North American employers looking for leaders

Employers in North America are searching for job candidates who possess leadership skills, even when hiring for entry-level positions. While research suggests the need for leadership in the workplace, employers are learning it is not easy to find in every pool of candidates.

Leading up to the Graduate Employment Conference Europe (GEC Europe), College Recruiter is publishing the opinions of experts based on a series of questions related to global talent acquisition. In today’s article, Benjamin R. Mulling, Chair of IMA’s (Institute of Management Accountants) Global Board of Directors, highlights the challenge North American employers face in finding job candidates with leadership skills.

Benjamin R. Mulling, Chair of IMA’s Global Board of Directors

“For skills companies are struggling to find, leadership is certainly one of them. In a recent research study published by IMA’s Competency Crisis Initiative, in partnership with APQC, leadership was the only competency in the survey to make both the most needed and least possessed competency lists. Historically, leadership capabilities were expected to be developed throughout one’s career. However, the participants in the survey said that entry-level finance professionals need leadership capabilities from day one in the workforce. The survey also said that entry-level finance talent lack planning, budgeting and forecasting skills, and strategic thinking and execution skills.”

Benjamin R. Mulling, CMA, CPA, CITP, is Chair of IMA’s Global Directors for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. He also serves as chair of IMA’s Governance Committee. Mr. Mulling is Chief Financial Officer of TENTE Casters, Inc., of Hebron, Kentucky, a multinational manufacturer of mobility solutions to the institutional and medical markets. He assumed this position in 2008 at age 28. Prior to this position, he was the company’s controller.