Dramatic increase in demand for specialist accountants

The accountancy sector has been given a boost during the last 12 months thanks to a significant upturn in demand for interim specialists, reported by recruitment professionals.

According to Global Accounting Network, the demand for fully qualified accountants to work on a short-term or contract basis within the commercial and industrial sectors in the UK increased by 44 per cent in the year to November 2017.

Demand

Analysis of the market suggests that this increase is being driven by businesses looking to be proactive in safeguarding against future risks in a changing economic environment.

The report identified that the biggest increase in accountant recruitment was in the specialist field of Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A). This focuses on spotting trends and anomalies within a company’s finances, providing clear information to senior managers, and helping to set financial strategy going forward.

The increase in demand for accountants with these specialised skills suggestsbusinesses want to increase their financial analysis capacity to face the challenges and opportunities of the post-Brexit economy.

Trend

Global Accounting Network Head of Interim Services Hugh Spurling said the upturn in interim accountant recruitment was good for the accountancy sector:

“2017 saw a strong increase for interim accounting professionals and we expect this trend to continue in 2018. This can largely be attributed to external market conditions, with businesses possibly unwilling to commit to permanent headcount costs against the current landscape and choosing instead to invest in flexible resources”.