職場資訊
業界人士、招聘者同人力資源主管精心撰寫 — 為真正建立事業嘅香港人而設。
With Hong Kong’s business environment becoming more complex, accounting firms have expanded and so have specialist opportunities for CPAs. Jemelyn Yadao finds out how accountants are getting into the most in-demand fields All accountants might believe they are a part of a special profession, but many are trying to stand out from the crowd even more, by entering the more rarefied world of specializations.
Switching roles to find your specialism needn’t always be complicated, suggests Galaxy Chan, a partner at KPMG China and a member of the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs, citing her own smooth transition. Some firms, such as KPMG, provide employees opportunities for short-term internal transfers if there are vacancies. “If you are unsure that you want to make a permanent commitment in your department or want to try a different one, the human resources team can arrange a short-term secondment,” says Chan. “After that, you can always go back to your [original] department.”
“Being interactive is one of the basic requirements for an accountant engaged in advisory services, like myself,” says Eugene Ha, a partner at Grant Thornton and a Hong Kong Institute of CPAs member. “Making connections with clients, intermediaries and the wider business community is part of what I do every day. It’s fortunate that I am quite a natural talker as well, with an outgoing personality. Networking is in fact an enjoyable role to me.” Here are a networking natural’s top tips for making new connections. DO…
It’s not just what you know, it’s who you know that matters, says the adage. Successful accountants tell Robin Lynam how careers can be boosted with a little networking ability In accounting, as in all professions, those who rise to the top tend to be those who are good at their jobs. That, however, is seldom all there is to the story. Successful professionals have usually managed to build up a broad-based network of contacts and connections, many of whom have been instrumental in helping them serve their clients, build their profiles and enhance their reputations.
Meanwhile, the growing popularity of forensic accounting is ascribed to the development of anti-fraud and anti-bribery legislation around the world, imposing more responsibilities on business owners. Few CPAs in Hong Kong are specialized in this area, but many Institute members believe that the demand for forensic accountants is stronger than ever. “This industry is really going,” says Alick Fong, manager of corporate recovery and forensic services at Mazars and an Institute member.
Compared with a decade ago, the career paths offered by accounting firms are wider and more varied. Here are some of today’s most popular accounting specializations in Hong Kong. Corporate finance These specialists not only inhabit the glamorous world of initial public offerings and other fundraising measures, they also have acquired grassroots knowledge of valuation and credit analysis. The right specialist is a person with initiative and a knack for problem solving.
Another example of a CPA who has benefited from specializing is Brenda Tung at RSM Nelson Wheeler and an Institute member, who found the right specialism for her during a three-month secondment to the firm’s risk advisory services department. “Now I have great satisfaction in being able to convince clients to accept our recommendations to enhance their internal control procedures,” says Tung, who joined from the firm’s technical department in 2010. Such procedures, she adds, help client companies satisfy listing requirements in Hong Kong.
Extroverts obviously find it easier to work a room, but their more reserved colleagues need not necessarily be out of the game. Successful networkers agree that the essential skills can be learned. “I wouldn’t suggest to anybody that the cocktail party is the best place to build deep relationships,” says Keith Pogson, a managing partner at Ernst & Young and past president of the Institute. “You also need to get involved in sitting on committees or bodies and meeting the people in the room. They will then help you meet other people as well.”
Introverted accountants can take comfort in knowing that often the first step of getting out there is the hardest part – and everything else usually follows naturally. “Networking is great for people who are not so confident,” says Kenneth Wong, PricewaterhouseCoopers partner. “I was one of those when I started my career. It helps you grow. You just need to get into it.”
今次的訪問，筆者很有興趣去了解作為測量師在 “打工”和 “創業” 的最大分別和要求，兩代的 “老板” 梁家棟博士 (Tony) 及其兒子梁傲文 (Martin) 正好給我們一些寶貴的參考。雖然 Tony 是本屆 PDD 的主席，但他以往四十年的工作經驗也參與了不少 GPD 及 PFMD 的工種項目。從七十年代由銀行到政府地政署，再經過多間華資及英資的發展商的練歷，到九十年代建立自己的公司以至千禧後發展國內的大市場，全因不怕競爭、樂於挑戰的性格，加上投入認真的態度，令 Tony 現在樂此不疲，仍然很喜歡這種緊密的生活及多元的社交事途。當中於八十年代香港經濟起飛，私人市場相對吸引的工資是第一個轉捩誘因；某程度上是一種工作時間和薪酬的等價交換。其後累積了十多廿年的實戰經驗而漸漸成為一種珍貴的個人資產，則是決定 “跳出去” 的關鍵；這個是另一種自由度與舒適度的取捨，收入穩定與滿足感的平衡決擇。誠然，運氣、勤奮和人際相處技巧缺一不可，我相信 “打工” 和 “創業” 亦然！
筆者雖然並非專門從事HR工作，但近幾年在會計師樓負責過自己部門內的數十次的招聘面試，由fresh graduates到experienced hires都有。所以可在此分享一些與求職者會面的經驗。 通常來面試的Junior人數比較多，而且CV的內容都大同小異，多半是剛畢業的學業成績記錄及其相關的課外活動或兼職工作經驗，要在芸芸大海之中找到一個突出的求職者面試其實已經很難。 與這些求職者會面，一般所花的時間都比較長，包括小組面試及個人面試，「第一感覺」的比重也相當高。比較起來，熱誠的工作態度及靈活的處事方式比起Transcript 上會計科成績攞A+更加重要。因為這類的同事，會事事積極進取，在忙碌的工作中也能保持著穩定的情緒面對挑戰。 至於experienced hires，在筆者而言，對工作熱誠仍然是必不可少的。其次看重的是有否具備行業的觸覺及領導才能。行業觸覺是行業知識的更高層次水平，有行業知識，才能建立行業觸覺。即使面對從未遇過的情況(顧問工作時有發生)，仍能以既有的知識和獨立的判斷力去解決問題。另外，我們的工作都是按項目形式分小組並需於短期內完成，是否具有領導才能及相關經驗(例如管理過多少同事)亦是關鍵所在。適當地分配工作及知人善任，做事才會更有效率。
Take a deep breath, collect your thoughts and stay clam, writes Marc Burrage.