As confidence starts to return to world markets, ACAs will undoubtedly play an increasingly strategic and central role in controlling and steering their organisations into recovery.
The economic downturn has reinforced the importance of qualified finance professionals working in and advising organisations. Recruitment trends show that while some sectors have felt negative or mixed effects, some are bucking the trend and increasing the size of their finance teams.
Key findings
- Recruitment has been unaffected by the downturn for over half of managers
- One in four managers are currently recruiting or planning to recruit
- Negative or mixed effects especially felt in the government and agency sector
- Managers who are recruiting are most commonly looking for skills in financial, management and regulatory reporting and core accounting, bookkeeping and transaction processing
- For those recruiting an accountant qualified up to four years, analytical skills and presentation and communication skills are key competencies that are sought
- For those recruiting more experienced accountants, leadership skills and influencing skills are key competencies likely to be mentioned
- Managers are continuing to look for ways to boost morale as a key retention strategy, followed by increased technical training and development and restructuring the team to give key people more responsibility
What this means for ACAs
It is central to both personal and corporate success that chartered accountants continually seek to develop and enhance their technical and business skills to build the firm foundations which the global economy requires in these difficult times.
Their skills and experience in managing the challenges of day-to-day operations that will prove critical as the finance sector comes under political and regulatory scrutiny over the next few months.
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