It is within this framework that the partnership with NSA, an independent audit, advisory and accounting firm, has been established. Through this interview, NSA shares its vision of the profession, the key skills sought in young talent, the major transformations impacting the sector, as well as the concrete initiatives implemented as part of this partnership for the benefit of Paris School of Business students.
Company and sector overview
Could you introduce your firm and its main areas of activity?
Founded in 2000, NSA brings together around forty professionals specialising in audit, advisory and accounting services. Our ambition is to support business leaders in addressing their various challenges through a tailor-made approach that combines high quality standards, responsiveness and independence.
Our areas of expertise include transaction services, business turnaround, business valuation, contributions audits, consolidation and reporting. In addition, we also provide more traditional services in accounting, payroll and social management, as well as statutory audit.
In your view, what are the key qualities or skills required to succeed in your sector?
In our sector, several qualities are essential:
- Rigour: the reliability of figures, analyses and recommendations is fundamental.
- Critical thinking and analytical skills: the ability to understand the issues behind the data and to identify risks and opportunities, particularly in transaction and turnaround assignments.
- Teamwork and collaboration skills.
- Availability and responsiveness: contexts are often demanding and evolve rapidly.
- Ethics and independence, which are essential to maintaining the trust of clients and partners.
The partnership with Paris School of Business
What motivated you to establish a partnership with Paris School of Business?
We chose to collaborate with Paris School of Business because we firmly believe in the importance of maintaining strong ties with future professionals. This partnership allows us to stay connected to academic training, to the expectations of young talent, and to the evolving nature of the audit, advisory and accounting professions.
It also reflects our desire to actively contribute to the skills development ecosystem, in line with our commitment to professional engagement.
How does this partnership translate concretely for students?
In practical terms, this partnership may take the form of:
- Contributions from our professionals as guest speakers or lecturers in courses or academic modules.
- Internship or project opportunities in a demanding professional environment, enabling students to gain hands-on exposure to our core business activities.
- Close mentoring and interaction opportunities, allowing students to engage with our consultants and partners regarding career choices and sector expectations.
Key challenges and transformations in the sector
What are the major challenges or transformations currently affecting your sector?
Several profound transformations are impacting our sector:
- Digitalisation: automation of accounting processes, audits supported by AI or data analytics, and increasing requirements for digital reporting.
- The evolution of standards, regulations and expectations in terms of transparency and ESG (environmental, social and governance), which is reshaping audit and advisory assignments.
- Talent attraction and retention, in response to new expectations such as remote working, flexibility and the search for meaning at work.
Recruitment and advice for students
How do you support the development and career progression of young talent within your firm?
At NSA, we place great importance on onboarding, skills development and career progression:
- A mentor–junior system, where experienced professionals share their expertise.
- Regular internal training sessions (technical, regulatory and digital) to ensure our teams stay up to date with industry developments.
- Progressive exposure to a wide range of assignments (audit, transaction services, turnaround), enabling either a versatile or specialised career path depending on individual aspirations.
- Regular feedback and performance reviews to identify areas for improvement and support increasing responsibility.
- A strong team spirit and close collaboration between partners and staff, fostering daily learning within a human-sized firm.
How would you describe the ideal profile of a student or young graduate you would like to recruit?
The ideal profile would be:
- Curious: interested not only in figures but also in the underlying business issues.
- Rigorous and well organised, with the ability to meet deadlines and ensure the reliability of work delivered.
- A strong communicator, comfortable interacting with clients and teams, and able to explain technical results clearly.
- Adaptable and proactive, eager to develop skills, learn, evolve and become fully involved in a variety of assignments.
- A team player, as success depends on collaboration within the firm.
- With a strong sense of professionalism and integrity, which are key values in our profession.
What advice would you give to succeed when entering professional life?
Some key pieces of advice we consider important:
- Be proactive: do not wait to be told everything; ask questions, propose ideas and fully engage in your assignments.
- Step out of your comfort zone: each new assignment is an opportunity to learn.
- Cultivate curiosity and stay informed, as the sector evolves rapidly (standards, digitalisation, etc.).
- Communicate effectively: even in a numbers-driven profession, the way results are presented and explained is essential.
- Build your professional network: colleagues, clients, lecturers and alumni all matter.
- Remain realistic and authentic: aim not only to succeed, but also to understand why you do what you do and how you create value.