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Thursday, 25th April 2024 |
| Accountants with Sarb-Ox and Basel II experience are doing well |
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| The buzz words in accountancy today are Sarbanes-Oxley, IAS and Basel II, writes Jeanette Naughton, and she says that salaries in these areas are quite attractive and candidates with hands-on experience will be paid a premium. |
Financial services is a very active recruitment market at present. There are opportunities in all areas of the sector. Accountancy qualifications continue to be sought after and an excellent opportunity to take a step into a continually growing and developing market.
Financial services is an excellent training ground for part qualified accountants and is also an obvious choice for recently qualified accountants making their first career move once out of contract. Most employers will look for a steady career and experience gained in the financial services arena. However, with opportunities outstripping the supply of candidates, particularly in the area of fund accounting it is necessary to be open minded and consider candidates with alternative experience. Easily transferable skills can be found in shared services organisations or the services industry in general.
Salaries in the area had seen a certain amount of stagnation between 2001 and 2003. However 2004 brought a more fluid market with the realisation that good candidates won’t be available for long, and if a specific skill is required in a business, in most circumstances you need to pay to get it. There are certain recruitment hotspots currently with the buzz words being Sarbanes-Oxley, IAS and Basel II. Salaries in these areas are quite attractive and candidates with hands on experience will be paid a premium.
There are a broad range of opportunities available in the market at the present time and reports are very positive on continued grown in the sector for the foreseeable future. The variety of available opportunities is also excellent. An idea of positions currently open include: financial analyst, financial accountant, systems accountant, reporting analyst, senior reporting manager, business analyst, financial planning and analysis manager. Many clients are recruiting qualified accountants who have a commercial outlook and a focus on the running of the business and ultimately the bottom line. Confidence, customer focus, commerciality and general awareness are the characteristics that are in demand and will set a strong candidate apart for their competition. It is a fact that a high percentage of managing directors are qualified accountants and in order to get there, gaining broad experience is the key. |
Jeannette Naughton is head of the financial services division at Brightwater.
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| Article appeared in the February 2005 issue.
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