Study reveals that professionals remain ambitious despite gloomy economic times, dreams of a brighter horizon do not escape the ambitious finance and accounting professionals of Hong Kong.
An international survey conducted by Robert Half shows that high hopes for career advancement remain in tact, and professionals are willing to do whatever it takes to get there. 83% of respondents expect to one day become a CFO, compared to 41% in Singapore and a meagre 16% in Japan.
Andrew Morris, Director, Robert Half believes this figure “reflects the fierce determination that has made Hong Kong the respected financial market it is today.” Approximately 12% see the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) role as just a stepping stone to the coveted Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position rather than the top post available to finance and accounting professionals.
The motivations for advancement vary: at the top of the list, 37%, are driven by prospect of greater financial rewards, this is in comparison to just 22% in Japan. 29% of those surveyed are driven by greater management responsibility. Loyalty to a current employer will not deter employees in their quest for progress as evidence by the fact that 55% of Hong Kong’s respondents will happily leave their current job to climb the ladder. 77% of Hong Kong respondents have attended a personal development course in the past eighteen months with the hope of fast-tracking their personal development. Half of these funded it on their own in contrast to 24% in France, 28% in the UK and 27% in Japan. Morris added, “The finance and accounting professionals we meet are dedicated to self improvement so this figure does not surprise me. Hong Kong should be proud of its tenacious, ambitious and driven workforce.”
While fiercely determined to reach the top, respondents firmly believe that achieving a work and life balance holds equal weight to career advancement.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
