Job market adds up for accountants

Job market adds up for accountants

Strong accountancy and finance professionals are seeing such high demand for their skills that recruiting experts Hays says they can sit and wait for the right opportunity to come their way.

According to the latest Hays Quarterly Report, both temporary and permanent accountancy and finance professionals are sought as companies grow staff numbers, especially Financial and Management Accountants, Commercial Managers and Cost Accountants.

But even the top accountancy professionals still need relevant industry experience. “Demand is high for these professionals, but employers still look for candidates with specific industry experience,” says Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand. “That’s why any jobseeker must ensure they apply for roles for which their skills, experience and background are a match.

“For their part, top talent are attracted to roles in complex organisations that offer management responsibility and an opportunity to influence strategy and company direction.”

According to Jason, accountancy firms are also experiencing higher demand for talented professionals. “Firms are putting hiring plans into action now that the New Year has arrived in order to ensure new recruits are well and truly up to speed in time for the busy reporting season in April,” he says.

He also notes that technology is becoming further advanced and so businesses in New Zealand are looking for chartered accounting firms that will add value on the advisory side. In turn firms are looking for suitably qualified candidates to help them position for this increasing demand for their services.

According to the latest Hays Quarterly Report the following accountancy & finance skills are in demand:

• Financial Accountants - Financial accounting roles represent a high proportion of the total number of roles being recruited across the sector. Companies need additional resources to cope with increasing levels of ‘business as usual’. Financial Accountants in the $75,000 to $90,000 per annum range are in particularly strong demand in Auckland.

• Management Accountants - Increased focus on budgeting and forecasting is driving up demand for Management Accountants. Many organisations in Auckland also need more in-depth financial support to make sense of a fragmented market picture. There is also growing demand for budgeting and forecasting professionals who can communicate well with the business.

• Cost Accountants/Costing Analysts – Cost Accountants and Cost Analysts are always in demand but remain in short supply in New Zealand. We are seeing increased competition for talent due to the creation of new roles related to product launches as well as increasing business competition, which makes managing costs even more important.

• Financial Analysts - Candidates for these roles are in extremely short supply. Demand for candidates is growing due to a focus by businesses on improving systems and processes as well as understanding and controlling costs.

• Commercial Analysts/Managers - There has been a high demand for candidates able to use data as a tool for business. Larger corporate entities want sales aligned finance professionals who can work across pricing, production and sales analytics.

• Assistant Accountants/newly qualified – We are seeing many businesses keen to hire entry-level accounting talent so they can grow their careers within the company.

• Accounts Payable Clerks – The increasing levels of business activity are generating corresponding levels of accounts payable work to ensure payment of creditors.

• Company Accountants (Sole Charge): The small to medium (SME) sector always has demand for sole charge professionals who can cover administration and transactional work in addition to end-to-end accounting.

• Senior Accountants and Business Advisory Managers – These skills are sought within professional practice, and preferred candidates have a proven track record in New Zealand. Those with good interpersonal skills and an understanding of how emerging technologies are identifying business trends will do particularly well.

• Talented newly qualified accountants - Firms are losing some of their newly qualified chartered accountants to the business sector, so remain on the lookout for the right replacements. Candidates able to articulate why they see a career in the chartered environment are in greatest demand.

To see the full list of skills in demand and trends for your industry, please visit www.hays.net.nz/report

Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.

ENDS

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