The New Roles of the Human Resources Professional

The New Roles of the Human Resources ProfessionalThe New Roles of the Human Resources ProfessionalSome industry commentators call the function of Human Resources the last bastion of bureaucracy. Traditionally, the role of the Human Resource professional in many organizations has been to serve as the systematizing, policing arm of executive management. Their role was more closely aligned with personnel and administration functions that were viewed by the organization as paperwork. This is because the initial HR functions needed, in many companies, came out of the administration or finance department areas. Because hiring employees, paying employees, and dealing with benefits were the organizations first HR needs, bringing in finance or administration staff as HR staff is not surprising. Administrative Functions and Executive Agendas In this role, the HR professional served executive agendas well but was frequently viewed as a roadblock by much of the rest of the organization. Some need for this role remains- you wouldnt want every manager putting his own spin on a sexual harassment policy, for example. Nor can every manager interpret and implement the employee handbook as she chooses. Payroll and benefits need administration, even if they are now electronically handled. The administrative functions of the HR department continue to need management and implementation. These tasks are not going away anytime soon. In this role, employees regarded HR as the enemy and going to HR was the kiss of death for your ongoing relationship with your own manager. Employees believed and were often correct, that the HR function was in place solely to servethe needs of management. Thus, employee complaints often fell on deaf ears in an HR department that existed to serve managers needs. They criticize everything from their education to their professionalism to their support for employees. mora importantly, they accuse HR professionals of misleading employees, failing to keep e mployee information confidential, and exhibiting poor practices in areas such as investigations, benefits options, and hiring employees. In some cases, HR is held in such disrespect that you may want to understand why your employees hate HR. Part of it is, of course, that employees dont always understand what the HR department does. Transformation If the HR function in your organization is not transforming itself to align with forward-thinking practices, executive leadership must ask HR leaders some tough questions. Todays organizations cannot afford to have an HR department that fails to contribute to lead modern thinking and contribute to enhancing company profitability. In this environment, much of the HR role is transforming. The role of the HR manager, director, or executive must parallel the needs of his or her changing organization. Successful organizations are becoming more adaptive, resilient, quick to change direction and customer-centered. Three New Roles Within t his environment, the HR professional, who is considered necessary by managers and executives, is a strategic partner, an employee sponsor or advocate and a change mentor. These roles were recommended and discussed in Human Resource Champions, by Dr. Dave Ulrich, one of the best thinkers and writers in the HR field today, and a professor at the University of Michigan. The HR professionals who understand these roles are leading their organizations in areas such as organization development, strategic utilization of employees to serve geschftliches miteinander goals, and talent management and development. Lets take a look at each of these roles and their impact on HR functions and practices. Strategic Partner In todays organizations, to guarantee their viability and ability to contribute, HR managers need to think of themselves as strategic partners. In this role, the HR person contributes to the development of and the accomplishment of the organization-wide business plan and object ives. The HR business objectives are established to support the attainment of the overall strategic business plan and objectives. The tactical HR representative is deeply knowledgeable about the design of work systems in which people succeed and contribute. This strategic partnership impacts HR services such as the design of work positions hiring reward, recognition and strategic pay performance development and appraisal systems career and succession planning and employee development. When HR professionals are aligned with the business, the personnel management component of the organization is thought about as a strategic contributor to business success. To become successful business partners, the HR staff members have to think like business people, know finance and accountingand be accountable and responsible for cost reductions and the measurement of all HR programs and processes. Its not enough to ask for a seat at the executive table HR people will have to prove that they have t he business savvy necessary to sit there. Employee Advocate As an employee sponsor or advocate, the HR manager plays an integral role in organizational success via his knowledge about and advocacy of people. This advocacy includes expertise in how to create a work environment in which people will choose to be motivated, contributing, and happy. Fostering effective methods of goal setting, communication and empowerment through responsibility builds employee ownership of the organization. The HR professional helps establish the organizational culture and climate in which people have the competency, concern, and commitment to serve customers well. In this role, the HR manager provides overall talent management strategies, employee development opportunities, employee assistance programs, gain sharing and profit-sharing strategies, organization development interventions, due process approaches employee complaints and problem-solving, and regularly scheduled communication opportunitie s. Change Champion The constant evaluation of the effectiveness of the organization results in the need for the HR professional to frequently champion change. Both knowledge about and the ability to execute successful change strategies make the HR professional exceptionally valued. Knowing how to link change to the strategic needs of the organization will minimize employee dissatisfaction and resistance to change. Organization development, the overarching discipline for change management strategies, gives the HR professional additional challenges. Consciously helping to create the right organizational culture, monitoring employee satisfaction, and measuring the results of organization initiatives fall here as well as in the role of employee advocacy. The HR professional contributes to the organization by constantly assessing the effectiveness of the HR function. She also sponsors change in other departments and in work practices. To promote the overall success of her organizatio n, she champions the identification of the organizational mission, vision, values, goals and action plans. Finally, she helps determine the measures that will tell her organization how well it is succeeding in all of this.

How to Make the Move From the Big Four

How to Make the Move From the Big Four How to Make the Move From the Big Four You landed a prestigious job with a Big Four or another accounting firm right out of college. Its not only been exciting to work with other top accounting professionals, but youve also learned a lot about your field - and youve seen a lot of the country while working with various clients.You knew you might leave public accounting eventually, and now youre thinking a move to corporate accounting is right for you.Finding the courage to leave is a challenge for people who have worked for the one of the largest accounting firms in the world, said Ky Kingsley, Robert Half Finance Accounting vice president.They are leaving a prestigious, professional work environment that offers challenging work and a structured career path that includes growth, along with a great network of mentors and peers, she said. It almost seems crazy to leave However, grueling hours and a desire for work-life balance often leads them to look for other opportunities.Striving for work-life balanceIts no secret that corporate accounting jobs typically offer better work-life balance - and that more professionals are expressing a commitment to their personal lives. In fact, more than half of the professionals in a Robert Half study say they have increased their commitment to their personal life in the last year.In industry, compared with Big Four accounting firms, theres less overtime and not as much travel. Some corporations have even started to introduce flexible schedules and work-from-home arrangements for their finance and accounting employees.Other motivations for a changeMany finance and accounting professionals say they are eager for the career opportunity to build their skills outside of public accounting, Kingsley said.Taking the leap from public to corporate accounting can give your career a boost down the line, too When companies are searching for a new controller or chief financial officer, they often loo k for someone with both public accounting and industry experience.If youre ready to make the transition in your career, Kingsley offers the following four tips to ease the career switch1. Time it right and take the right steps Most accounting and finance professionals recommend making the move after two to four years with an accounting firm. Thats when its easiest to jump from staff to senior accountant, or senior accountant to accounting manager.As a first step, many candidates reach out to their own personal network of colleagues and previous supervisors who have already secured positions in private industry, Kingsley said. Sometimes they connect with a trusted recruiter who was probably referred by one of their peers. When working with a finance staffing agency, establish a relationship before you launch your search. The recruiter can provide insights on potential opportunities, be on the lookout for jobs that are a fit and help with timing.Of course, once you identify a great op portunity, you may encounter some challenges.Although most public accounting professionals have excellent presentation and communication skills, Kingsley said, many havent interviewed since college, and they have to balance their extreme workload to find time to interview.2. Call on your experienceWhile working at a Big Four firm, youve had exposure to many different companies and industries. Theres a strong option youve assisted clients in real estate, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, technology and more. Good news Firms in all of those sectors, among others, are actively seeking accountants.So when looking for a corporate position, first think about your past clients. Take note of the companies where you thrived, enjoyed the work and fit in well with the corporate environment. Then target your job search in those industries.3. Be ready to stretchUnlike public accountants, who work on projects for several different clients, corporate accountants have just one client the org anization they work for. That means they need a much more in-depth look at a companys infrastructure and inner workings.When you work for a company, you dont just focus on tax and audit. You also work on a variety of business strategy issues outside of typical accounting, like budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management, and collaborate with the operations and business management teams. While this can be a mountain to climb when you first make the switch, it can be extremely rewarding in the long ansturm You can make a real difference in the companys direction and bottom line.Companies like to hire accountants from public accounting firms, because they have a strong work ethic, expert technical abilities, good presentation and communication skills, and a good deal of flexibility and adaptability. All of these characteristics make for top performers in the corporate world.4. Prepare for salary discussionsResearch prevailing salary ranges for the position you want to move into, ta king into account local pay variances and added value your public accounting experience may provide. Look at resources such as Robert Halfs Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance and other industry reports for the latest benchmarks.Also consider the perks offered by the company. Find out if the organization will provide the support, financially or otherwise, you need to earn the CPA (and other relevant certifications) and keep up with continuing professional education (CPE) demands.When you let your firm know youre leaving, do so gracefully and be prepared for the counteroffer discussion. Its generally best to decline the counteroffer. Money likely isnt the primary driver behind your career move, and it wont make up for the reasons youre looking to transition into industry the manager also may simply be biding his or her time until hiring your replacement.Your experience at a Big Four or other public accounting firm can be invaluable, so keep honing the skills you learned there. Th eyll give you a leg up as you navigate your new workplace.SEARCH FOR PRIVATE ACCOUNTING JOBS Ky Kingsley Ky Kingsley is vice president of Robert Half Finance Accounting, North America. She joined Robert Half in 2007 and is an expert on career growth and development, hiring trends, and the use of social media in recruitment. She is based in the Los Angeles area.

Paths To A Great Career

Paths To A Great CareerPaths To A Great CareerOn my desk at work I have a piece of art that features a quotation from Lewis Carrolls book Alices Adventures in Wonderland. I have carried this desk flairwith me to every job that I have held for the past 10 years. The excerpt goes as followsAlice Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?The Cheshire Cat That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.Alice I dont much care where.The Cheshire Cat Then it doesnt much matter which way you go.Alice So long as I get somewhere.The Cheshire Cat Oh, youre sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.I bought this framed excerpt when I started my first post-college job and felt anxious about elend knowing which career path I should be headed down. Having chosen a career and dutifully journeyed down this path, I frequently observe this saatkorn guilt and worry in the words, behaviors and expressions of my younger friends as well as colleagues. It seems to be a rite of pa ssage for young workers to panic at the immense possibilities that lay before them. Fear and guilt are at the forefront of their emotions as a result of not knowing what career path to pursue.At my greatest point of distress, I sought advice from the college counselor of the high school that I attended. The spitfire that she is, she pointed out that the only people who finished college knowing exactly what they wanted to do were people doing what their parents had always told them to do. Of course, her comment should be taken with a grain of salt clearly, some people do figure out their calling early in life and without the coercion of adults. However, snarky as it was, her comment was reassuring and helped to assuage the guiltiness that I was feeling during that time. Also, it encouraged me to focus my energies on figuring out my life.Now that I am older and (I can only hope) wiser, I have outlined why indecision and uncertainty early in your career is actually a good thing.1. When youre young, you have a limited understanding of what you are truly good at.In school, you typically have a sense of the subjects that you excel at and the ones that you struggle with. That being said, I believe that an internalized opinion of your strong suits is often based on other peoples positive reinforcement. In other words, you are more likely to believe that you are good at something because someone else has confirmed it and this may drive you to pursue challenges in categories of validated success.As you progress through your career and as you are tasked with new challenges, never before undertaken (that you may not have accepted if youd held a more rigid perception of your strengths), you will get a more comprehensive sense of the spectrum of your talents. This will influence the career choices you make over time.2. A wider range of jobs exists, and more than you realized.In college, I studied Mass Communications because a career in journalism seemed the most obvious cho ice for someone with strong writing skills. In the end, I never fully pursued a job as a journalist- the possibility of being sent to a dangerous place on a reporting assignment frankly scared me- but I did manage to stumble upon a career in product absatzwirtschaft that I feel suits me very well.The point is that its okay if you leave college without the absolute mindset of I am going to be a insert profession title. Its impossible to know for sure that a specific profession is everything you dreamed it would be, or that there isnt a more suitable career option for you.Instead, remind yourself These are the things I am good at and/or interest me. Im going to look into roles that are a match to this skill set. Moreover, be open to the careers that you encounter and the ones that crop up along the way that may run contrary to what you had originally envisioned for yourself.3. Academic studies are not an exact proxy to working in real life.Few members of the Simply Hired Marketing kol lektiv actually studied marketing while in college. Team members majors includeRhetoric, Sociology, Film, Media Studies and IT.Yet,over time, we were each able to make our way into our respective marketing roles.This isnt to say that you absolutely shouldnt study a subject matter that aligns with your intended profession. Instead, remember that you are not restricted to pursuing a job in a specific field, and that strictly abiding by the narrow confines of your academic studies is often unnecessarily limiting.Study what you are passionate about, build a strong set of core skills that you can apply to a number of professions, and make informed choices throughout the course of your career.4. Its fun to explore and its something you can do, no questions asked, when you are young.Whenever I hear a young person complaining about their job, my instant response is always abrupt. If you dont like the line of work that youre in,find something more rewarding to do. At the beginning of your ca reer path, you are not invested in a single occupation, so take advantage of the opportunity to explore.This is also a good rule of thumb to keep in mind throughout your life transitions later in your career, while more difficult, are not impossible and should be investigated if you think that they will make you happier.While its disorienting and scary to lack a career foundation, be diligent in your exploration and aggressive in your curiosity. This strategy will enable you to find the best career path.