eFinancialCareers

Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans – those darlings of the City jobs market – need to raise their game as more UK-trained accountants hunt for temporary work.

Emma Halls of recruitment company Finance Professionals says contractor assignments are down by 20%. “The contract market rose in January, as permanent roles failed to get sign-off – but those contracts have decreased. Many contractors are not being replaced, and some permanent workers with specialist skill sets are actually choosing to move to contracting if no alternative permanent jobs are available.”

She warns: “There may shortly be too many contractors for the number of jobs, especially with the influx of antipodeans at this time of year.”

But Sarah Williams of FSS City believes candidates from down under remain well-placed. “Antipodeans tend to have excellent technical accounting skills, with both A-level equivalent qualifications and degrees in accountancy or finance prior to commencing professional studies. They often have more relevant work experience than UK-trained counterparts, so this may well stand them in good stead, particularly for audit and management accounting roles.”

Recruiters say current temporary workers – of all nationalities – should make themselves indispensible to avoid falling victim to a sudden contractor cull. “If your bosses are examining costs, do all you can so that they can’t imagine the office without you,” says Halls. “Be flexible, do your job superbly, build strong relationships – essentially, outdo the permanent staff. It will still be a great market for good people.”

And Williams advises, “Take every available opportunity to add value and illustrate your commitment to the company and team.”