An accounting firm with a fantastic workplace culture? Unheard of you say? One great example of how even a (possibly perceived) boring business can build a highly productive team and profitable business is Sidcor Chartered Accountants.
Paul Siderovski is the founder and Managing Director of leading accountancy firm SiDCOR, ranked by BRW Magazine as the 3rd ‘Best Places to Work 2014’ in Australia as well as being acknowledged by BRW magazine as one of the top 100 accountancy firms in Australia. They employ more than 30 people, each of whom shares the same committed vision of financial and business growth.
In 2012, Paul brought to Australia the largest frozen yogurt chain in the world, Yogurtland. He holds the rights of this growing chain in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.
Sharing stages with Richard Branson and Tony Robbins, Paul has been able to develop multi-dimensional success across accounting, franchising, property, equities and start ups as well as maintaining a happy family life.
STRATEGIES
- Develop core values and live by them.
- Love your people, show loyalty to them, and they’ll return it. When you lose an employee, this usually costs the business from $100,000 to $150,000 in profit.
- Just as you’d do anything for your family, do anything for your staff and customers.
- Make your employees happy. Retaining employees makes life dramatically easier for the CEO.
- If you don’t invest money promoting the Values you’ve chosen to stand upon as an organisation, you’ll have a much harder time convincing your people (employees and customers alike) to commit to the organisation.
- At Sidcor’s Newcastle office, they have a pool table, table tennis, air hockey and pizza ovens. They provide lunch and breakfast for employees and even have free vending machines. This helps create a fun workplace with committed employees.
- Each month, employees get to vote for employees who have lived up to Sidcor’s Values. The winners are recognised and rewarded with everything from helicopter rides and bridge climbs to vineyard visits.
SIDCOR VALUES
HEART AND SOUL
Love the client. Love what you do. Treat it like your own.
DO WHAT WE SAY WE WILL DO
Deliver what you promise. Your word is your bond. Take responsibility for your choices and the outcome.
RAW AND REAL
Tell it as it is. Tell your truth. Do what is right and fair.
PUSH THE BOUNDARIES
Innovate. Work smarter. Think outside the square. Do whatever it takes. Go above and beyond.
BACK YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER
Respect, consider and support others. Have each other’s back. Be passionate and believe in yourself and what you do.
REALISED BENEFIT
- Sidcor is the most profitable accounting business in Australia
- A less stressful workplace
- Low employee turnover, which means less pain for management surrounding hiring and firing
- Higher levels of employee and customer loyalty
- Employees who are willing to contribute in committed and dedicated ways
PAUL SIDEROVSKI’S TIPS
“My biggest learning has surrounded keeping the wrong people too long. That was a killer.”
“A fish rots from the head. If you aren’t leading, it won’t happen.”
“Living your values isn’t about profit; it’s about ease of life and business.”
This is an extract from The CEO Secret Guide to Managing and Motivating Employees by Claire Harrison.
For help developing your high performance team contact Brisbane-based HR consulting firm, Harrison Human Resources, and/or take our 44-question Great Workplace Quiz to receive your score and report.
If you want to hear more from Paul Siderovski of Sidcor Chartered Accountants then listen to the interview with Paul on the Best Workplace CEOs with Claire Harrison PODCAST.
Claire Harrison is the Founder and Managing Director of Harrisons, a flourishing HR consulting business that sprouted in 2009 from Claire’s passionate belief that inspiring leaders and superstar employees are the key success factor to any business. With over 20 years’ experience, Claire has worked as a HR Director of multi-national organisations, as a Non-Executive Board Director, and a small business owner. Claire’s corporate career includes working with companies such as BHP, Westpac, Fonterra and Mayne Nickless.
