Current Market Summary

Following the recent credit crunch, the market for experienced finance professionals will most likely display a shift away from the previous buoyancy of 2007, to a more conservative approach to hiring across industry. This follows a trend initiated in 2006 of a highly active market, due to a stable and progressive economy, robust business strategies and a realisation that finance professionals are able to deliver the key management information required to facilitate growth.

Finance professionals have seen their role profiles evolve to become more entwined with business operations to the extent that CFOs are now viewed as CEO designates in many organisations. The demise of the “back-office” finance professional has been a noted phenomenon as companies demand a higher degree of commercial acumen and closer working relations between finance and other business divisions.

Increased legislation and the impact of IFRS and Sarbanes-Oxley have resulted in stronger corporate governance within companies with a resultant uplift in the demand for technical accountants. Recent times have also seen extensive M&A activity, particularly within the private equity sphere. Alongside the growth of AIM listed businesses, the M&A activity has afforded senior finance professionals the opportunity to branch out into exciting new ventures.