That Covid has changed the physical workplace is obvious, but it has also changed attitudes toward building a career. People seem less interested in finding a paycheck commensurate with their experience, and more keen on flexibility as they search for meaning and purpose in their work lives. The result is a “war for talent,” Mr Parkhouse says, one in which all the Big Four find themselves embroiled. PwC Luxembourg realises that, in order to attract and retain people, it has to be the most appealing. This sea change has prompted the company to expand on its promise to employees and redefine what it is.

Recruiting in excess of needs

One of the biggest reasons for turnover at PwC is the heavy workload, which is not unusual for any one of the Big Four. To combat this and lighten the load for everyone, the company is recruiting well beyond its needs. They have increased their targets for the coming year by nearly 70 percent, with a plan to hire around 910 people at all levels – with a focus on Assurance and Tax, hoping to bring in 453 and 179 new joiners, respectively. These targets are significantly in excess of the company’s growth predictions.

Training employees for PwC and beyond

PwC Luxembourg has also launched a programme called Your Tomorrow. This aims to affirm to new recruits that when they join, they do so not just as an accountant or lawyer, but as a professional entering a supportive ecosystem. Once inside, the company provides training, upskilling, and mobility across domains. These are tremendous assets for an employee even if they leave the company.

Support and engagement

Another feature that makes working for PwC Luxembourg more appealing is the system of having team leaders. These are longer-term employees who work with clusters of 8 to 10 people and help to manage, offer support, and coach – especially in circumstances when an employee might be hesitant to see their supervisor. New joiners will find further support in PwC Luxembourg’s buddy programme, which assigns a dedicated team member to look over a new joiner. This buddy will help the new joiner with quotidian concerns and familiarise them with the intricacies of the company. Such expanded support networks are vital at a company such as PwC Luxembourg, which increasingly recruits far beyond Luxembourg’s borders.

Once a newcomer himself, Mr Parkhouse says he knows very well that much of his staff come far from their homes and that their point of contact after arriving in Luxembourg – especially during the Covid era – is PwC. That is another reason why the company makes such huge efforts to watch after employees on a personal level – and encourage them to return to the office in order to foster connections that are best developed with face-to-face interactions.

The allure of PwC and Luxembourg

At the end of the day, Mr Parkhouse says that the company itself, what it stands for and what it offers, is the biggest draw for new talent. When asked by Delano what the company’s strongest selling points are in the job market, Mr Parkhouse emphatically put forward three Cs : care, clients, and career. “First, we offer care : human empathy and support. Secondly, we offer a phenomenal client experience, working for and with the best. Thirdly, we really focus on the careers of our people and on helping them to develop professionally,” explains John Parkhouse. Of course, Luxembourg also plays a large role in recruiting new talent. It boasts great infrastructure, stability, and unrivalled opportunities for families. Also, it is welcoming, multilingual, and it makes great efforts to accommodate the newly arrived. Mr Parkhouse, who is a fervent evangelist for the country he has called home since the 1990s, believes that the country does need to address some concerns such as the cost of housing, but there is almost no better place to live and work.

A bright future

Mr Parkhouse is optimistic about PwC Luxembourg’s recruitment goals and its efforts to draw talent from abroad. The number of countries represented in the company has risen to 82, compared to 77 the year before. This year’s top-line growth was up 5.8 percent, and its global revenues continue to climb. “This is growth that is fuelled by talent, not just technology,” Mr Parkhouse says. “We are a community of problem solvers.”

KEY FIGURES

With over 2,900 employees, PwC is the largest professional services firm in Luxembourg.

PwC experienced top-line growth of 5.8 percent in the year ending on June 30.

They plan on recruiting 910 new joiners, including 453 in Assurance, 179 in Tax, 156 in Advisory and 122 in Internal Firm Services.

PwC Luxembourg employs people from 82 countries, compared to 77 the year before.

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