Accenture topped the Employer Of Choice (more than 1000 people) category at the recent HR awards and places great emphasis on the development and rapid training of their employees globally. And, says Percy, this is perhaps the main reason for Accenture's status as a desirable place to work.

"The global economic situation is going to have an impact in Australia in 2009, and, as that happens, the focus is going to be less on things such as recruitment and pay rises and more on getting the best out of what we've got," said Percy. "It will be about looking at ways of making the salary bill stretch a bit further."

Percy believes that this focus on training and development will be even more important in the coming year.

"The organisations that are going to be really great in the long term are those that are going to use this time to really get the best team that they possibly can and position themselves well for the turnaround when it comes."

- Sarah O'Carroll

Read the full story about Accenture's winning global strategy in the February 17 issue of Human Resources magazine