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Centri’s Kristen Wik Featured in Accounting Today: Finding Them and Making Them Stay

Centri’s Kristen Wik, Chief People Officer, is featured in an article by Accounting Today: Finding Them and Making Them Stay. At Centri, Kristen is responsible for overseeing the strategy and process related to building and retaining an exceptional team of professionals at the firm. She gives her insights into why a strong company culture is crucial for attracting and keeping talent.

Attracting accounting talent has become difficult in recent years, and many in the industry are seeking new ways to develop and entice their increasingly limited pool of applicants. One way discussed is an increased attention to company culture when recruiting.

Kristen recommends that potential candidates should be informed of what the firm supports and how it interacts with its community. Increased transparency and an emphasis on company culture are of growing importance to the new class of talent and should be emphasized during the recruiting process.

Beyond culture, employee development remains a key attractor and retention tool for top talent. It is increasingly critical to allow internal movement within a firm, allowing employees to transition from one focus, such as sustainability or client valuation, to another. When given the freedom to explore different aspects of the accounting field, employees can settle into an area of expertise that benefits the firm and alleviates the pressure of a reduced talent pool.

This opens new avenues for leadership roles that accounting professionals were previously unaware of that the field can offer. “In accounting, people can really write their ticket to where they want to go and what they want to do,” Kristen says.

In the same vein as opening leadership pathways, equitable leadership representation goes hand in hand with talent acquisition. Even with DEI principles, companies may still struggle to attract underrepresented groups because without representation in leadership roles, they may struggle to envision their own path within the company.

Kristen further explains that flexibility is a striking differentiator when competing with other firms and aiming to retain talent, and that this includes a robust maternity and paternity leave policy. Supporting employees at every stage of their life is a crucial aspect of a strong company culture.

A strong company culture is crucial for attracting and retaining employees. At Centri, we are One Firm, One Team, One Culture. Our employee’s development and well-being are a top priority, and we offer various leadership programs to help our team grow and succeed. Learn more about our culture.

Kristen Wik

Chief People Officer | CPA

Kristen is the Chief People Officer (CPO) at Centri Business Consulting. She has over 20 years of experience. View Kristen Wik's Full Bio