Recruitment opportunities highest in four years

25% of finance departments expect to employ new staff in 2006

Accountants are in most demand, particularly in New Zealand and Czech Republic

High workload is biggest driver of employment growth in Europe

25% of companies expect to employ new finance or accountancy staff in 2006 according to new research from specialised recruitment firm Robert Half International. The fourth annual Financial Hiring Index, a global survey of 2739 Human Resources and Finance Managers in nine countries, has found that companies in the Czech Republic (34%) and Italy (33%) the most likely to expand their finance departments this year. The 2006 results continue a growth trend which began in January 2004 and is the highest figure for four years.



The 2006 Robert Half International Financial Hiring Index has found that of the companies looking to expand, overall Accountants (26%) are in most demand in finance departments around the world, particularly in New Zealand (60%) and Czech Republic (52%). The biggest driver of new recruitment is high workloads (33%) followed by an anticipated growth in business (25%).

Ian Graves, Managing Director Continental Europe, Robert Half International, said:

ìAlthough the recruitment market is looking the strongest it has for years, the underlying message from our research is that companies are becoming very selective over potential recruits. With growth slowing in the US economy, we can expect the rest of the world to take a more cautious approach towards future recruitment but that does not appear to have impacted the market to date.î

Other findings from the 2006 Index show:

Tax Advisors are in most demand and should be looking for work in France (22%) followed by Italy (21%) and Australia (21%).
The greatest shortage of Financial Controllers is in Germany (33%), The Netherlands 28% and the Czech Republic (24%).
Credit Controllers are most in demand in the UK (18%).
Whilst Italy has the biggest demand for Payroll Administrators (18%).

According to the 2006 Financial Hiring Index, the Czech Republic (42%) has the highest expectation that growth in business will drive employment in their finance departments.

High workload is the main driver in Italy (45%) and France (42%).
Staffing issues/attrition/turnover appears to be more of an issue in New Zealand (23%) and the UK (21%).
Of all the countries surveyed, The Netherlands is most impacted by business change other than growth (31%) and changes in government regulations (20%).

The 2006 Index also found that for those looking to recruit in 2006, overall a strong brand name is perceived to be important to potential candidates (74%), of which 20% found it extremely important. Around the world, brand is perceived to be of greatest importance in the Czech Republic (91%) and New Zealand (90%) although 33% of Germans consider it to be extremely important.