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Cost accountants are the most in-demand role among companies looking for finance and accounting talent according to recent Robert Half data.
In fact, there’s real demand across the board for folks with hardcore technical accounting skills according to Robert Half’s Finance and Accounting Trends 2023 data. Finance managers, compliance officers, financial analysts, and accountants and auditors round off the top five highest-demand roles for companies seeking finance talent, according to Robert Half.
That need for technical accounting skills seems to run somewhat counter to the popular idea of finance professionals as organizational strategists and influencers, but the demand makes sense to Brandi Britton, global executive director of contract finance and accounting at Robert Half.
“The finance roles always appear sexier because you’re making strategy and you’re influencing,” she said. “But tactical accounting roles help the organization run and are the most necessary roles within the company.”
A lot of organizations are also growing their finance teams to meet post-pandemic challenges; 62% of companies are hiring for new finance and accounting roles, according to Robert Half’s analysis of job postings, company websites, and placement data. Additionally, 34% are looking to fill existing roles.
“In the pandemic, a lot of organizations scaled back,” said Britton. “As we’ve come out of it… they’ve seen an opportunity to expand the finance role because those roles can help identify growth opportunities, or mitigate and reduce costs and expenses.”
Filling those roles is extremely challenging. Robert Half found that 89% of companies are facing challenges in finding skilled talent.
That is benefiting finance and accounting professionals with the right skill sets. According to Robert Half’s 2023 Salary Survey, 46% of companies are increasing starting salaries for finance talent, 34% are offering signing bonuses, and 33% are giving new hires hybrid work options.—DA