International transfers or secondments for accountants are nothing new. But as attraction and retention of quality staff is one of the top 5 challenges of the profession, international secondments are an increasingly important component of a firm’s HR strategy.
Step aside Jarryd Hayne, accountants are the new sports stars when it comes to international transfers. As Alex Hardy, Senior Manager at the Prosperity Advisers Group explains, there are as many benefits to firms and clients as there are to the individual at the centre of the transfer.
Having recently returned from a secondment to Prosperity’s affiliate, Bol Adviseurs in the Netherlands, I have seen first-hand the benefits to both firms. The thought of being paid to travel overseas appeals to every professional at some stage in their career, however international secondments have traditionally been on a case-by-case basis, infrequent and carried out by the larger firms. Times have changed. Through Prosperity’s membership of the Leading Edge Alliance (LEA), the frequency of secondments appears to be increasing. Just this month, Prosperity will welcome two colleagues from Burr Pilger Mayer (BPM), San Francisco and we have fielded a number of other expressions of interest in secondments during the 2017 peak audit season.
So why the sudden rise in popularity?
Firms committed to evolving into the “Firm of the Future” understand the need for innovation across their business. In an industry that sells advice, attracting and retaining quality professionals must be central to any business strategy.
The benefits
- Scaling of the local work-force during periods of peak demand
For Australian accounting firms, the peak audit season typically runs from July to October each year. In the past, firms have often relied on contract labour or driving increased output from existing resources. There are a number of challenges with both of these approaches. Contract staff are often not incentivised to deliver on client outcomes leading to a poor client experience whereas overworking existing staff may lead to burnout and decreasing team morale. Secondments can also assist with solving local skill shortages.
- Boost to local team morale and outcomes for clients
A secondee’s interaction within their new team encourages learning across cultural boundaries. Sharing experiences is always fun and provides motivation to the secondee and local team. Development of communication skills and adapting to new working environments provides a different form of team engagement. When teams are engaged they usually produce better outcomes for clients!
- Impress clients and demonstrate the firm’s commitment to a global footprint
For firms that don’t have a recognised global brand, bringing an international secondee to client meetings demonstrates the firm’s commitment to being a truly global business. My interaction with an international client based out of Ireland during my stint in the Netherlands was really well received and a valuable experience for all involved.
- Improving the local team’s language skills
English dominates as the language of choice for the international business community. Countries where English may not be the first language usually are seeking to improve their language skills. Placing a native English speaking secondee into a non-English team will encourage all staff to practice their English on a daily basis and likewise the secondee will learn or develop their own language skills. Better communication will also lead to better client experiences for firms with international clients.
"Accountants are the new sports stars when it comes to international transfers".
- Development of firm systems and methodologies
Firms generally compare systems and methodologies at conferences and seminars, but this often occurs at Partner level. Understanding and comparing methodologies at other career levels on-the-job creates additional opportunities for teams to immediately implement efficiencies or enhancements which drive better outcomes.
- Attraction and retention of quality staff
Keeping staff engaged and innovating is a must for all firms. Constantly competing for the best talent in the market is a priority for accounting firms and firms like Prosperity who recognise the value of international secondments will continue to have it as part of their HR arsenal. If done well, the ability to keep staff learning and engaged plus broadening their personal international networks in an increasingly globalised business environment helps to attract and retain the best talent.
- Facilitate client engagements across geographies
Importantly, there is also the potential for new relationships with clients of the other firm should they be active or considering expansion to the secondee’s home country. Facilitating advisory relationships across borders becomes smoother with the familiarity that working shoulder to shoulder provides.
Things to consider!
Select the right team members to be involved:
- Will the employee best represent the firm?
- Has the employee experienced overseas travel previously?
- Does their skill set provide opportunities for the other firm?
- Are they a confident communicator?
Get the right people involved in making it happen:
- Encourage the HR leaders from both firms to build a relationship to ensure the secondment is seamless.
- Ensure there is adequate on-boarding for work and team building but also living arrangements, getting around and integrating with the host Country.
Working visas:
- These are often not difficult to obtain between most OECD countries.
- Some up front commitment will be required to assess each specific jurisdiction.
- Leverage each firm’s HR resources for the best outcomes.
Accommodation:
- Depending on the length of the secondment, services such as AirBNB may offer a solution should a local host be unavailable.
- The remuneration of the employee may need to be negotiated during their secondment to factor in the difference in living costs between countries.
International secondments significantly add to the secondee’s professional and personal development, they are fun and the benefits to both firms involved shouldn’t be underestimated. Smart firms are increasingly taking advantage of this strategy and providing exciting opportunities for their staff and business.
Thank you very much for your enthusiasm, professionalism and open mind. You have been a real “asset” and inspiration for Bol.
Pascal Graat (Managing Partner, Bol Adviseurs)
