Dumaguete: A global accounting firm based in Australia is opening 100 jobs for virtual assistants in this Negros Oriental capital and nearby areas. Kelly+Partners has teamed up with WrkPod, also an Australian company located in Dumaguete City, that links virtual assistants to enhance their job prospects with global employers to assist in expanding their businesses.

According to Philippines News Agency, Kody Thompson, WrkPod’s chief executive officer and co-founder, said in an interview Thursday, that Kelly+Partners is one of Australia’s largest accounting firms and was initially its accountant for many years. “And now our businesses are aligned with a mission to make people’s lives better, and so it’s really a perfect match,” Thompson said.

He noted the challenges in finding accounting talent in Australia and the United States, highlighting that “Kelly+Partners joining with WrkPod is going to create many more opportunities for Filipinos.” Thompson also remarked that this partnership signifies Dumaguete’s growing recognition by global companies.

Kelly+Partners is a publicly listed company and one of the world’s leading accounting groups. On Oct. 21, the two companies formed a partnership, with the accounting firm set to recruit accountants, bookkeepers, and other professionals in the finance/business field as virtual assistants. Daniel Chiha, Senior Partner of Kelly+Partners, acknowledged the skill set in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental, which rivals other countries, prompting their decision to establish their business here via WrkPod.

“The talent here is as good as anywhere else in the world, and it’s a testament to the city and the workplace,” Chiha said. The entry of Kelly+Partners will boost WrkPod’s vision of creating 10,000 jobs in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental, as well as across its sites in the Visayas, including Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and Cebu, Thompson said.

WrkPod’s CEO mentioned they are nearing 2,000 desks to be reached by the end of this year, as the firm is looking to expand to Iloilo soon. Meanwhile, at least 30 virtual assistants in the accounting/finance sector are participating in a Level Up training by Kelly+Partners in this city to enhance their skills and gain further insights into Australia’s financial policies, Thompson said. The Level Up training will be held at least twice a year, he added.