New Zealand accountants among most ambitious

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

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