It is interesting that the beginning of this calendar year has seen so many roles at the management level - Financial Controllers and Senior Management Accountants. In the past few years it felt as if there were more assistant accountant roles or specific requirements for certain skill sets.  It is still too soon to see whether this will last and to work out why that might be. Feedback from more junior applicants is not that employers are hiring direct instead... We will let you know.

In the commercial sector, as opposed to within the CA practices, there is an over-supply of strong candidates in the permanent and contracting market.  This means that employers can make detailed demands about what they want in a new employee - to a point.

 

The best people are still folding their arms and making their own demands, and as always it often comes down to personality fit anyway.  If someone has the personality to go the extra mile, look for solutions, use their initiative, then they are going to be the preferred candidate. 

 

In the same way, if an employer listens to what their people want from their working life, show some flexibility to accommodate non-work activities and just illustrate a level of respect, they will win the best candidates without having to pay over market rate.

Happy New FInancial Year.  A time for tidying up the old accounts, opening new ledgers with new budgets and forecasts and bringing a fresh optimistic approach to business.  With the right people on board, there is nothing we can't do!

In the CA space there is always a lot of activity at this time of the year as firms get themselves ready to look after the bulk of the seasonal work of compiling tax accounts for their clients.  Ideally they have a team which is used to the client profile - they can follow through and make those incrementatl improvements, building on the relationships as they go. If there is someone new to settle in, it is because there is more work to do - more clients or more work from existing clients as they grow.

 

These are the popular places to work.  A nice base of loyal work with an established team who know how everything happens in the office, as well as the excitement of new clients, new issues and new roles to fill.

 

Of course in real life there is a turnover of staff. People move on for more challenges, firms downsize when they lose clients.  For every one person who outgrows a role there is another who is ready to step up to it.  The key is to make sure that both employer and employee are moving forward with each new working relationship.

 

So look at what has worked, even the surprising things that happened by mistake.  Don't dwell on it too much but also look at what didn't work, just to get the lessons out of it.  Take that information to your consultant and have a full conversation about it. You would be surprised how that will help with your next hire or your next job.

 

The number and calibre of contract and temporary roles has increased over the last six weeks or so, with some interesting assignments for busy organisations. This is encouraging after the usual lull over Christmas. (Yes, I know, except for those December year end people!)

However what is a little alarming for applicants is the sheer volume of people available for each role. Not everyone is ideal for each role, far from it, but there are many more people looking for work and available immediately.  This means being more flexible with rates, being prepared to take on a lower assignment to get a foot in the door (and out of the house.)  It is really disappointing for the people who are prepared to do all that and still can't get a role. Be patient - this too will pass and the market will swing back your way.

 

So is this good news for employers hoping to hire?  Supply and demand rules, so yes. Good people with more skills than you are looking for are available immediately, and they are not demanding the huge rates they used to justify. Contractors are the ideal way to check that you need a new resource or to help cover while you get on with a big project, or provide the skills you are missing.