MARGARET DOYLE
Margaret joined BDO Taranaki as Practice Manager in 1996 when she decided that the call of Mt Taranaki was far too strong to stay away from home any longer.  She is a people person working in human resources, coaching, mentoring, facilitating, staff development, some accounting stuff and all of the other things that come under her umbrella.
She know’s what the HR rules are.  She is able to bend them without breaking them and use them to the advantage of the BDO Team.  She loves to think outside the square and relish’s in things that are simply ‘not done’.

WHO ARE WE:
A firm of Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers based in New Plymouth.  BDO Taranaki is one of 12 independent member firms making up the BDO national network.

IMPLEMENTATION OF FLEXIBILITY & SELF MANAGEMENT:
In the early days of implementation, transitioning from the old ‘command and control’ culture, it was difficult to look up from your desk and see people leaving in droves at 2pm or earlier on a Friday.  These days we expect that the Friday 4pm Chocolate Fish round will likely find only 20 people in the building.  There are 80 of us - if we were all here at the same time!  These challenges were addressed by living the culture and generally getting over ourselves.

In our organisation there is no need for clock watching, we promote positivity and a general respect for each other. We value our team and in return the Team values the BDO culture and the proof is in the pudding, productivity of staff is at 82.7 % and yes, this is measured.

To be successful requires full flexibility, honesty and commitment by all staff to our culture and flat management structure and we have achieved this.  The core value of our organisation is complete Trust. Without that, we would topple over.

We genuinely believe that our people are our greatest asset.

Our “one team” approach sets us apart from many other accounting firms and businesses.  Traditionally accounting firms have many management layers, however we operate a successful self managing, flat management organisation with no hierarchical structure.

We are a meritocracy – Our team don’t have to pass anyone to get ahead, and our career path is our own and not limited by anyone but ourselves.

We are a boundryless culture where the barriers to individual success have been removed, we are also a learning organisation where our focus is promoting and encouraging ongoing learning and knowledge sharing.

So how far does this management style extend? It is firm wide and whilst accessible to all of our team members some are more restricted by their roles such as: our reception area needs to be covered during core business hours which are between 8 and 5pm; our housekeeper also has constraints around vacuum cleaning when people are taking telephone calls; and others when deadlines need to be met.

FLEXIBILITY:
We are fully flexible – flexible working options relating to hours, flexible start and finish time, flexible breaks, flexibility in choosing where and when to work.  We enjoy maximum flexibility subject only to client needs and external constraints.

Part time work is available throughout the organisation this includes both Associates and Principals of the Firm.  We have total ability to move from part time to full time in the same role and back again.

The minimum number of hours required is an average of at least 24 hours per week – this is due to the need for reasonable job turnaround to ensure the best possible service to clients. These hours can be worked offsite, at home; or a combination of the office and home. This flexibility builds a close team and commitment. Individual team members have enjoyed:

A dad working four days a week to spend time with his children, a mum starting at 5am in the morning while the children are at swimming and starting work when her husband gets home from work during the school holidays.

Staff wanting to play golf on Wednesdays, take a couple of days to go skiing, or wake up on a Thursday with the waves beckoning – its easy - no permission or approval is required.

Staff studying extra-murally taking time off during the day to complete assignments (in or outside of work)

A team member can phone our receptionist to advise that they won’t be in or simply update our electronic locator from home– the only restriction being – client’s and fellow team member’s requirements can not be compromised.

Approval is only required for leave if a team member plans to be away for more than three days.   This is really to discuss that work is taken care of and that an effective plan is in place.

We have enjoyed 17 pregnancies in the past three years.  Each of these pregnancies has led to different needs by each family and we are able to accommodate these needs.  Some Mums have taken a year off, others have worked from home, others have returned after a few weeks on a full or part time basis.  
Being family friendly we get to know most of the children some as young as two days old. Mums bring baby into the office when they are picking up work or printing, attending Friday Drinks or morning tea shout, baby shower, or having picked them up early from day care. 

REMUNERATION SYSTEM:
Our team are paid for every hour worked.  Our payroll allows people to be paid actual hours, regular hours or hours requested.  This can be changed weekly. We have a Leisure bank system in place where hours can be banked and paid out at a later date or used as additional time off.

COMMUNICATION
Internal communication in this flexible system is vital

• “Need to know” – electronic document where all non urgent information can be shared between staff rather than sending copious emails

• Staff locator – electronic document where staff record their whereabouts.  This is invaluable with people coming and going frequently

•  Email distribution list for staff on extended leave – eg: Maternity, long term illness, overseas to keep them up to date with the “goss” and training matters

ORGANISATIONAL BENEFITS:
We have benefitted from Flat Management/Self Management by people having adult / adult relationships and being responsible for themselves.  Because our team have freedom to a large degree to choose the hours and times they work this contributes to productivity because our team work when the work is available and when the weather is inclement our car park will be filled with cars on a Saturday and in the evenings.

Our staff turnover is extremely low. Our statistics tell us that our team stay on average for 8 to 9 years.

When it is difficult to recruit experienced or qualified staff we have often found that people join us from other firms because they know this is a great place to work and know that our flexibility is real. We have had experiences where candidates have preferred not to take other opportunities while they wait for a position to become available with ourselves.