NEW YORK - "With the number of job candidates in short supply, companies will need to develop different strategies for recruiting talent in the future," said Jim Wall, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu's Global Human Resources Managing Director, in his keynote address to the National Association of Black Accountants' (NABA) Presidential Luncheon.

In his address to over 150 NABA professionals from across the U.S., he shared his perspectives on recruitment and retention within the professional services industry. Wall said that today's students have many opportunities from which to choose and may not be choosing the professional services industry due to lack of awareness of opportunities within the industry.

"According to a 2003 AICPA study, enrollments in bachelor of accounting programs have declined in the past few years," he said. "The only way we can successfully compete for these ever-demanding talented individuals is to live by a set of values that respects people and responds to their needs."

Wall stressed that Deloitte was guided by its values of integrity, outstanding value to clients, commitment to each other, and strength through cultural diversity when pursing its recruitment efforts. "Values tell us who we are as individuals, even more than what we do. They inform our decisions and behaviors -- and make them better. To me, they're the ace in the hole in the recruitment and retention game, and in fact in everything we do," he stated.

"We deploy a diverse group of accounting partners to key campuses for recruiting minorities and women. There's not a more powerful demonstration of our commitment to diversity than when our people convey their personal stories of success at Deloitte," added Wall.

Wall stated that the responsibility to bring others into the profession is not just the role of accounting firms, but also the role of each individual within the audience. He challenged them to seek out those who demonstrate an aptitude and may potentially have an interest in an accounting career. He also encouraged them to provide opportunities for them to be exposed to the profession.

The Presidential Luncheon is one of the most significant events that take place during the convention. This was a particularly significant luncheon because it marks the end of Kim Griffin-Hunter's (Deloitte & Touche LLP partner) final year as NABA president. Deloitte is also a double platinum sponsor of NABA's 33rd National Convention.

Wall will also give the keynote address at the convention's Distinguished Collegian Dinner on July 7.


About Deloitte

Deloitte, one of the nation's leading professional services firms, provides audit, tax, financial advisory services and consulting through nearly 30,000 people in more than 80 U.S. cities. Known as an employer of choice for innovative human resources programs, the firm is dedicated to helping its clients and its people excel. "Deloitte" refers to the associated partnerships of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP (Deloitte & Touche LLP and Deloitte Consulting LLP) and subsidiaries. Deloitte is the U.S. member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. For more information, please visit Deloitte's web site at http://www.deloitte.com/us.

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is an organization of member firms devoted to excellence in providing professional services and advice. We are focused on client service through a global strategy executed locally in nearly 150 countries. With access to the deep intellectual capital of 120,000 people worldwide, our member firms, including their affiliates, deliver services in four professional areas: audit, tax, financial advisory services and consulting. Our member firms serve more than one-half of the world's largest companies, as well as large national enterprises, public institutions, locally important clients, and successful, fast-growing global growth companies.

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is a Swiss Verein (association), and, as such, neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other's acts or omissions. Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the names "Deloitte", "Deloitte & Touche", "Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu" or other related names. The services described herein are provided by the member firms and not by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein. For regulatory and other reasons certain member firms do not provide services in all four professional areas listed above.

Deloitte

Deloitte

"Deloitte" is the brand under which 165,000 dedicated professionals in independent firms throughout the world collaborate to provide audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax services to selected clients. These firms are members of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu ("DTT"), a Swiss Verein. In the United States, Deloitte LLP is the member firm of DTT. Like DTT, Deloitte LLP does not provide services to clients. Instead, services are primarily provided by the subsidiaries of Deloitte LLP, including Deloitte & Touche LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP and Deloitte Tax LLP.

Corporate Responsibility at Deloitte starts with the shared values that form the foundation of our culture: integrity, outstanding value to markets and clients, commitment to each other, and strength from cultural diversity. The focus areas that make up Corporate Responsibility at Deloitte include Ethics & Compliance, Talent, Community Involvement, Sustainability, Internal Operations, as well as the services we provide clients.

As used in this profile, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Deloitte.com

More from Deloitte