NCC Relied on Accountor's HR Expertise During Challenging Times
Accountor’s Senior Consultant Anita Forssén worked closely with NCC Industry Ltd assisting the company in HR compliance related to the sale of the NCC Asphalt division in Finland. When Anita took on the role of HR specialist in spring 2021, it was already established that after the sale only the Stone Materials business was to remain in Finland. From an HR perspective this was a major project, as the asphalt business division employed yearly over 200 persons during its peak season from April to November.
Success in Critical Business Objectives Ensures Smooth Operations
Anita worked in daily operations as a Business Partner, acting as a local HR specialist for Finland. The completion and execution of daily HR processes and data updates were essential to ensure business continuity during the transformation period.
"My tasks involved managing HR matters in compliance with Finnish legislation and NCC corporate policy. Handling and transferring personal data were also a process in itself, as the ownership of the data changed at the end of the year," Anita explains.
Additionally, there was naturally some uncertainty among employees during this business transfer. Anita's presence at employee information events helped alleviate some of these concerns.
"We sought support for complex HR matters, such as corporate restructuring and employment processes governed by the law. It was not easy to find a service provider with the required competence."
"As a Swedish manager, I have found it both positive and reassuring to have highly skilled Accountor interim HR consultants on-site, ensuring that the necessary processes are handled in the best possible way. Accountor has assisted with critical business operations, including ensuring HR compliance in business acquisitions," confirms Mikael Wikberg, HR Director at NCC Industry.
Change Management Requires Adequate Time
Being part of this business transformation required not only expert skills, but also time, as there were also few unexpected situations along the way. For NCC Industry Ltd it was a particularly challenging situation as a major part of their business was coming to an end. This meant that at times, required data had to be collected quickly and it was essential to know the correct process for getting it.
During the business transformation period Mikael Wikberg served as HR Director for the NCC Industry Ltd. He was Anita’s direct contact person throughout the project, and the collaboration with him and the Finnish HR team was exceptionally seamless allowing the team to navigate even challenging situations smoothly. "I was delighted to hear that my expertise was truly valued," says Anita.
HR Experts Ensure Smooth Daily Operations
Anita has strong expertise in handling corporate change negotiations (muutosneuvottelut). During change negotiations employees are going through difficult phase and big changes. It’s essential to have understanding for both the client’s and employees’ perspectives. Experience brings confidence in managing these processes. Certain processes needed to be completed within a few months and at the same time it was crucial to look beyond the numbers and consider the human perspective.
"I successfully provided the necessary HR data and various reports to support the sales process. It was important to ensure smooth daily operations," Anita explains.
"I received the support of highly professional and competent HR experts for two long-term projects. Communication with Accountor was easy, and the support was flexible and effortless. Accountor’s dedicated Key Account Manager has served us exceptionally well," Mikael praises.
Business Decision Makers – Read This If You’re Considering Hiring an Interim HR Specialist!
Hiring an interim HR consultant is a flexible and stress-free way to bring the necessary expertise into your organization. The service can be obtained on either temporary or ongoing basis.
HR requires professional knowledge across various processes. Legislation and statutory requirements continue to increase: "Managers today have to do more and avoiding mistakes is often part of the daily routine. Experienced HR professional is also able to offer guidance on what cannot be done. No company wants negative outcomes in either employment management or finance," Anita elaborates.
"The resources we received from Accountor were highly competent. Collaboration has been easy, and I have only positive experiences to share. For complex corporate restructuring and transformation processes the support from skilled and committed HR experts is required, and that’s exactly what I received. I have also valued the flexibility to work more than initially planned, which is often necessary in such corporate transactions," Mikael says.
Accountor provides human-centered, comprehensive HR expertise to support businesses. Anita, for example, focuses on employment matters and change management. "It’s important to be determined and keep the long-term perspective in mind when driving HR operations”, " Anita emphasizes. Achieving your business goals, improving employer branding, and enhancing employee engagement are all influenced by well-managed human resources.
NCC Group operates in the Nordic countries, focusing on real estate development, construction, infrastructure projects, and the production of asphalt and aggregates. In the fiscal year 2021, the group's revenue amounted to approximately SEK 53 billion. In Finland, NCC is active in the fields of construction, real estate development, and aggregate production.
