What's your view? Company values
May 03, 2022
In every issue of The Bottom Line, we ask students for their thoughts on a particular topic. This month, we want to know: what company values are important to you?
Kathryn Tiffney
Audit Associate at PwC Belfast
The values I look for in an organisation have evolved as I have progressed in my career.
Initially, when joining my training firm, I was looking for a company with a good reputation, excellent learning prospects within various fields of accountancy, and clients in different industries. I wanted to gauge which area of accountancy I was best suited to, and what direction to take my career in.
Now that I have finished my training contract, my focus is on companies offering good work-life balance and growth prospects. I would definitely consider leaving a position, or turning down a job offer, if the company didn’t demonstrate these values.
Eoghan Conaty
Risk Assessment Associate at KPMG Dublin
It is important to me that any organisation I work for values inclusivity, integrity, and sustainability.
Businesses should be at the forefront of fighting big issues such as the climate crisis and discrimination. Organisations that promote diversity, strive to do the right thing, and care deeply about ensuring a better tomorrow, are the ones that will tackle the big issues.
The sense of fulfilment I would get from working for one is so enormous I would most definitely leave an organisation if I felt it did not hold the values I look for.
Furthermore, I believe that, if we actively seek to work for organisations with strong, positive values — and, more importantly, leave those without them — we are helping to ensure a brighter and better future.
Nigel Cousins
Audit Associate at Northern Ireland Audit Office
We talk a lot about finding a culture fit when job hunting, and much less about finding the right fit for our values. A culture may celebrate innovation, but values determine what gets sacrificed in its pursuit.
It is nearly impossible to bring your best to an organisation that is in conflict with your values.
For this reason, I have identified five key values I actively seek out when considering an employer: honesty and integrity; continuous learning; diversity; innovation; and teamwork.
Ultimately, a poor value fit would eventually prompt me to me seek out a different employer — one that shares my values.
Therefore, it is essential for me to have full confidence that my values align with any organisation before I join.