Media release
29 January 2009
New Zealand accountants among most ambitious
New Zealand’s finance and accounting professionals are among the most ambitious in the world, according to the results
of an international survey by recruitment specialists Robert Half.
Robert Half asked 3,500 finance and accounting professionals in 14 countries where they saw themselves professionally in
five years. New Zealanders were the third most likely, after professionals in Brazil or Singapore, to believe they would
either be promoted or be self-employed.
Twenty-nine per cent of Kiwis saw themselves in a more senior role within the same company, 20% in a more senior role in
another company and 11% as self-employed. The combined total of 60% put them ahead of countries often seen as more
ambitious, such as Dubai, Hong Kong (both 58%) and even Australia (43%). Brazil scored 66% and Singapore 64%.
Only 16% of New Zealand’s finance and accounting professionals thought they would still be in the same job with the same
employer in five years’ time, compared with 49% of those in Japan, 41% in Belgium and 35% in Italy. Australians were
also more likely to see themselves staying put, with 23% believing they would still be in the same job with the same
employer.
Kiwis were also ambitious when it came to aiming for the top job, with 32% saying they aspired to be CFO at some time in
the future. This placed them fifth out of the 14 countries, behind Dubai (78%), Brazil (75%), Hong Kong (46%) and
Singapore (41%). Only 23% of Australians aspired to be CFO at some stage.
Professional satisfaction, rather than a desire for more money, lay behind most Kiwis’ wanting the top job. Thirty per
cent said they wanted to be CFO to gain greater management responsibility; 20% said they wanted it because it was the
pinnacle of the finance profession; 18% said they wanted to be CEO one day and being CFO would help them get there; 17%
said they wanted the job for better pay; and 14% said they wanted it because it would be useful in helping them start
their own company.
Robert Half senior manager Megan Alexander said the results were not surprising, as New Zealanders were keen to get
ahead. “That’s one of the reasons so many finance professionals spend several years working overseas – to advance their
careers.”
The challenge for Kiwi employers was to harness that ambition and ensure it worked to benefit their companies as well as
their employees’ careers.
“This survey provides more evidence that the most important resource for any business is its employees. People who are
keen to get ahead, and who are motivated and engaged will be more productive and produce better results for their
employer.
“And if they see that their results are rewarded and lead to increased opportunities to advance their careers, they will
become even more motivated,” she said.
“Employers can ensure they encourage maximum effort in their workplace by ensuring they know their employees’ ambitions
and provide an environment in which employees can achieve their goals.”
ENDS