HOW TO HANDLE A COUNTER-OFFER

Celebrating International Day of Accounting with David Cameron, Vice President of the LCASS

International Day of Accounting is an annual celebration to commemorate the publication of Luca Pacioli's book on double-entry bookkeeping in 1494 which is the bedrock of modern day accounting. In the modern day, International Day of Accounting is about the appreciation of the crucial work Accountants do and the recognition of their importance for business longevity and success. This year, we caught up with David Cameron of EY's Restructuring Team and Vice Presidentof the Leeds Chartered Accountants Student Society (LCASS) to gather his advice for those in the early days of their accounting career and insights about all things ACA.Starting a Career in Accounting 1.What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in accounting?I would say the sooner you realise that all of the exams require a fair amount of work and can’t be blagged (no matter how easy you found A-levels or university), the better. ACA is tough but I think it is certainly passable for most people, as long as you put the work in. The next big piece of advice I would give is if you go into the initial mundane tasks, when you first start, with a positive can-do attitude, it goes such a long way. The people who go into tasks with that outlook often find they move onto much more interesting tasks, quickly. Finally, the last tip I’d give to anyone starting out in accountancy is start building your network straight away, not only will it benefit your career in the end when everyone climbs the ranks together, it is even more beneficial from a social point of view at the junior levels. People you meet at networking events will become your friends and just enhance your overall experience when you are starting out. 2.How can recent graduates make themselves stand out to potential employers?It sounds cliché but I think showing your personality in an interview and just being yourself is something people feel as though they shouldn’t do. I really believe that that’s by far the easiest way to stand out. The majority of applicants will also have a great CV, the way you will stand out is by the employer thinking that they will enjoy working with you every day. Picking an ACA Specialism 3.Can you share some insights on the different specialisms available whilst studying ACA?Audit and Assurance:Examining financial statements and processes to verify accuracy and provide confidence to stakeholders through regulatory compliance. Tax:Advice on tax planning, compliance or strategy, dependent on what department of tax you’re in. Transactions:This could be a role in Mergers & Acquisitions/Corporate Finance, Transaction Due Diligence or Restructuring. 4.How did you decide on your own specialism, and what influenced your choice?I work within the Restructuring service line and absolutely love it. I’d always had a big interest in how businesses work operationally, and Restructuring allows me to assist businesses through times of distress with the hope that we can help to provide a solution to save/improve the business. Being in the service line I am in, it has allowed me to think outside the box and use problem solving at work as there is never the same solution for each business in a time of crisis, with solutions ranging from running an accelerated sale process of the business to possibly refinancing its existing debt. What the ACA Has to Offer5.What are the key benefits of pursuing the ACA qualification?First and foremost, the comprehensive skillset you acquire through completion of the ACA qualification shouldn’t be overlooked as it allows you to apply knowledge you have learnt from topics/exams usually unrelated to your usual job role to situations where it is required or even personal situations. I believe that the practical work experience you gain (at least 450 days of practical work experience) whilst completing your ACA enables you to improve your technical skills at a far quicker rate as you are utilising knowledge you have learnt at work on a daily basis, to better your understanding of the technical aspects, something which you don’t get to do at university or school. I would say the largest benefit is realistically the career flexibility and opportunities it allows you to have access to. As mentioned above, there are so many different avenues that you can go down through having an ACA qualification. If you don’t like one role, you can quite easily try something different. 6.How does the ACA prepare accountants for the challenges both inside and outside of the profession?As touched on above, the comprehensive knowledge gained from an ACA qualification is fantastic and can be applied to so many different scenarios outside of an accountancy role, such as personal tax planning or even the strong financial acumen gained to assist with running your own business. ACA also of course reiterates the importance of ethical behaviour and integrity throughout your studying period which helps instil such traits into students. Learnings from this will help students make correct decisions at work or even in their own personal life when faced with difficult choices. Personal Journey into Accountancy 7.Can you tell us about your journey into accountancy and what inspired you to choose this career?I joined the EY Leeds Restructuring team back in 2020 via the school leaver programme. I probably got unlucky with the year I joined given we were in the midst of the pandemic, however, what I was certain of even back then was no matter what, I still just wanted to get into work rather than continue full time education. I was keen on the potential qualifications I would come out of university with; however, I knew that I had always much preferred working throughout school than the education side of things. I was drawn to the Restructuring apprenticeship due to the element of problem solving involved and the opportunity to leverage commercial skills. Admittedly, I wasn’t overjoyed about the prospect of 15 ACA exams, however, I knew the end goal was worth it and provided some incentive. Four years later and I have completed my ACA and my apprenticeship. I’d recommend this path to many, for the experience and level of qualification I’ve been able to obtain by such a young age, coupled with the opportunity to meet so many people that will be mates for life. 8.Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your career path?Nothing I would change that’s in my control. It would’ve been ideal to have joined at a time outside of the pandemic as it did effect the social side of things for the first year or so. To find out more about the ACA click here.Looking for your next career move in finance or accountancy? At Sharp Consultancy, our expertise lies in matching your potential with the perfect temporary, interim, or permanent position. With a well-established presence in Leeds and Sheffield, our seasoned team of consultants extends their services across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't wait for opportunity to knock, reach out to us TODAYand let's chart your career path together.

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Retaining top talent is a challenge for any business; what do you do if your current employer responds to your resignation with a tempting offer to stay? And if you are an employer trying to recruit a new team member, how do you ensure that your preferred candidate accepts the role?

What to do if your current employer tries to get you to stay…

Think about why your employer has waited until you said you were leaving to offer you more money or a promotion. Do they recognise the value that you bring to the organisation and if not, why not? If they do, have they been taking you for granted and would you be better off starting afresh elsewhere?
What is the relationship like between you and your current boss? If you stayed, how do you think this relationship would be affected?
What were your reasons for looking for a new role? If your current employer is offering you more money, does this change any of those reasons or will they arise again a few months down the line?
Recruiting new staff is a time consuming and often expensive process so it is understandable that your employer wants to retain you and may offer a higher than market rate salary to ensure you don’t leave. However, if the issues that made you look for a new role in the first place still remain, you could find yourself priced out of the market should you decide that you do need to move on at a later date.
Are you prepared to give your current employer the opportunity to address your concerns? Are they willing to listen to your reasons for leaving and can they put workable solutions in place? What value do you place on your relationships with your colleagues and clients? Do you find that the culture of your current workplace matches your own values and outlook?

How to avoid a counteroffer being made to your chosen candidate…

Ask why they want to leave their current role. Try to get a clear idea on their motivations and understand more about what they are looking to gain from a move. If their reasons are solely focused upon achieving a pay rise or a promotion you may find yourself in a bidding war further down the line.
Understand the market rate for candidates at each particular level; whilst you need to present an attractive salary package, you do not want to be paying an inflated rate for someone who may not be able to deliver what you need. And ensure that you highlight other benefits and conditions which will have a perceived value such as flexible working, option to buy additional holiday and subsidised travel.
Remember that the interview is a two-way street and it is as much about you selling the role, company and opportunity to the candidate as it is about them showing that they are best person for the job. Listen to their reasons for looking to leave their current role and demonstrate how you can help them achieve their ambitions.
Move at a timely pace. Speed can often be of the essence when it comes to securing your preferred candidate – once you have made the decision, move quickly through the stages and ensure references and any paperwork are actioned quickly. Keep in touch with the candidate or recruitment consultant so there’s no opportunity for them to doubt that you are having second thoughts.
Put your best offer forward at the outset so you don’t leave the door open for a counteroffer to be made. In the same way that questions will be asked of a current employer, if you are only increasing your offer because a counter has been made, it may not reflect well on you. If you do find yourself in a bidding war over a candidate – either with their current employer or because they have received another job offer – know when it is right time to walk away; you want people who are keen and enthusiastic about the opportunity you are offering.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for temporary, interim and permanent roles across the full spectrum of positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today and speak to a member of our team about your next career move.