Finance Recruitment Update – What We're Seeing in the Market
The finance market has definitely picked up over the last few months. It's not a hiring boom by any means, but there does seem to be more confidence than there was this time last year. Businesses are still being careful with recruitment and taking longer to make decisions, but they're hiring where they really need to. We're seeing good demand for roles across FP&A, Commercial Finance, Finance Business Partnering, Treasury, Tax and Financial Reporting, particularly where businesses are looking for people who can add value beyond the numbers.
One thing that hasn't changed is that good candidates are still in demand. Employers have more choice than they did a couple of years ago, but when someone has the right technical skills alongside commercial awareness and a proactive attitude, they don't tend to stay on the market for long.
One area that's often overlooked is Credit Control. In a tougher market, cash flow becomes even more important, and experienced Credit Controllers can make a real difference to a business. Strong relationship-building skills, the confidence to have difficult conversations and the ability to reduce aged debt while maintaining customer relationships are incredibly valuable. It's a role that often proves its worth when businesses need it most.
We're also seeing more employers looking for qualified finance professionals who are dynamic, commercially minded and comfortable working at pace. This is particularly true in industries such as supply chain, manufacturing and distribution, where finance teams need to respond quickly to changing customer demand, fluctuating costs and operational challenges. Technical ability is expected, but we’ve found it’s the candidates who can adapt, communicate and support the wider business who really stand out.
Are job boards losing candidate confidence?
One conversation that's becoming more common is around online job boards.
Many candidates tell us they're applying for dozens of roles and hearing very little back. Whether that's because of high application volumes, automated screening or roles that have already been filled, the experience can be frustrating.
We're also hearing candidates question whether every advert they see is still live. It's not unusual for people to wonder if some vacancies are out of date, already in process or simply left online longer than expected.
As a result, more candidates are moving away from relying solely on job boards and instead building relationships with recruiters, expanding their networks and approaching businesses directly. For employers, it's a useful reminder that candidate experience matters. Keeping adverts up to date and communicating with applicants can make a real difference to how your business is perceived.
The conversation everyone is having – the impact of AI
It's almost impossible to have a conversation about finance at the moment without AI coming up.
Some people are excited by it, others are understandably wondering what it could mean for jobs, particularly within transactional finance.
From what we're seeing, AI isn't replacing finance teams overnight, but it is changing the way they work.
Many of the repetitive, process-driven tasks within Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and transactional finance can now be automated more effectively than ever before. Invoice processing, reconciliations, expense management and data entry are all areas where businesses are investing in technology.
Does that mean these roles disappear? We don't believe so.
What we're more likely to see is a shift in focus. Transactional finance professionals will spend less time processing and more time managing exceptions, investigating issues, improving processes, maintaining data quality and supporting finance systems.
Businesses will still need people who understand how the numbers fit together. They'll just expect those individuals to use technology to work more efficiently.
Looking ahead
Overall, the market feels positive. Businesses are hiring, just more carefully.
Candidates are still finding opportunities, but employers are becoming increasingly selective.
The strongest candidates aren't just technically capable, they are also commercially aware, adaptable and willing to embrace new technology.
AI will continue to shape finance over the coming years, but we see it as another tool that's changing the way finance teams work rather than replacing the people within them. As always, it'll be interesting to see how the market develops over the next 12 months.
