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Two in five FDs want to live and work abroad

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19th Aug 2005
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Two in five UK FDs want to leave and work abroad, according to a survey of 5000 financial directors undertaken by recruitment consultants Robert Half Management.

According to Nicolette Beeston of Robert Half, FDs are finding their role increasingly stressful, and blame a widening skills gap within the profession, which they attribute to a failure on the part of many companies to recruit and train suitably qualified candidates between 2000 and 2003.

As a result, Beeston told AccountingWEB, "FDs feel they're taking on too much responsibility, and too much workload."

Other findings of the survey were that:

  • Nearly all UK finance directors (96%) have more responsibilities than they did five years ago (across other countries questioned this figure rarely dropped below 90%).

  • A similar proportion said strategic decision making is part of their daily responsibilities and for three in five (58%) this was the main reason the job has changed (with the UK scoring higher here than any other market).

  • Two in three believe that Sarbanes Oxley and IFRS has 'changed the content of the job dramatically'

  • Nearly two in three (58%) said the role of the finance professional is more stressful than a couple of years ago.

    Beeston stressed that Sarbanes Oxley had introduced a radical new element to the workloads of FDs operating at the highest levels, and that a shortage of financial directors with the right credentials meant that recruitment is now "very much candidate driven."

    She said that the increase in stress, over-reliance by companies on a handful of key personnel, was pushing finance directors to consider alternative lives and life-styles in the United States, in Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.

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    By raycox
    23rd Aug 2005 13:05

    Living abroad
    I happily count myself among those for whom migration is a very real option. I have the experience to my credit having lived and worked in South Africa for 11 years.

    The grass is always greener on the other side?

    Too true!

    I plan to retire on active duty outside finance to the Canaries.

    Anybody for beach tennis?

    Ray Cox

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    By AnonymousUser
    23rd Aug 2005 15:13

    Bankruptcy...Lender refuses to accept reasonable settlement
    A mortgage lender has a decree against one of our clients for £35000 which was a shortfall on a repossessed house approx. 10 years ago.
    Our client has £20000 equity in her present property and has offered this in full and final settlement, the lender has asked for a minimum of £24000,they have also arrested our clients wages last month.
    They are aware that they will get less than £20000 if the client declares herself bankrupt which is her solicitors advice.
    Does anyone know if our client can avoid bankruptcy as it seems crazy for a lender to accept a smaller settlement providing the client is declared bankrupt.Lenders solicitor does not know where or how the lenders figure of £24000 has been calculated.

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    By AnonymousUser
    19th Aug 2005 12:03

    stress not the only reason
    My one-way ticket to NZ was booked two weeks ago - and I'm happy to make way for the next candidate for my role - I recruited him for his potential four years ago.
    What the survey doesn't seem to highlight is the potential benefit for our children - the main reason for our departure - I guess I'not the only one who despairs of the declining standards in our education system, and the self-centred aggressive 'youth' culture?

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    By carnmores
    19th Aug 2005 17:20

    Oh!
    whats wrong with the other 3?

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    By User deleted
    19th Aug 2005 12:16

    It's in the title
    Surely as a Finance Director, it is in your job spec to help guide the direction of the company, taking strategic decisions being all part of that. So what's the moaning? If you just handle the financial accounting then are you not a Company Accountant?

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