Hong Kong Accounting & Finance candidates across key areas are in prime position to find a new role in the current market, but employers are looking to candidates to explain their motivations beyond just financial reward.
“It’s a strong job market for Accounting & Finance candidates across several areas of banking, insurance and the commercial sector, but competition is always strong for the best jobs so candidates shouldn’t take their interview for granted,” advises says Dean Stallard, Managing Director of Hays in Hong Kong.
“We know money is a key driver for many candidates, but they should also think about why the job role appeals to them as well as the company culture offered by the employer they hope to join and this requires solid research and preparation,” Dean says.
“There are certainly candidates who are in super high demand, but employers are still unwavering in the list of qualifications and attributes they expect a candidate to have before offering them a role with possession of strong presentation skills usually on this list.
“Financial planning and analysis (FPA) talent are probably the hottest candidates right now across a range of levels and sectors.
“Project managers able to drive the roll out of IRFS 9 in banks and insurance companies are also in great demand. However, the pool of talent with the exact mix of skills and experience required remains small in Hong Kong.”
“Our advice to candidates is to not overplay your hand even if your skill set is in strong demand,” says Dean.
Other observations offered by Dean about Hong Kong’s Accounting & Finance market include:
- “Employers are advised not to wait too long when selecting a new recruit as candidates in greatest demand will be fielding other offers.”
- “Project managers for IFRS 9 implementation projects must have superior leadership, stakeholder management skills and previous experience rolling out a project from beginning to end. They should also have solid technical skills, user experience testing knowledge and excellent communication skills.”
- “Rates are higher for the right project manager candidates and we are seeing overseas candidates, including Hong Kong returnees, applying for IFRS 9 implementation project manager roles.”
- “FPAs are in great demand at assistant manager and manager level across retail and FMCG.”
- “Insurance companies are also looking for FPAs to fill risk management roles.”
- “In asset management, fund accountants all the way up to senior FPA level are in strong demand.”
- “Banks are again hiring product control talent after a period of redundancies and outsourcing, but candidates are scare as many left the sector when times were tough.”
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To find out more about the Accountancy & Finance industry in Hong Kong, please read our Inside Story of the sector here.
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About Hays
Hays plc (the "Group") is a leading global professional recruiting group. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK and Asia Pacific and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe and Latin America. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As at 30 June 2017 the Group employed 10,000 staff operating from 250 offices in 33 countries across 20 specialisms. For the year ended 30 June 2017:
– the Group reported net fees of £954.6 million and operating profit (pre-exceptional items) of £211.5 million;
– the Group placed around 70,000 candidates into permanent jobs and around 240,000 people into temporary assignments;
– 24% of Group net fees were generated in Asia Pacific, 49% in Continental Europe & RoW (CERoW) and 27% in the United Kingdom & Ireland;
– the temporary placement business represented 59% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 41% of net fees;
– Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the UK and the USA