Looking For Talent? Steal From Your Competitors

This was originally posted September 6, 2007.  Not much has changed since then.  Not much varies for the Big Four member firms all over the world.  Regulators, please note: This is the level of responsibility- the level of expectations – for non-management staff.

Quite significant.

I ran across this recruiting ad for PwC Belgium while looking for something else. (Updated on September 5, 2011 with current recruiting video.) It’s an ad for experienced hires with only 2-5 years of experience.

Watch the video. Notice the ubiquitous hotelling. Nice cars, nice suits, nice offices, but sheer monotone boredom just doesn’t look very good on video.

(Notice how the cute dark haired girl is always shown behind the straitlaced Senior Manager.)

*The job of your life

In this position, you will be the ambassadors of the PricewaterhouseCoopers brand and be best placed to identify our clients’ needs. You will have a key management role on audit assignments where you will utilise and further develop your knowledge and skills.

You will:
* Have direct contact with clients and work in their offices (Better to save on office space at PwC and office space hotelling is so tedious…)
* Work closely together with experienced engagement teams (Yeah right…)
* Execute and complete a variety of engagements (More likely stuck on the same client all year or more.)
* Work independently (Yeah, no Managers or Partners ever show up.)
* Continue technical development through report writing, management presentation and other client deliverables (What do the Partners do?)
* Develop and maintain ongoing work relationships with clients’ middle and senior management  (I’m sure they really love talking about Fin 46 with a 25 year old…)

* Continually look for opportunities to help clients to solve their complex business problems in an ever-changing environment (For sure!)
* Utilise the PricewaterhouseCoopers methodology (What a prize!)
* Develop listening and questioning techniques (Listen more, question less)
* Organize and collaborate in the planning of projects (Is there more?)
* Coach teams of auditors: distribute their work according to experience and expertise, train them and follow up performance (I’m 25, I’m new to the firm, I’m not even a CA yet and I am coaching others?)
* Lead our teams in the performance of audits at a wide range of our multinational and major clients (Many are called, few are chosen.)
* Contribute to the development and the on-the-job training of our professional staff. (Isn’t there anyone who works here besides me? When do I get to go home? What time is lunch?)

*Your profile (The only people who fit this profile are others who have already had two years of training at another Big 4 firm!)
– You have 2 to 5 years of experience in external audit .
– Demonstrated strong analytical skills and organisational abilities with a proactive approach to solving problems and delivering client solutions,
– A proven track record of establishing and maintaining strong relationships,
– Action-oriented self-starter, able to work autonomously,
– Experienced in supervising and developing junior staff,
– Ability to communicate clearly with colleagues and clients at all levels,
– Basic knowledge of IFRS and US GAAP would be an advantage,
– Flexible and adaptable to new situations