Finance and accounting sector set for hiring surge despite skills shortage concerns

A significant expansion in finance and accounting recruitment is expected for 2025, with more than half of hiring managers planning to increase their permanent workforce. However, industry experts warn that skills shortages and rising salary expectations could pose challenges to this growth.

According to Robert Half’s 2025 Salary Guide, which surveyed 1,000 employees and 500 hiring managers across the UK, 52% of finance sector hiring managers intend to expand their permanent headcount in the coming year.

“It’s encouraging to see more optimism in finance and accounting for next year,” says Steve Sully, Regional Director at Robert Half. “But it is also no secret that the cost of employment is increasing.”

The research indicates that 40% of managers also plan to bring in new recruits on a project basis. Data analytics, business intelligence tools, and automation emerged as the most sought-after skills in the sector.

However, these ambitious hiring plans face significant headwinds. The study reveals that 45% of finance and accounting employees are expecting salary increases, with one-fifth prepared to resign if their compensation expectations aren’t met.

“With the likelihood of the planned uptick in NICs placing additional budget constraints on employers, coupled with professionals themselves seeking better remuneration packages, attracting talent could become ever more challenging,” Sully notes.

In response to these pressures, finance leaders are implementing new strategies to attract and retain talent. The survey shows that companies are expanding their benefits packages to include agreed bonuses (19%), flexible benefits (19%), and dental insurance (15%).

“Against this backdrop, candidates hold the majority of the power when it comes to negotiating, meaning that robust talent attraction and retention strategies will be key,” explains Sully. “It is promising that our research suggests that employers are increasingly looking at other means of attracting talent, including more holistic benefits packages which are clearly growing in importance with candidates.”

The findings come amid growing concerns about the cost-of-living crisis and its impact on salary expectations across the finance and accounting sector. As organizations prepare for increased recruitment in 2025, the balance between meeting workforce expectations and managing budget constraints will be crucial for successful hiring strategies.