Accountancy firms are losing talent at every stage of hiring, with 22% of professionals turning down job offers because of concerns about a firm’s reputation.
New research from B2B PR agency Midnight shows that employer reputation is now a decisive factor in the accountancy sector, with nine out of 10 (90%) of employees saying it is important that a firm reflects their personal values – higher than the national average of 82%.
Flo Powell, Joint Managing Director at Midnight, said: “Reputation is now directly shaping hiring outcomes in the accountancy sector. It is influencing who applies, who accepts and who walks away.”
And the trend is accelerating, with more than four in five (83%) accountancy professionals saying employer reputation will play an even greater role in their career decisions in future.
The research also highlights a disconnect between how firms present themselves and how they are perceived. University of Sussex students reported that it is often difficult to understand what an employer does, let alone assess its culture or reputation, based on its
website and social channels.
