resign, or re-sign?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:01:13 GMT

Accountancy Age

IN THE LAST YEAR, accountants who have been forced to put up with negligible salary growth have found themselves facing an unfamiliar but, on the face of it, very welcome new phenomenon - the counter-offer. Counter-offers are salary rises given by employers to tempt resigning employees to stay. This year, our research shows that almost one in four accountants have on resigning been given a counter-offer - a rise from less than one...

Government-backed accounting apprenticeship launched

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:39:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

A NEW government-backed accounting apprenticeship scheme has been launched. The Professional Services Higher Apprenticeships Programme will offer a route into tax, audit and management consulting. A consortium including lead organisation PwC, ATT, ICAEW, the Management Consultancies Association, the Financial Skills Partnership and training provider BPP, will provide the schemes. Around 1,500 apprenticeships are expected to commence by March 2015. The launch is part of a wider announcement...

School leavers rush to numbercrunching roles

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:46:54 GMT

Accountancy Age

SO DOOM AND CONFUSION persist. It seems that, three years after the first, we're on the brink of another banking crisis and I for one am worried about my Dad's pension (although he seems to be more worried about having enough beer money). But there is at least one group of people for whom this time of year signifies a time of hope, expectation and the start of the next phase of their...

Accountancy job growth 'worst in industry'

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:06:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

ACCOUNTANCY JOBS are growing at the slowest rate of any financial sector, according to new data from eFinancialCareers. Professional services including accounting and finance and consultancy expanded 9% quarter-on-quarter, compared with a 150% spike in the number of new equities-focused posts. Capital markets and research also offered good opportunities for new jobs, while private banking and wealth management displayed expansion at a similar rate to accountancy. James Bennett, eFinancialCareers'...

Back to school for firms' recruitment plans?

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:01:43 GMT

Accountancy Age

ONE OF THE biggest challenges that accountancy firms have to deal with is finding the right people. Now, with tuition fees going up (not going to get into whether it's right or wrong just now, I'm undecided - ideally education should be free, but then again why shouldn't those who benefit the most pay for it, I do) it looks like we'll be seeing fewer graduates in future. Should we be...

New CFO recruited at troubled Healthcare Locums

Tue, 10 May 2011 09:21:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

TROUBLED MEDICAL RECRUITMENT BUSINESS Healthcare Locums has recruited a new CFO. Colin Whipp takes the reins after former CFO Diane Jervis resigned following a suspension. Jervis and vice-chairman Kate Bleasdale were suspended earlier this year, after the company uncovered accounting irregularities. Whipp will also become chief restructuring officer. He was previously called to Leaseway Vehicle Rental by its lenders Lloyds Banking in August 2010, following the discovery of falsified accounts. Subsequently...

Public accounting body strays into recruitment

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:07:01 GMT

Accountancy Age

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING institute CIPFA is to branch out into recruitment, supplying permanent finance staff at all levels, as well as interim HR professionals. The new business will reportedly draw upon a pool of more than 2,500 professionals, and the expansion could be seen as a natural extension of its established interim financial recruitment offering. Gill Kelly, associate director of the new arm, said: "We are delighted to be able to offer...

The truth is out there, but so is loads of other stuff

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 06:01:10 GMT

Accountancy Age

I WOULD SAY I Google myself about once a month. Now, I’m sure many people who know me would say that’s, er, less than they expected. But I’m not doing it for ego reasons. A lot of people Google my name before they visit me, and it’s worth knowing what they are going to read before they do – because sometimes, some of the stuff might not be what you want to be...

Deloitte creates 125 jobs in Belfast

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:59:13 GMT

Accountancy Age

DELOITTE is to create 125 new jobs in Belfast over the next two years, primarily through the establishment of a software-focused National Solution Centre. Glenn Roberts, senior partner in North Ireland, said the move "represents a significant investment for Northern Ireland and is testament to the skilled workforce here". The centre will focus on development, testing, analytics and application support, with 25 of the posts based in a separate research institute...

Nick Willis takes senior partner role at George Hay

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:02:42 GMT

Accountancy Age

NICK WILLIS has taken the senior partner role at accountancy firm George Hay. Willis succeeds Eddie Fuller, who steps down at the end of the month. Willis joined George Hay in 1977 and was made partner in 1987. He specialises in advising small and medium-sized businesses. Willis is also a member of the UK200Group and chairs its membership service committee. He said he was looking forward to helping the...

Travelling man

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:13:01 GMT

Accountancy Age

I'M NOT SAYING that telling your family you are going to move to Mongolia for your career is ever going to be the easiest discussion you will have, but it may be one of the more important. I’ve said this before, and I’m sure I will say it again, but as the world gets smaller, so international experience becomes more and more useful. As your finance career develops, it is likely that you...

From a jack to a king

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:24:07 GMT

Accountancy Age

WITHIN THE UK, the top performers in finance still provide the largest pool of potential candidates for promotion to MD, highlighting just how important the finance profession has become to businesses today. Recently there have been several high-profile appointments where FDs have been promoted to central leadership roles – including former Halfords FD Nick Wharton, who was recently appointed as the chief executive of the Dunelm Group; and Ian Dyson, former Group FD at Marks...

Working towards diversity

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:24:21 GMT

Accountancy Age

PWC ANNOUNCED RECENTLY that it wants to set targets to radically increase the number of women and ethnic minorities at partner level within its organisation over the next decade. From its current figure of 14% it has suggested a target figure of 20%, but with an aspirational goal of 40%-50%. They insist that this will not be about positive discrimination, but about focusing on its leadership programme and encouraging women back to work after maternity...

Titanium Research uses Windpower to unearth new CFO

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:00:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

MINING GROUP Titanium Resources has appointed Joe Connolly as its chief financial officer, effective from 2 March. Connolly joins the company, which operates a mine in Sierra Leone, from turbine manufacturer Clipper Windpower. The qualified accountant, who has worked at Deloitte and Arthur Andersen in the past, was director of business development at Clipper for the last three years. He also served as an officer in the British Army's Royal Engineer...

President Petroleum appoints new FD

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:46:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

OIL COMPANY President Petroleum has revealed Ben Wilkinson as its new finance director. The 30-year-old chartered accountant joins the AIM-listed company with immediate effect from Levine Capital Management, the largest shareholder in President. He has also worked in corporate finance at ABN AMRO/Royal Bank of Scotland. Former FD Angelo Baskaran is to remain with the company, focusing on its US finances, but will no longer sit on the board.

70% of accountants looking for a new job

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:13:08 GMT

Accountancy Age

SEVEN out of ten accountants will be looking for a new job this year, with nearly half expecting to leave their current place of employment, according to an Accountancy Age survey. Our latest poll results show that of the hundreds of respondents, 70% will be looking to leave their workplace in 2011. With many businesses now back on the recruiting track, 45% of those who voted said they expect to be...

The trouble with your loyalty

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:00:40 GMT

Accountancy Age

HEADHUNTERS HAVE, in the past, been blamed for rising salaries – the argument being that people would not argue so hard on their own behalf and would accept much lower salaries. Now I don’t agree with this, but it does raise an interesting point – what happens to you if you stay with one business for a pretty long time? Before I get accused of writing an article designed to make everyone move...

The price of your loyalty

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

50 grad posts still up for grabs at PwC

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:39:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

ASSURANCE GRADUATE posts are still up for grabs at PwC. The firm is looking to fill 50 graduate posts in its assurance practice by April 2011. "This year we've expanded vacancies at graduate level, and there are opportunities still open to start as early as April," said Richard Irwin, PwC's head of student recruitment. "With vacancies nationwide, students shouldn't limit their career options by only focusing on London vacancies....

Northbridge appoints former brick man as new FD

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 10:19:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

INDUSTRIAL RENTAL company Northbridge has appointed former Michelmersh finance director Craig Robinson as its new full-time FD. Robinson will take on the role from 1 April. He replaces Ash Mehta, who had previously held the position in a part-time capacity. Mehta will become a non-executive director at the company. Robinson had been with brick maker Michelmersh since 2002, leaving in August last year. Prior to this he had worked at Morgan...

London City Airport CFO takes flight to Psion

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 09:43:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

THE CFO of London City Airport is making the move to mobile computing company Psion. Adrian Colman joins Psion as chief financial officer in April, replacing Fraser Park, who is taking a career sabbatical to deal with an illness in his family. Prior to his role at London City Airport he was group financial controller and head of investor relations at defence company QinetiQ and CFO at Numerica. He has also...

Long standing Hammerson FD to retire

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:41:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

THE LONG STANDING chief financial officer of Anglo-French property company Hammerson is to leave the company this summer, to be replaced by another real estate FD. Simon Melliss, 59, (pictured above) has been with Hammerson since 1991 and was appointed CFO in 1995. He will leave the company at the end of June. His successor is Timon Drakesmith, the current FD of Great Portland Estates. Drakesmith will join Hammerson as CFO...

Sirius Minerals appoints new FD and CFO

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 09:35:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

SALT AND POTASH miner Sirius Minerals has appointed Andrew Lindsay as its new finance director and chief financial officer. Lindsay, who has more than 25 years of experience in the mining industry, replaces Jonathan Harrison, who has retired after six years with the company. Prior to his recruitment at Sirius, Lindsay spent seven years as finance director at European Nickel, where he oversaw its listing on AIM, and 17 years in...

Easynet Global Services appoints Bradley Palmer as CFO

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:43:00 GMT

Accountancy Age

EASYNET Global Services, a telecommunications business, has appointed Bradley Palmer as group chief financial officer. Palmer previously worked in various operations management and finance roles in Unilever and Energis. He was finance director of HSS Tool Hire after its private-equity backed acquisition in 2007. Last year, Easynet was sold by its parent company BSkyB to Lloyds Development Capital (LDC), the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, for £100m. ...