Accounting Workers Confident about Finding New Jobs

Sixty-two percent of finance and accounting workers said they are confident about their ability to find a new job, while 78 percent believe it is unlikely they will lose their jobs over the next 12 months, according to a new survey.

The online survey of finance and accounting employees, conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the staffing company Randstad Professionals, found that less than 10 percent are not confident about their ability to find a new job.

Fifty-four percent of the finance and accounting workers polled said it is unlikely they would voluntarily leave their jobs. The survey found accounting and finance workers are not only confident about themselves, but they are also confident in their employers. Sixty-four percent say they are confident in the future of their current employers, compared to only 11 percent who said the opposite.

“There is no question the accounting and finance sector has improved dramatically during the first half of 2015,” said Kathryn Bolt, group president of Randstad Professionals and Tatum, in a statement. “According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in financial activities rose by 17,000 in July, and overall employment has increased by 156,000 over the past 12 months. It seems finance and accounting workers are certainly taking heed of the improving market conditions, as our survey shows confidence levels continue to rise.”

It is becoming increasingly more difficult to find entry-level candidates with the necessary skills to operate today’s complex information systems and data-analytics tools.

A recent report from the Institute of Management Accountants, which surveyed professionals working in the finance and HR/recruitment functions, revealed large gaps between competencies that organizations need to succeed and those that entry-level finance and accounting candidates actually possess.

According to the report, half of the survey participants say they experiencing increased time to fill entry-level positions and nearly one-third are hiring unqualified candidates.

“New graduates and professionals in the early stages of their finance or accounting career need to broaden their skills beyond simply earning more traditional certifications like the CPA,” said Bolt. “Many of our most sought-after candidates are those who have taken on a range of projects, are technically proficient, and those who pursue positions where they can develop their communication and strategic skills.”