Cultivating a Culture of Growth: How SBF Invests in Personal Development

For the past year and a half, SBF employees have gotten to know a new face in a brand-new role. Amanda Babino is our Performance and Development Coordinator, a position we created as part of our deep and ongoing commitment to our employees’ careers.

“It is so rewarding to be part of a company that created this role solely for the growth of its employees,” Amanda says.

Amanda runs twice-yearly performance evaluations for the entire staff, as well as ongoing technical and soft-skills training. That involves building personal development plans for each SBF employee, as well as tracking individual goals and exploring future options for career paths.

The mentorship program is one of Amanda’s favorite facets of her role. “We pair experienced employees with new hires, to provide them with guidance and support,” she says. “We also focus on cross-functional collaboration — if you take a step back and look at the bigger picture, our departments can all learn a lot from each other and benefit from understanding each other.”

Since Amanda joined SBF in May 2022, the firm has revamped some key programs for new hires and employees, such as streamlining the onboarding process. “We believe in setting our new hires up for success right from the start,” she explains. “It’s important for them to have a clear understanding of what to expect in their roles and responsibilities. At the same time, we also understand the significance of transparency and ensuring that coaches and managers are aware of the progress of our new team members. That’s why we’ve created a well-structured training program tailored to each department. We have seen a huge improvement across the board and received great feedback.”

New hires spend quite a bit of time with Amanda, who checks in to ensure that the onboarding process supplies the right kind of training and tools. She works closely with SBF’s Chief People Officer Jessica Espaillat to research and establish industry-leading benchmarks and best practices for individuals and departments. “We regularly consult with firm leadership to get ideas on how we can help our people grow,” Amanda says. “They always have something to add with their expertise.”

The process mirrors much of how Amanda herself moved into her role. “I do not have experience in the accounting industry, but my career has allowed me to learn how to work with people, and what tools people need to be successful in their jobs,” she says. Her background made her just the kind of lateral hire that enriches SBF and its work.

She also credits the exceptional work culture at SBF with her quick integration. When she set out to learn as much as she could about accounting and the firm’s day-to-day, she was gratified to find welcoming and willing teachers: “Everyone is willing to help you, no matter what. Even if you don’t work in the same department.”

For employees new and experienced, Amanda recommends asking the following questions while thinking about how to center growth in their job, both for themselves and the sake of the whole team:

• What are my short-term goals? What are my long-term goals?
• Who can help me get there?
• What technical skills and soft skills do I need to grow professionally?

Some tangible steps Amanda recommends include:

• Seeking new challenges and opportunities
• Building and actively expanding a strong professional network
• Looking for guidance and mentorship, as well as opportunities for collaboration

All this work is foundational to SBF’s belief in our work culture: The better it is for our team, the better we can serve our clients. “When we offer opportunities for our employees — to enhance their skills, acquire new knowledge, stay up to date and pursue their passions — it does lead to greater job satisfaction and personal fulfillment— which ultimately leads to excellent client service,” Amanda says.

“SBF truly cares about the personal and professional growth, as well as the overall happiness of their employees. They are committed to seeing them succeed in every aspect of their lives. Working for a company as amazing as SBF is truly fulfilling and rewarding.”

To learn more about working with SBF, check out our career opportunities here.