The golden rules: 10 tips for finding the right job

Searching for the right job can often be frustrating, time-consuming and stressful. However, finding a role that’s your perfect fit can also be highly rewarding – as long as you take the necessary measures to prepare yourself.

If you’re searching for your next position in the accounting support industry, it’s likely that you already have access to knowledge and resources that can accelerate your search. Here’s how to make the most of it:

1.    Get an edge over the competition
There’s no denying that fallout from the GFC has meant stable jobs are in higher demand than ever. The financial services industry has undergone a massive shakeup and support staff need to work harder than ever to sell their skills and demonstrate value to an organisation.

If you’re seeking a new role in accounting support, it pays to check out the competition. Is there a course you can enrol in to give you an edge over your rivals? Institutions like CPA Australia offer training programs in areas such as payroll fundamentals – a qualification that could be exactly what you need to stay ahead of the curve.

2.    Register with a specialist recruitment agency
Recruiters can be your most powerful ally when looking for the right job. Specialist recruiters often have close ties to your relevant industry and can put you in touch with extensive networks. For instance, AccountAbility offers accounting support professionals industry knowledge and a close understanding of specific job requirements – factors that ensure your job search is personalised, relevant and effective.

3.    Prepare a killer CV
Your CV is the ticket to the job of your dreams, and should therefore present your skills and experience in the best possible light. It’s worth investing some time putting together your resume or hiring a professional to write it. If you’re a payroll officer, make sure your CV clearly cites relevant courses and training programs as well as experience across corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors.

 4.    Keep your current job
Try to line up your next job before resigning from your current position – this will give you more leverage to negotiate with your next employee and make your job search less stressful.

5.    Be organised
It’s important to approach your job search in an organised and methodical way. Keep track of the positions you apply for and the companies you target. If you’re after a job in a financial services firm or major accounting firm, make sure you know who has seen your CV – the industry can be small and you should avoid blunders at all costs.

 6.    Get social
When it comes to finding the right job, social media is your new best friend. Connect with specialist recruiters such as AccountAbility on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to get up-to-date information on opportunities.

 7.    Communicate with your recruitment consultant
To get the most of your recruiter, it’s important that you keep communication channels open at all times. AccountAbility offers a high level of candidate care, but it’s crucial that you’re open and transparent about exactly what it is you’re searching for.

 8.    Join an industry organisation
Industry organisations can offer powerful ways to build your network and often hold events that put you face to face with influential people in your sector. Accounting support professionals should seriously consider joining an organisation such as the Australian Payroll Association or CPA Australia.

9.    Do your research
If you’ve secured a job interview, you’ve already overcome a major hurdle. But remember that it pays to be prepared. If you’re interviewing for an accounts support, payroll or credit management role, it helps to understand the company history and organisational structure as well as information about clients and key stakeholders.

10.  Follow up
Following up after an interview can create a great lasting impression and help demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role. Make sure you register your interest in upcoming payroll or accounting support opportunities should you miss out on the position in question.

There’s a world of opportunity out there for new and experienced accounting staff. Be sure to equip yourself with the best resources possible in order to get the job you deserve and build a lengthy and successful career.

In House: Introducing AccountAbility’s CFO Rick Taylor

Chief Financial Officer of Ambition Group (AccountAbility’s parent company) Rick Taylor, divulges what it’s like to lead and be part of the company’s accounts/finance team.

Striking a work/life balance is nonsense, according to Westpac CEO Gail Kelly. You simply can’t take your work out of your life. Instead, you should find a job that you enjoy and welcome it into your life. Rick Taylor found his: Chief Financial Officer of Ambition Group.

“We are based in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne,” says Taylor. “I am responsible for the finance function around the world – for the money, the accounts and a number of other statutory functions. I am company secretary, privacy officer, public officer and a JP.

“I enjoy the work and if it means I am making phone calls at 9pm each night to the UK then that is okay, as it is a part of the life I like.”

Taylor is originally from the UK and studied chemistry at Oxford University. He first came to Australia in 1997 on a two-week holiday, fell in love with the place, worked for an array of impressive companies and has overseen AccountAbility’s accounts/finance team for the past four years.

An average day for the team means ensuring that consultants have nothing to do but consult. In order to do so, they pay contractors, invoice clients and collect money − which leaves the consultants free to concentrate on finding great candidates for the best roles.

“We’re a strong team and we take time to make sure we work well together. We have monthly meetings where we play team building games. We’ve made egg carriers out of drinking straws, paper aeroplane competitions, tower building competitions, and good old Scattergories.”

The most successful game the team plays is on Fridays, when one member chooses songs that have meaning to their life. The team doesn’t know who that person is and must guess who the ‘secret DJ’ is – the person that the songs are about.

“The team really opened up and revealed some deeply personal things about themselves, all set to music.

“I often talk of the team as being an iron fist in a velvet glove – we are really good at what we do, done in a very professional way, but also done in a very friendly and people-centric way.”

Obviously, the last few years for the recruitment industry have been tough and the whole company has been under pressure. But Rick Taylor is adamant you’ll still find a smile and a friendly face in his finance team.

Education insight: Will studying help in your job search?

Though the fundamentals remain the same, the financial services industry is constantly subject to developments, as well as shifts in methodology.

Changes to international accounting standards, new approaches to compliance issues and the rise of new software platforms and technologies has meant that professional development has become vital to maintaining an edge. The post-GFC era has also seen many businesses streamline processes and employ leaner teams – factors that have intensified competition across the industry.

For accounting support staff, investing in education and training is no longer a luxury. It is critical in order to stay relevant and offer value as a potential employee. Accounting support professionals can fast-track skills and knowledge by enrolling in the following courses and training programs:

Australian standards and reporting
CPA Australia regularly runs training initiatives dealing with Australian standards and reporting, IFRS developments and the future of integrated reporting – valuable for bookkeeping and accounts staff looking to update their knowledge and stay abreast of key trends. These sessions are especially useful for support staff seeking roles within the corporate sector or a top-tier accounting firm.

Diploma of credit management
Credit management staff looking to upskill or gain a higher-paying role should consider gaining a professional qualification in credit management. The Australian Institute of Credit Management offers a diploma in the discipline as well as an option that covers the basics (Certificate IV).

Payroll fundamentals
Payroll is a crucial function of every business and skilled payroll staff are highly sought after by employers. Investing in the Payroll Fundamentals course offered by The Australian Payroll Association is a smart way to capitalise on opportunities in the industry.

Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the accounting opportunities available in Australia. By increasing your education and receiving appropriate training, you can not only equip yourself with the skills necessary to beat out the competition, you can also find the job of your dreams.

If the latest report by the International Monetary Fund is anything to go by, it’s blue skies ahead for the Australian economy.

According to the body’s 2012 World Economic Outlook, Australia now lays claim to the strongest economy in the developed world, predicted to grow at a rate of 3 per cent this year.

In the next two years, the IMF expects the national economy to overtake other advanced economies – a position it largely owes to its insulation from European banks and increased stability in the US. The report also brings good news for the jobs market, with unemployment forecast at a low 5.2 per cent in both 2012 and 2013.

The official end of the post-GFC fallout spells new opportunities for financial support talent. The hiring boom that accompanies an economic upturn often sees employers expand their payroll and accounting departments in an effort to accommodate new recruits. In other words, demand for skilled accounts, bookkeeping and credit management staff is now hotter than ever.

Payroll candidates are well-placed to benefit from this upswing as companies express a greater need for local knowledge and experience within systems implementation. This is in line with the 2011 AccountAbility Payroll Index, which identified four times as many payroll-related vacancies in the second quarter of 2011 than in the first quarter of 2009.

This sunnier economic outlook also translates to higher consumer confidence levels and increased cash flow – a trend that will boost demand for savvy credit managers, accounts payable and accounts receivable hires.

When plotting your career, it pays to think about the big picture. Is it time to make your next move?

Managing Director Ruairi Flynn reflects on AccountAbility’s journey while sharing his plans for its future.

AccountAbility has been quite the success story as it continues to experience yearly growth in performance and employee numbers.

Today, the accountancy support recruitment agency has four offices across Sydney, Parramatta, Brisbane and Melbourne, and employs 44 staff members. But who would have thought AccountAbility started from humble beginnings? Three employees in a very small office on Carrington Street, Sydney to be precise!

The rationale behind setting up AccountAbility was quite simple, according to Manager Director Ruairi Flynn:

“Ambition Finance [AccountAbility’s parent company] were focused at the senior end of the accounting market and, as they grew, we spotted a gap for an accounting support focused business.

“Rather than diluting the Ambition brand, or their service offering, it was decided that we would set up AccountAbility as a separate entity to focus on this end of the market. I didn’t actually set it up myself, but I came across to run it not long after its inception.”

Ruairi describes the journey so far as being a real joy, but feels that AccountAbility is only at the start of where the business can get to.

“We have a strong brand and great people, and the vision for the business is clear. The greatest thrill for me is the loyalty we have from clients and candidates who continually use our services because they feel we are the best business out there.”

Like any business, AccountAbility hasn’t been immune to enduring tough times. Ruairi points out that the GFC was a particular challenge, as it was for every recruitment firm. Thankfully, the company came through it “largely unscathed”.

“The key challenge has been, and still is, finding the right people because we have a very set idea as to the type of employee we look for to work for us.”

Ruairi is a very firm believer in the philosophy of “hiring for will and training the skill”, choosing passion and attitude over experience every time.

“A number of our best performers (and now managers) joined us with no recruitment experience but had the desire to learn and get stuck in to their roles and have progressed accordingly.

“Alongside that we tend to hire down-to-earth individuals – people who take their jobs seriously, but not necessarily themselves. We tend to stay away from hiring the over-egotistical sales people who can be prevalent within recruitment.”

So what’s next for AccountAbility? Ruairi has even more goals for growth, with plans to expand the company’s presence within Australia.

“The next likely port of call will be Western Australia. We also have huge potential to expand in our current locations – Melbourne being the most pertinent as we currently have seven employees in an accounting support market that is as big as Sydney’s, where we have 25 employees.”

“In time, I would like to look at London, particularly as Ambition are there. But this is very much market-driven and the economy is not conducive at the moment to do that.”

It’s been an interesting journey for AccountAbility so far. Watch this space for future developments.

Do you know what direction the credit management industry is heading in?

Colin Prosser knows more than a thing or two about credit management. He signed up as an Australian Institute of Credit Management (AICM) member more than 25 years ago and was in the credit industry before the Trade Practices Act began in 1976. Today he’s the current director of AICM’s Victorian/Tasmanian division, so it’s no surprise that he has noticed the industry experiencing a bit of an upheaval.

“The most experienced credit people whom possess a wealth of business knowledge and nous are retiring or near retirement,” says Prosser.

“Everything in credit management relates to procedures, systems or laws. And staff are not trained enough because businesses don’t realise the importance of the credit management function.”

Prosser describes the credit management function (accounts receivable) as the ‘life blood of the business’ (cash flow). He believes that some businesses lack planning for the future and adaptation to change, especially to the latest Personal Property Securities Act update – which he cites as one of the biggest changes in 20 years.

“I read recently 96 per cent of businesses knew about the Personal Property Securities Register, but only 55 per cent have started to act on complying with it.”

AICM operates with the aim to inform all credit professionals and the general public about laws, regulations, policy and procedures relating to the credit industry, both in the consumer and commercial sectors.

With greater education, Prosser hopes people are better informed in making credit decisions. He believes it’s important that they receive positive information, not just adverse data from the past. Repeat offenders who also try to beat the system by losing/taking other business goods or services without paying for them should be weeded out.

AICM is a members-based institution with a registered training organisation. They host national and state seminars, network evenings, quarterly dinners for members and non-members of the credit profession and affiliate businesses. AccountAbility has been involved with Colin Prosser and AICM for several years.

“AccountAbility placed me in a position. I hire staff through them and they have recommended or referenced candidates for positions.

“They have attended and spoken at AICM network nights on recruitment topics, attended national dinners and conferences, and are currently one of the AICM sponsors for Victoria and Queensland. We have a close association we are very appreciative of.”

Is your business failing to keep up to date with industry trends and changing credit management legislation? AICM can work closely to help inform and educate your staff and clients on any changes.

Web wonders: Essential online tools for accounting support job seekers

Are you seeking to fill a new accounting support position? You can improve your job search by checking out these helpful online tools. They’re invaluable to potential accounting support job seekers and can equip you with the knowledge needed to succeed.

1. Australian Institute of Credit Management (AICM)
It pays to be a member of AICM, a members based institution with a registered training organisation. You will have access to all national and state seminars AICM host, learning about new legislation, practices and industry news. They also hold network evenings and quarterly dinners for members and non-members of the credit profession and business affiliates. Overall, you will be privy to great support and networking opportunities.

2. Tips and advice from AccountAbility
If you want to get ahead by receiving the best online tips and advice, then AccountAbility can help you. Learn how to write effective resumes and interview preparation. Our salary guide OSCAR is very helpful, ensuring you know and receive what you’re worth. It paints a picture of what the average salary is for specific accountancy support positions you are applying for.

3. LinkedIn
Signing up for a LinkedIn profile can kill many birds with one stone. Not only is it a prime way to network and stay in touch with new and existing business associates, you also get access to new job vacancies and group discussions where you can follow industry news. The CPA Australia Members Group, Finance Industry Professionals Worldwide and Accounting Jobseekers Australia are just some of the groups you can join.

4. Twitter
If you’re on Twitter, one of the fastest ways to learn about new job positions is to follow accounting firms and agencies that post about recent openings. AccountAbility and CPA Australia are top Twitter accounts to follow. And don’t forget it’s equally as effective to search for relevant hash tags such as: #accountingjobsaustralia or combining #accounting with #jobs in your search.

5. Australian Payroll Association (APA)
The Australian Payroll Association is a worthwhile resource, assisting its payroll members to maintain compliance in the changing industry landscape. For less than $2 a day, you can join the APA and keep abreast of the latest legislation, compliance issues, best practices and payroll knowledge. It’s a great outlet for obtaining advice, quality training and guidance for payroll professionals.

6. YouTube
YouTube isn’t just for entertainment. The user-generated video site offers a wealth of educational gems ready for potential accounting support job seekers to watch and learn from. For example, resume creation company InnovateCV uploaded a video interview with a successful accountancy chairman. Rakesh Shaunak shares his experience and wisdom, outlining how to obtain a successful career in accountancy. He covers what accountancy candidates should be aware of in job interviews, how important first impressions and dress etiquette are plus work experience tips.

7. CPA Australia
CPA Australia online provides its members with a complete range of finance, accounting and business information services. The ‘Knowledge Portals’ section of their site is particularly helpful and will ensure you stay on top of the latest policy and research with information that can be applied to everyday working.

Greg, Nathan, Larissa, Eddie, Amy, Ryan and Matt

After much success over the last two years, the Melbourne team has seen exponential growth from a team of two to currently seven consultants.  This is due to a great deal of hard work, exceptional candidate care and partnerships with Melbourne’s most attractive companies.

Here’s a little bit about the team….

Eddie Taylor – State Manager
Eddie manages the Melbourne AA Team with 5 years’ experience, 4 of which has been with Accountability. Hailing from England his 2 favourite past times are moaning about the weather and watching Neighbours.

Amy Campbell – Contract roles in the CBD and Eastern city fringe and suburbs.
Amy is a new addition to the AA team in Melbourne she comes with a wealth of professional experience and is fresh and new to the recruitment industry.  Her only downfall is that she’s recently fallen victim to an addiction to “The Voice” TV program.

Matthew Leak – Permanent roles in the CBD and Eastern city fringe and suburbs.
Matt has recently moved to AccountAbility Melbourne after spending 5 years at the recruitment grindstone in the UK.  Unlike most Victorians and Eddie he thinks the weather is fantastic, and enjoys watching all of the personal shopping channels on Foxtel…..

Larissa Cain – Contract roles in the CBD fringe and South Eastern suburbs.
Larissa started her recruitment career with Accountability and has never looked back building many established clients on her way. Her favourite conversation starters are the All blacks and talking about how great everything is over here compared to growing up in NZ.

Nathan Ford – Permanent roles in the CBD fringe and South Eastern suburbs.
Nathan is the south eastern perm specialist for AA and has been with us since 2010.  Born in bred in the outer eastern suburbs of Scoresby his favourite past time includes throwing rocks at bigger rocks.

AccountAbility’s Amber Teagle makes being a mum and juggling an intense career look easy.

Busy, fun, fulfilled, happy and often manic is how working mother Amber Teagle describes juggling both a career and her two-year-old daughter. However, her husband will tell you she’s a woman who likes to do it all – this conclusion is crystal clear within just two minutes of speaking with her.

“My day is absolutely packed back-to-back from the moment that I arrive until the moment that I leave,” says Amber. “But that’s how I like it.”

As the Associate Director of the Western Sydney AccountAbility branch, Amber manages six highly successful consultants. Her role can be as varied as providing support to an amazing team of successful consultants to running team meetings, people management or developing new businesses.

Amber’s career with AccountAbility began in 2005 and she was quickly promoted to manage the Sydney office thanks to her genuine interest in seeing people perform.  Five years of proving herself and she secured her current managerial position. But she couldn’t put her inner desire to be a mother on hold forever, despite jumping up the ranks.

“I understood the implications of putting motherhood on hold. So I decided to start a family, which was a difficult decision to make at the time as felt as though I was at the peak of my career.”

Becoming a mother humbled Amber and slowed her down. She returned to work when the time was right; her secret was being fortunate enough to hire a nanny to assist her with the transition of returning to work.

“It might sound like a cliché, but every working mother will say balance is the key and now I fully understand why. The biggest challenge many of us face is how to balance the demands of family and career. While we want happy and fulfilling lives outside of work, we have to make personal sacrifices in order to achieve our career aspirations.”

“How do you balance those sacrifices so they don’t greatly interfere with your personal goals? How do you fit roles such as wife, mother and friend into an already chaotic schedule? Since time is precious, keeping a balance between the two worlds can be a challenge. Fortunately, with proper planning, balance is possible. When you plan well for both, I believe it becomes simple.”

What is the greatest complaint that candidates make about recruitment companies?

Having worked in recruitment for over 13 years the most common answer to that question is undoubtedly the lack of contact following a meeting with a recruitment consultant. I myself have experienced that when registering with an agency……the frustration of spending an hour of your time with a consultant only for them to never (or rarely) update you in relation to how they are going in their attempt to find you a new position.

Such experiences are the reasons why we spend a lot of time working on ensuring the “candidate experience” with AccountAbility is an enjoyable one and a fruitful one. Unlike other recruitment companies our consultants can only have a maximum number of candidates on their books at any one time. Without quoting Jerry Maguire(!) the rationale behind that is that we register a smaller number of quality people which we will then spend more time working with to ensure they get the right role. In essence it is more focus on a smaller group of people.

WhiIe I cannot make a commitment to guarantee that we will place every single candidate that registers with AccountAbility, I will guarantee that if you are invited in to meet with one of our consultants and you take the time to do so then your consultant will do their upmost to find you your desired position, provide you detailed market advice and will certainly remain in regular contact following your interview.

After all our candidates and the service we give them is the backbone of our business.

With Easter now behind us we are now moving into what is traditionally the busiest period in the yearly recruitment cycle. May – September tends to be the time when companies are in a position to determine how the year is looking from a performance perspective and thus make educated calls as to where they require extra staff. The coming months will provide plenty of options for those of you considering a change of employment. Our role is to ensure that the process of finding such a position is smoothest with AccountAbility.

On a final note I am always looking for feedback or ways that we can improve our service to you. If you have any comments to make please do not hesitate to contact me directly on ruairi.flynn@accountability.com.au