Posted August 30 2023
By Lynne Macdonald
Perhaps you’ve spent the last few months deciding whether or not now is the right time to make a career move. Maybe your summer holiday left you refreshed and galvanized, ready to take yourself to the jobs market. Or it could even be that you are a newly qualified professional, looking to make the move from practice to industry.
Whatever your reasoning, now is the time to engage with your recruiter and make the move.
And this isn’t a case of me simply looking for candidates to put forward for various roles. This is based on months and months of observing the Accountancy & Finance market and noticing real signs of change.
So why is now a good time to move?
The market is starting to slow, with the number of live jobs having decreased for the thirteenth month in a row. Growth in the permanent jobs market is softening, according to the RBS Report on Jobs. So, bearing this in mind, it means that there could potentially be less opportunities out there for candidates. (Although it should be noted that the Scottish jobs market appears to be in healthier shape than the rest of the UK.)
But it’s not all bad news – salaries are remaining steady. This is great, of course, if you are trying to negotiate a pay increase between roles or are looking to take a step up the career ladder. In the middle of a cost of living crisis, the more money you can take home every month, the better.
What if I’m not sure?
It’s understandable that you might be hesitant about making a move. After all, the threat of recession looms large over us all and no one wants to be “last in, first out.”
However, if the Accountancy market continues to shrink, there may be limited opportunities out there which match your experience and career plans. This isn’t great news if you’re stuck in a role that you don’t particularly enjoy.
Right now, we are in a candidate short market and you will enjoy the choice of different companies and roles. You are able to have your pick of the roles that best suit your short- and long-term goals. But if the pendulum were to swing and we see even less jobs coming to market, there will be more competition for what is available. This, obviously, makes it harder for you, the job seeker, to make the ideal move.
How can I get in touch?
I love an introductory phone call to get to know my candidates. I want to hear about what you’ve been working on to date and what you’re looking for from your career. So, give me a call on 07562 205 910 and we can discuss the next steps.
Typical roles that I recruit for include: Finance Director, Financial Controller, Finance Manager, Qualified Accountant, Finance Business Partner, Financial Planning and Analysis Accountant, Senior Management Accountant and Financial Accountants.