power of love - Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Human resources
36 February 2013
HELPING YOUNG MEMBERS
TO SEE THE PATH
Junior employees are more likely to jump ship than their more
experienced colleagues, say accounting firms. “The issue of job
hopping is in general more serious at the junior to mid-level,”
says Chris Wong, staff partner at RSM Nelson Wheeler and a
Hong Kong Institute of CPAs member.
The major motivation, for accountants starting out their
careers, tends to be money. “Salary may be more of a concern
for junior level staff as they may not be so clear about their future
career and therefore will evaluate a job more by salary and not
the career prospects that it may bring,” says Kelvin Kwong, staff
partner at Grant Thornton and an Institute member.
Apart from money, working environment weighs on the
minds of junior staff, say human resources professionals
both in Hong Kong and abroad. “Many younger professionals
place significant value on personal time and flexible work
arrangements,” says Dan Griffiths, chairman of the American
Institute of CPAs young professionals committee.
With this in mind, firms such as BDO Hong Kong offers
its employees flexible working arrangements. The BDO Flex
programme enables staff to take temporary breaks from work
for personal reasons. “It is unique not only among the CPA firms
but also among employers in Hong Kong,” says Angela Wong,
BDO’s human resources director.
Ultimately though, keeping employees loyal to a firm
involves helping them to set and reach clear and meaningful
career goals. “Once they have qualified, we review their
desires and needs and try to provide a career path that suits
them both personally and professionally,” says Eunice Kwok,
practising director in charge of human resources at Mazars and
an Institute member. “We see it as our duty to encourage staff
development by presenting them with two things: training and
challenge.”
Kwong urges firms to mentor their junior staff. “Having a
mentoring programme helps motivate and retain our people,”
he says. “Mentors play a very important role as they closely
monitor the progress of an individual employee.”
Says Wong at BDO: “On a number of occasions, many of
our young colleagues have expressed their appreciation and
gratitude to their superiors for the attentive and professional
coaching and care they received.”