Underwood: cavalier HR approach at smaller accounting practices

Accounting practices with fees of on average £500,000 through to £2m are encountering difficulties in managing, developing, recruiting and retaining employees and also in providing a good working environment for their employees. Keith Underwood, managing director of Foulger Underwood, looks at the reasons for an HR vacuum at smaller firms

The crux of the problem is that accounting firms of this size do not have a dedicated human resources (HR) individual in place. On occasion, they choose to engage HR consultants to sort out employment problems. The ongoing day-to-day HR role of appraisals, performance evaluation, setting of remuneration and performance development is not available.

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