The Global Talent Crunch

Robert Half International

Finance professionals across the globe need not only to be aware of current finance regulations but also brush up on their ’soft’ skills. According to the recent Robert Half International Global Financial Employment Monitor, more than half (56 per cent) of finance and human resources managers surveyed globally reported difficulty in finding skilled job candidates whilst 42 per cent expressed concern about losing top performers to other job opportunities.

The survey of more than 5,000 finance and human resources managers in 17 countries throughout North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region showed that employers around the world are continuing to feel the effects of a shortage of skilled accounting and finance professionals. In Asia, more than four out of five respondents from both Japan (83 per cent) and Hong Kong (82 per cent) reported finding skilled financial professionals a challenge.

With employers stating that they face a talent shortage at both staff and management level, candidates need to prove that they not only have the requisite financial knowledge but also the ability to think strategically as well as possess solid communication and leadership skills.

Employers (43 per cent) are also expressing concern about losing top performers to other job opportunities thus making it easier for candidates with the right skills and knowledge to choose the roles they desire. These candidates have the upper hand in negotiating remuneration packages that will not only reflect salary but also provide a better work/life balance.

The difficulty in finding the right candidate for the job is also highlighted by the significant amount of time employers spend on interviewing and hiring. On average, it takes nine weeks to hire for management-level openings in the UK, which is slightly higher than the global average of eight weeks, indicating there is a lack of suitable candidates in the market.† Though employers are facing a candidate shortage, they are unwilling to hire candidates who do not meet the right specifications.

Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialised recruitment consultancy with a global network of more than 350 offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. For more information about Robert Half please visit www.roberthalf.co.uk.