It's raining British accountants

We've all heard about the man drought, but if a British recruitment company has anything to do with it, a flood could be on its way.

Financial recruitment company Think Global Recruitment is enticing British accountants by highlighting New Zealand's excess of women.

Managing director Abigail Stevens said the company was trying to redress the gender imbalance and accountant shortage at the same time. Kiwi women outnumber men by 35,000 in the 20-to-45 age group.

Ms Stevens said she started researching the situation after a few female accountants she placed in jobs started complaining about the lack of men in New Zealand.

If a male accountant was interested in working in New Zealand, recruitment advisers were making sure he knew not only about the "tremendous scenery", but also about the increased chances of meeting women, she said.

"When we do get a male who wants to go, we can say: 'There are a lot of women there looking for men'. For a man it's great news."

Senior consultant Gordon Hutchison is one of those already revelling in his new surroundings. "Wellington has a great nightlife and I have definitely noticed an abundance of women on the town compared with Edinburgh," he said.

Ms Stevens said New Zealand was already popular with accountants, regardless of their matchmaking possibilities. "It's one of the locations that we get the best feedback from."

The Company Company owner Alan Reeves yesterday welcomed news that more professional men could be heading to New Zealand.

He said his Auckland-based introduction company, like most dating agencies, had more women than men on its database.

Male accountants appear to be winning on both fronts. One recruitment manager said accountants were in extremely short supply.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY