The Practitioner: Accounting talent pool is running dry

WHAT’S HAPPENED to all the unemployed accountants looking for a job?

I always thought that January was a good time to advertise for a vacancy, what with New Year resolutions and people looking for a fresh start in their career. It turns out I was wrong. The talent pool is running dry it seems.

It’s so desperate that I’ve had to resort to using recruitment agencies. The newspaper advert only returned burger flippers, and the Facebook and Twitter adverts not even that.

The recruitment agent I’m using is a client at least, so I’ve managed to get a ‘deal’ on the fees. My old senior partner used to hate agencies with a passion and as a result I’ve tried to avoid them in my career so far. MY client obviously saw my advert on Facebook and Twitter and got in touch with a couple of (hopefully) suitable candidates.

Pregnant pause

The vacancy has arisen due to maternity leave coming up for one of my senior staff. Truth be told I’ll be glad to see her go for a few months. I’ve been meaning to speak to our HR consultant for where I stand getting rid of her even though she is pregnant. I suppose the nice person in me has held back from finding out, thinking it’s probably not the nicest thing in the world to do to get rid of someone at this point.

Fingers crossed she loves motherhood so much that she decides to be a full time stay-at-home mum.

On a happier note I’m pleased to report that tax return deadline day came and went without drama. Although I’m still slightly nervous when the post arrives. I’m waiting for the unexpected penalty notice to drop in for the client that fell through the net.

In our fifth year of practice, January was the best month ever in terms of billing – which is good to report. The team pulled out all the stops and we’ve worked the hardest we have ever done.

Now where are those CVs I need to look through..?

The Practitioner’s uncensored thoughts come from within their own practice, having left a regional firm in the heart of England