Christchurch businesses fuel demand for accountants: Hays Quarterly Report

House building and civil engineering businesses in Christchurch are recruiting heavily for accountancy talent, with demand highest for Management Accountants, Systems Accountants and Reporting Accountants.

This is one of the findings of the latest Hays Quarterly Report, covering October to December 2012, which looks at candidate and employer trends while highlighting skills in demand.

“While the rebuild efforts are driving this demand, the general lack of technically qualified candidates from accounting backgrounds is also adding to the shortage of appropriate talent,” says Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand. “And as businesses implement new systems, this will further increase the demand for qualified candidates.”

In Christchurch there is also demand for Account Administrators who can multitask and incorporate overall office administration management in growing businesses that need all-round professionals. Accounts Payable staff, Assistant Accountants and entry-level accounts staff are also sought in busy small to medium-sized businesses.

But the demand for accountancy professionals is not limited to Christchurch. In Auckland, demand exists for NZCA qualified and experienced Senior Accountants, particularly within local SMEs or subsidiaries of international corporations currently experiencing growth.

Qualified Financial and Management Accountants, as well as Financial Analysts, with a minimum of two to three years commercial experience, particularly within the IT&T and FMCG industries, are also sought.

“Many businesses in the IT&T industry have gone through restructuring at the beginning of the year which has led to candidate movement, as well as new positions being created, particularly around financial reporting as well as margin and profitability analysis,” says Jason. 

“The FMCG market has also picked up after a long period of low activity and many businesses are now increasing their back office headcount to support their increased activity levels.”

Meanwhile, in the professional practice space Senior Accountants, Managers and Senior Managers and Auditors are in short supply in Christchurch.

“Candidates have moved away from the region and not many accounting candidates have returned. There is also a trend where candidates from the profession are moving into the corporate arena,” says Jason.

In Auckland demand for experienced Business Advisory staff at the intermediate and senior level is getting stronger across the profession from top and mid tier to small boutique or suburban firms.

“Most large and medium-sized firms have no difficulty attracting candidates but have retention issues at the Intermediate and Senior level. A high percentage of candidates within a CA practice will either move overseas for their OE or move on to a commercial role within a year of obtaining their qualification.”

For the full Hays Quarterly Report, please go to www.hays.net.nz/report

Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.