Accounting & Finance Market Update

Banking & Financial Services Market

Market Overview

• There is a high demand for Qualified Accountants with product experience.
• Increase in volume of roles within Compliance/Regulatory reporting across all Banks.
• Several property/real estate related roles have been released this month.
• We have seen Portfolio Manager roles released for the first time in 18 months.
• High demand for Ops candidates across all areas.

Candidate Levels

• The flow of candidates has improved, especially at the Newly Qualified level from Big 4. These candidates have all now been placed so we need lots more!!
• High calibre candidates are finding work within a week of being in London, some receiving multiple offers.
• With summer approaching, we're finding many candidates have holidays booked but would suggest that this may prove a hindrance to finding work if longer than a week.

Market Trends

• Daily rates have started to increase very slightly but those who are flexible are finding work more quickly.
• A more candidate driven market - candidates have a lot more options now the market has picked up.
• Clients have to move more quickly with the process - good candidates are being placed very rapidly.
• Given that smaller firms are also recruiting now, candidates are also being given temp-perm/perm options too.

Commerce & Industry Market

Market Overview

• High calibre candidates are tending to hear about multiple opportunities.
• There is still an element of selectiveness by the client on interview short lists, with the belief that it is a candidate saturated market. Hopefully this will change over the next few months.
• Larger companies are starting to recruit again with volume of roles coming through from Sky, Accenture, Kingfisher, Diageo, BBC and EMI.

Market Trends

• The overall picture remains positive and general market conditions within commerce and industry are continuing to improve. Although this is at a slower pace than the financial services sector.
• Pay rates have increased. Although candidates still need to remain flexible in order to be considered for opportunities within certain industry sectors.

Candidates

• The flow of candidates improved over the last few months at all levels, especially for those 0-2 PQE with commercial experience.
• Lead times currently at an average 1-3 weeks for high calibre candidates.

Source: Walker Hamill - Walker Hamill is a specialist accounting and finance recruiter based in London.