Digital transformation driving demand for new finance skills, research shows

Research from finance and accountancy recruitment firm Robert Half has shown that digital transformation is driving demand for new skills in the finance sector.

The study surveyed almost 14,000 Chief Financial Officers across 14 countries, exploring hiring trends and career ambitions, and found that more than 40% of UK CFOs believe that more focus is being placed on skills such as data analysis as digital transformation becomes a priority for businesses.

Key skills

Other key skills that are in demand are financial analysis, which was cited by 35% of respondents, and data forecasting (34%). UK businesses are finding it a challenge to locate qualified workers, with more than 90% of CFOs citing attracting accounting and finance professionals as their top challenge.

The study also showed that more UK businesses need to make training and development a priority in order to retain workers, with external training opportunities being cited as the most common training and development opportunities at 52%, followed by internal training opportunities at 48%.

Effective recruitment

Commenting on the importance of upskilling workers, Robert Half’s UK Managing Director Matt Weston stated that training is key to making sure that employees are productive and that they feel that they have an incentive to advance and grow within the business.

“In today’s recruitment landscape, the importance of effective recruitment and retention strategies cannot be overlooked. As skilled professionals are now in the driver’s seat of their careers, recruitment responsibilities continue long after the contract is signed,” he added.