Career Advice Recruitment tips

On the lookout for tomorrow’s talents

Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton’s partners and senior officers are attending the CPA Australia Career Expo 2013 to showcase the firm’s strengths and successes to potential candidates – and to attract potential high performers.

Kelvin Kwong, staff partner at Grant Thornton, expects to meet and share his industry views with committed accounting graduates and experienced professionals. He’s also eager for the opportunity to hear about their needs and expectations.

Kwong says Grant Thornton has ambitious growth targets, so it requires similarly determined people eager to take on new challenges. “We’re looking for candidates who are like-minded and share our pursuit of a well-balanced and rewarding professional life,” he says.

The growing demand for high-quality professional assurance, tax and advisory services is driving Grant Thornton to intensify recruitment initiatives. Kwong expects the firm, which has 120 partners and more than 2,400 staff across mainland China and Hong Kong, to increase headcount to up to 5,000 by 2015.

The right talents, he says, should have business savvy complemented by a flair for people and language ability. “Communication skills are important. Candidates should be able to take time to listen and understand issues, and respond appropriately,” he says.

People at Grant Thornton, he adds, thrive in their supportive working environment and the strong team spirit. “Our management and staff communicate with one another closely and work as one team at all times. We believe that work performance is driven by mutual respect, loyalty and morale.”

Grant Thornton staff are ably supported by training programmes, including the advanced managers programme that annually draws some 60 experienced managers from its member firms worldwide.

High-performers have a chance to be seconded to Grant Thornton’s 17 offices throughout China or in any of the more than 100 countries where the firm has a presence. “We are committed to career development, and see each candidate as a potential future leader,” he adds.