Think Global Recruitment

The wizard of Aus, Accountancy Ireland, December 2005

For love and money, NZ Edge, December 2005

British male accountants are being lured to New Zealand with promises of work and women.

According to top UK agency, Think Global Recruitment, the shortage of men in New Zealand has reached its highest level in 80 years, and Kiwi women in the 20 to 45 age group outnumber men by 35,000.

“New Zealand offers an array of fantastic career and lifestyle opportunities,” says Think Global Recruitment’s managing director Abigail Stevens.

“A lot of the people we find roles for are between the ages of 25 and 30 and single.  They like to work hard but find time to enjoy the glorious beaches, wide open spaces, great social life and a huge range of sports, including extreme sports.”

Brits needed to end shortage of Kiwi men, Lifestyle Extra, December 2005

An appeal has gone out to red-blooded British males to help end a severe shortage of men in New Zealand.

According to a recent census, Kiwi women outnumber men by 35,000 in the 20 to 45 age group, and despite official attempts to restore the balance, the problem is likely to persist for years to come.

Now the government is urging its male expats to return home to end the biggest drought of eligible bachelors for 80 years.

And one British recruitment consultancy is offering to help by promising top jobs and single women Down Under for British men.

Think Global Recruitment has just opened an office in New Zealand and its managing director, Abigail Stevens, said highly qualified accountants are in demand because of their UK qualifications.

She said: "A lot of the people we find roles for are between the ages of 25 and 30 and single.

"They like to work hard but also find time to enjoy the glorious beaches, wide open spaces, great social life and a huge range of sports, including extreme sports. In addition, the cost of living is low compared to the UK."

Gordon Hutchison, a senior recruitment consultant, decided to make the switch from Edinburgh to Wellington, New Zealand, in October 2005 and is lapping up the wide range of outdoor activities and throngs of available women.

He said: "Wellington has a great night life and I have definitely noticed an abundance of women on the town compared to Edinburgh, although I’m not sure whether I get approached more often."

The news will be welcomed by one single lady.

Susie Fitzgerald, an auditor who works in Wellington and has been single for two and a half years, said: "It's very difficult to meet guys in this city and I often have to go to networking evenings, which can be very hit and miss.

"We definitely need more single accountants to move over here, all the smart guys with good jobs are already taken."

Kiwis take seductive line in bid to woo male accountants, Irish Independant, December 2005

Accountants have long been accused of being boring but now they are laughing on the other side of their faces.

Officials in New Zealand are offering them jobs - and partners - on a plate.

The shortage of men in the country is said to be reaching a level "not seen for more than 80 years" and it has politicians there seriously worried.

In fact, there are 35,000 more Kiwi women than men in the 20-to-45 age group, resulting in the serious imbalance.

Now they are taking drastic action to boost the male population before they are seriously outnumbered. Recruitment companies have begun a campaign to entice young male accountants to New Zealand with the promise that they will find "both the woman and the career of their dreams".

"The islands have everything to tempt eager young male accountants; sun, sea and tremendous scenery, and an increase in their chances of meeting eligible single women," said Abigail Stevens, of Think Global Recruitment.

The campaign results from a decision by the government to kickstart its biggest ever recruitment drive to lure its expats home. Recruitment companies are opening offices to help bring even more workers to its shores.

"New Zealand offers an array of fantastic career and lifestyle opportunities," said Ms Stevens.

"A lot of the people we find roles for enjoy the glorious beaches, wide open spaces, great social life and a huge range of sports, including extreme sports."

She added that the cost of living is much lower, with houses much cheaper.

Survey reveals accountants move abroad for lifestyle, On Rec, December 2005

Think Global Recruitment, the specialist in international financial recruitment, today revealed ‘lifestyle’ is the key reason Accountants chose to relocate overseas.

According to Think Global Recruitment’s annual survey of more than 100 Accountants living abroad, 40 per cent stated lifestyle as the main reason for relocating.

Other motivational factors included work experience, weather, developing language skills and money.

Think Global Recruitment’s managing director, Abigail Stevens, said lifestyle rated higher than financial benefits.

“Generally, ‘lifestyle’ encompasses an array of aspects, ranging from quality of life and culture, to outdoor activities and social life,” Abigail said.

“Interestingly, our survey found that although 79 per cent of Accountants were financially better off after relocating abroad, lifestyle rated as a significantly higher motivator for living and working overseas than financial rewards.

“Only seven per cent of respondents nominated ‘money’ as a factor that prompted their decision to relocate overseas, meaning it is an added bonus that international exposure often results in greater disposable income,” said Abigail.

The survey also found 91 per cent of Accountants thought working overseas would help their long-term career development, largely because international experience demonstrated they were adaptable to change and is increasingly sought after in management positions.

Survey results indicated the most difficult aspect of living and working overseas is missing family and friends, however 74 per cent of respondents said if given the chance, they would take another role in the same location again.

Inline with this finding, after relocating abroad 83 per cent of respondents experienced a better work/life balance, with 94 per cent enjoying an improved lifestyle and 72 per cent finding improved quality of work.

“Our annual survey continues to illustrate the benefits of a career move abroad,” Abigail said.

“Ninety-nine per cent of surveyed Accountants said they made the right decision to move overseas,” said Abigail.

Accountants 'move abroad for lifestyle change', Grant Thornton website, December 2005

An international financial recruitment company has revealed that a better lifestyle is the main reason that accountants chose to relocate overseas.

According to Think Global Recruitment, other reasons can include work experience, weather, improving language skills and money, although a better quality of life was found to be more important than financial benefits for the majority.

The recruitment consultant surveyed over 100 accountants living abroad, with 40% saying that lifestyle was the main reason behind the relocation.

Think Global Recruitment's Managing Director, Abigail Stevens, told Online Recruitment: "Generally, 'lifestyle' encompasses an array of aspects, ranging from quality of life and culture, to outdoor activities and social life.

"Interestingly, our survey found that although 79% of accountants were financially better off after relocating abroad, lifestyle rated as a significantly higher motivator for living and working overseas than financial rewards."

The survey also revealed that 91% of those questioned said they believed working overseas would boost their long-term career prospects, believing that international experience demonstrated that they were adaptable to change.

Young accountants on the move, The Accounting Life, November 2005

A job in the sun, Sunday Mail, November 2005

News in brief, Pass magazine, November 2005

Recruitment forum, CPA Ireland Official Website, November 2005

An international recruitment forum for young accountants will be held next month in Dublin. If you are considering your next career move or would simply like to find out more about living and working overseas, this is the perfect opportunity to gain information from a wide range of international recruiters. 
Click here for further information

Morning business news, RTE Business, November 2005

200 world accountant positions up for grabs - Accountants and adventure are not words you normally hear spoken in the same sentence but an Edinburgh-based recruitment company, Think Global, is hoping to change all that. It is coming to Dublin in a week's time to host an International Recruitment Forum and it wants to fill over 200 vacancies for young accountants in different parts of the world.

Abigail Stevens is Think Global Recruitment's Managing Director and she says that the positions offered include such exotic locations as Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Malta as well as those closer to home including Germany and the Channel Islands. She says the rate of pay will depend on location and the cost of living there, but says that many young accountants really want to get some international experience under their belts.

Higher ambition, Student Accountant, November 2005

Feature Article the largest international accountancy body, ACCA offers unique opportunities with global organisations. Lesley Meall talks to members and recruitment consultants to give you the inside track.

Multinational companies are the place to be, apparently. When ACCA students were recently surveyed as part of the ACCA2007 project, nearly two-thirds of you indicated that you aspire to work for one.

Although they are not for everyone, large organisations and multinationals can offer ambitious accountants the opportunity to try out a range of professional roles, and geographical locations, without changing employers - which makes for great career progression. John Smith, FCCA, is now the British Broadcasting Corporation's chief operating officer - the third most powerful figure in the organisation. His roots in accounting have facilitated his rise up the corporate ladder. The BBC is a renowned worldwide brand, producing high-quality content across a range of media including TV, the Internet, and radio.

Since joining the BBC's corporate finance department in 1989, John has slowly but surely progressed through financial controller, finance director, chief operating officer, and even has a stint as CEO of BBC Worldwide under his belt. 'I think it's a classic evolutionary step for finance people,' he says modestly. And he has a point - witness the experiences of other ACCA members.

'Working for a large organisation gives you the opportunity to have a career, not just a job,' suggests Paul Kehoe, an FCCA who is head of finance for global treasury with Allied Irish Bank (AIB). Kehoe joined AIB straight from school (unlike Smith, who left school at 16 to train as an accountant, then did a long stint with British Rail, before being headhunted by the BBC in 1989). 'I always wanted to be an accountant,' says Kehoe, 'and AIB supported me both financially and from a training perspective, to enable me to meet my goal.' AIB is an ACCA Gold Approved Employer - trainee development, something Kehoe feels contributed to his success. 'I think that a large organisation can offer better training and development support to people who are studying accountancy,' he asserts.

Since qualifying, Kehoe has worked in all of the significant business areas in the bank: finance and leasing, retail, and global treasury. 'I was aware that there would be lots of opportunities,' he says, 'and that proved to be the case.' After a number of years in the finance department, Kehoe became a senior financial accountant in 1989. He was appointed as financial controller for the corporate banking business unit in capital markets in 1995, then in 2002 he took on his current role as head of finance for global treasury, which has offices in the Republic of Ireland, the UK, US, and Poland. So, as Kehoe observes: 'There is the potential to work in different areas of the organisation both domestically and internationally.'

Broaden your horizon
ACCA member Catriona Dolan also wanted to work for a large organisation, but she took a different route. She trained with the four-partner firm Casey McGrath & Associates, spent a few years in audit with BMN Associates, and then she joined PwC in 2004. 'As PwC is a global firm, you have the opportunity to gain broader work experience than you would working for a smaller firm,' she says, adding, 'and you have the opportunity to travel.' Working abroad was part of the plan she made when she first opted to become an accountant. 'I decided, once I qualified, I would work abroad for a few years.'

The Big Four are involved in all areas of business and commerce and have huge international operations around the world, so the potential for movement professionally and geographically is immense. At the moment, Dolan is on a two-year secondment to PwC Turks & Caicos. 'I have always liked travelling,' she says, 'and working abroad has given me the opportunity to visit places that I would not necessarily have visited.'

If you want to exploit the opportunities that only a large employer can provide, but you are currently working for a small organisation, don't panic. 'A good recruitment consultant can help you to put together a five-year plan that will help you get from where you are today to where you want to be tomorrow,' says Angus Braham a senior manager with Think Global Recruitment. And, because of ACCA's flexible training and practical experience options, you are not locked into restrictive training contracts. But the difference between working for an employer with a handful of employees and one with tens of thousands can be immense. 'Moving from a very small environment to a very big one can be a culture shock,' warns Braham, 'so in most cases I would suggest doing it in steps. Just keep your ultimate goal in sight.'

Soft skills shuffle
If you are desperate to make the leap sooner rather than later, and aren't phased by the idea of being one among thousands, some skills can help to ease the transition. Even a part-qualified ACCA with the right IFRS or SOX experience could exploit the high demand for specialist expertise as a springboard to bigger and better things. 'The global harmonisation of accounting standards has increased career opportunities,' comments Judy Randle, CPD national product manager at the Financial Training Company. But, she adds, 'the rate of change is huge, and it is important to keep up to date.'

Braham agrees: 'The bedrock on which your entire career is built is your technical accountancy ability.' But large employers are also looking for soft skills such as teamworking, leadership potential, plus that special something that makes you the right sort of person. 'All large organisations may seem the same from the outside,' says Braham, 'but they are very different on the inside. Even the big firms have cultural differences.'

That's why a good recruitment firm will spend time getting to know candidates and assessing their potential. 'It's part of the job,' says Braham, 'if an ACCA applies to me for a post with one of the Big Four firms, I'll start by looking at whether or not they have the necessary technical skills, but I also have to make a judgement on how well they will suit the client. It is not unusual for clients to ask "How will they fit in with us?" And, if you get as far as an interview with the organisation, you can be sure that they will be assessing your soft skills as part of the process.'

If you are interested in moving into industry then cultural fit becomes even more of an issue. 'Different industries are looking for different qualities,' says Zelda Kay, a consultant on the publishing and entertainment team with Witan Jardine. In addition to being able to bring the necessary technical skills, most industries will expect you to look and act the part. For example, some employers will expect you to dress smartly, while others will be happy if you turn up for work in jeans, t-shirt and trainers.

A perfect fit?
'The technical skills may be the same, but a company in the banking sector will look for a very different person than an advertising agency or a film production company,' Kay says, adding: 'media clients are looking for personality.' They will also expect you to able to convey financial information with the minimum amount of jargon. 'They want to know about the P&L and the balance sheet,' she says, 'but you'll need to be able to catch their attention without boring them.' Although they are keen to take on people who want to be finance professionals, rather than those who see finance as a way to get into film, music or television, they also expect you to be interested in the product.

The same is true in other areas. But if you are particularly interested in aerospace, retail or pharmaceuticals then your ACCA qualification can certainly help to open the right doors and give you the opportunity to get involved. 'You won't just be sitting at a desk doing the numbers,' says Braham, 'you could go into the audit department of a biotech tomorrow and in two-years' time find yourself on the R&D side working as part of a small team developing a new drug.' Long gone are the days when working in finance for a multinational was just about sitting at a desk playing with numbers.

Ireland calling, eFinancialCareers, November 2005

Ireland calling: Think Global Recruitment is hosting the International Recruitment Forum at The Gresham Hotel in Dublin on 26 November 2005. Designed for UK and Ireland's recently qualified accountants, the Forum will host presentations and exhibitions from some of the biggest names in accountancy and financial services. The Forum is free, but a refundable deposit of £25/€30 is required to register.

Think Global Recruitment is also hosting the Young Chartered Accountants' Ball on Saturday, 26 November 2005 at The Gresham Hotel's Anna Livia Ballroom. Tickets cost £25/€30. To register for the Forum or the Ball call +44 (0) 870 242 6609 or visit www.accountancyworldwide.com

Sun, sea and long hours, Accountancy Ireland, October 2005

The cultural differences of working overseas, Irish Jobs, October 2005

Ever considered tax consulting in Tokyo? Auditing in Australia? Risk management in Russia? Accountancy Age, October 2005

Accounting abroad, Company Magazine, September 2005

Bean counter numbers just don't add up, The Scotsman, August 2005

Take the pulse of the recruitment sector in Edinburgh at the moment and you'll find it positively racing.

But while candidates abound for the booming financial services sector, something of a tug of war is developing as agencies compete to find the brightest and the best among a dwindling pool of newly-qualified accountants. In general, corporate and managerial recruitment are flourishing in the Capital.

At both high and middle-level management, top-quality executives are being tracked down and snapped up to join the ranks of heavyweight city firms such as Royal Bank of Scotland, Standard Life and Scottish Widows.

To meet the growing demand, recruitment companies are adapting in kind. Fletcher Jones, for example, recently celebrated its 21st anniversary by announcing its move into larger premises.

After more than two decades in Hanover Street, the executive search practice has decamped to Castle Terrace, bringing it right into the hustle and bustle of the city's financial quarter, on the doorstep of its client base.

Managing director Richard Fletcher, who founded the company in 1984, insists the move was not part of some global domination strategy.

"We have never aimed to be the UK's biggest executive search practice. Our focus is on providing an expert service to our clients. Our owner-managed culture delivers results in terms of attracting a choice of candidates for our clients and motivating our team of experienced consultants."

Another company going from strength to strength is Eden Scott, founded in 2003 by three industry veterans from Melville Craig Group. Its portfolio of clients covers a range of sectors, including accountancy, construction and sales and marketing. Although noticing a predictable seasonal dip over the summer months, co-founder Guy Martin said the company was having little difficulty in sourcing the best people for the right jobs.

"Things have been a bit sluggish over the summer but we are certainly seeing a healthy level of business, with recruits coming from both Edinburgh and further afield, such as the rest of Britain. We also recruit from Asia and both east and west coast USA. I think what draws people to Edinburgh is the lifestyle. Fewer traffic jams, less pollution and the fact that you only have to drive for one or two hours to see some of the most beautiful scenery in northern Europe."

Senior level accountancy positions, he adds, are not difficult to fill. Fledgling number-crunchers, on the other hand, are a little more thin on the ground.

"The war for talent is being waged over the graduates and accountants with three to ten years' experience. That's where the heat is in the market. Firms are looking to acquire people with both professional experience and runway potential, so they look to those candidates with the most ambition and drive," he explains.

Like Eden Scott, financial services specialists Cairns Bond is on the prowl for candidates to take up positions in Edinburgh, whether these people are city-bred or from elsewhere. The firm takes its name from directors Gordon Cairns and David Bond, both qualified chartered accountants with considerable experience in their field. Founded in 2000, the company has grown by 40 per cent year on year since then and shows no signs of slowing down.

Like Mr Martin, however, Mr Bond has concerns about the number of young chartered accountants available to recruiters.

"There is a smaller pool of talent than there has been previously and these accountants are in higher demand. Not so many large companies take in young chartered accountants because their business is much more based on high-level accountancy work, meaning they don't need as many junior staff."

Another issue he acknowledges is the practice of heading abroad to find accountancy work, something he even did himself a few years ago.

"You will always get a flow of people heading out to work internationally. I worked in the Bahamas for two years myself and it was fantastic."

Championing and facilitating this exodus of Edinburgh's young accountancy talent is Think Global Recruitment (TGR), which is at the other end of the tug of war rope. Run by Abigail Stevens, TGR finds employment for accountants, many of them Scottish, in such far- flung corners of the globe as Africa, Hong Kong, Australia and the Caribbean./p>

With three UK offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London, the company has also set out its stall in the southern hemisphere with a New Zealand office and plans for an Australian branch are now in the pipeline after it doubled its turnover to £3.2 million.

Ms Stevens, who cut her recruitment teeth with Edinburgh's ASA International, credits the demise of giants such as Enron and WorldCom with the current global demand for accountants.

"I think with things like that happening it has led to a need for more regulation in businesses, which they need more accountants to deal with. So the demand is much more on the regulatory side than other aspects of accountancy."

But one thing both she and Mr Bond are agreed on is how much clout Scottish accountants have in the marketplace.

Ms Stevens says: "We don't recruit people for jobs in Edinburgh, but people from Edinburgh are certainly in high demand for our overseas clients. They especially want Scottish accountants."

Mr Bond believes Scottish accountants have been in demand for years and years.

"This is partly historic. I think Scottish accountants have a reputation that has been around for a while. They are seen to have Scottish qualities such as a sense of prudence. This is something which is part of the Scottish culture and it works well for accountants. Scots continue to impress and that's the broad thrust of being a young qualified chartered accountant."

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (Icas), however, sees a reverse in the downward trend for trainee chartered accountants. Callum McKenzie, director of student training for the body, says the situation has picked up over the last year.

"We are having no problem filling our places for three-year traineeships. About 850 people have signed up to become chartered accountants.

"But if we went back to when students would have been taken on three years ago, we were seeing lower numbers coming through.

" There is a higher demand generally for accountants at the moment, especially after new legislation was passed in the United States, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which has had a knock-on effect." As for what makes the quintessential Scottish accountant, Mr McKenzie says it's hard to define. "Their reputation is pretty strong around the world. From anecdotal evidence, I understand that Scottish accountants are very well regarded all over the globe."

Industry spotlight: The financial services sector, Irish Jobs, August 2005

International accountancy recruitment forum for Dublin, The Post, August 2005

Elite young accountants are primed to think global, On Rec, August 2005

There's a whole new world out there, The Herald, March 2005