2007 Boom Year For Accountants

19 February

2007 Boom Year For Accountants

According to Nigel Barcham, managing director of Robert Half International ANZ, 2007 will be a boom year for accountants in New Zealand and Australia.

"Companies continue to invest heavily in their finance and accounting teams, but the skills shortage appears set to continue in 2007" Nigel predicted. "Ongoing financial reporting and compliance requirements resulting in the formation of specialised internal finance teams and commercially savvy finance people are going to be required to assist in executing organisations' growth plans."

Robert Half International believes the threat to New Zealand companies from talent being recruited to work overseas will continue, with Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, the UK, India, China and Japan all providing lucrative opportunities to our finance professionals. This trend can be viewed as a positive for New Zealand businesses, with professionals returning to New Zealand from overseas bringing valuable experience and skills back into the country.

"We really need to focus more on onshoring. When you look at India, they've done a great job promoting their country as a great place to offshore relatively unskilled jobs," said Nigel. "In my opinion, Australia and New Zealand need to position themselves as the hub for onshoring the highly skilled finance roles for Asia Pacific's global companies."

In New Zealand, Robert Half predicts that salary perks will remain a key driver for potential candidates when selecting a position. But in 2007, candidates will increasingly be lured to roles by non-monetary compensation. Advanced training and development programmes, openness and transparency of communication, cross functional promotion track record, employer brand and organisational reputation will all play a major role in finance professionals' decisions to accept a position. Robert Half predict 2007 will see an ongoing tough market for employers looking for the best talent.

Nigel Barcham said: "The implications of high business confidence and the skills shortage will have a great impact on the industry this year. Firstly, the companies are going to have to focus on more creative retention strategies. Secondly, organisations are going to have to provide a more compelling proposition than they may have previously communicated if they're going to attract the best talent. And, thirdly, for the job seeker in the finance and accounting industry, the good news is he should be continued to be spoiled for choice."

Mr Barcham's full report on the employment forecast for ANZ appears as the first Robert Half International podcast for 2007. To hear this report and the viewpoint of other Robert Half executives please visit www.roberthalf.co.nz .

ENDS

© Scoop Media