International secondments - Gaining a global perspective

Jatin Radia left the UK member firm's Gatwick office in September 2005 on a two year secondment to France. An international audit manager with six year's experience at Grant Thornton UK, he leapt at the chance of spending some time in Paris. "I'm a committed Francophile, having spent a year at law school in Strasbourg." He has extended his contract for a third year. Jatin helps the French subsidiaries of overseas groups, as well as coordinating the international audits of key clients of the French member firm. "The secondment has allowed me to experience a new culture, language, work ethic and way of life."

The opportunity to accrue new skills was paramout too, for Brian Davis, a senior manager at the US member firm's Weston Florida office, who arrived in Hong Kong on a two year posting in August 2004. "I was looking for more challenging assignments," said Brian, who is now involved in almost all the Hong Kong assignments involvng US-listed companies. Brian cites personal factors as his reason for extending his secondment for an additional two years. "I had never lived outside the US before," he said. "In my role in Hong Kong, I've been able to travel extensively to countries I would never normally have visited."

Member firms sending staff on secondment also profit from the skills brought back by secondees, says Johanna Nielsen, a manager from the US member firm's Salt Lake City office, who has facilitated the audits of US-listed companies' French subsidiaries since arriving in Paris on a two year assignment in March 2006. "I'll return to the US better equiped at facilitating communication and assessing business risk," said Johanna. "The experience has already taught me to be more appreciative of other cultures and working methods."