Candidates Archives | Accountancy & Senior Finance Recruitment Specialists, Ireland

Standing out in a competitive Irish accounting job market

Posted on 10 January 202310 January 2023 by Martina Quinn

Standing out in a competitive accounting job market can be difficult

The accounting job market in Ireland is highly competitive, with a large pool of talented professionals vying for a number of positions. Standing out in a competitive job market can be a challenge, especially in a field like accounting where there are often many qualified candidates vying for the same positions.

However, with the right strategies and a little bit of effort, it is possible to set yourself apart from the competition and increase your chances of landing your dream accounting job. In this blog post, we will explore some tips for standing out in a competitive accounting job market.

From earning a reputable degree or certification to gaining relevant experience and building relationships to enhancing your skills and creating a strong resume and cover letter, we will cover a range of strategies that can help you stand out and succeed in your career. So if you’re looking to make a splash in the accounting field, keep reading to learn more about how you can set yourself apart from the competition.

Our Tips For Landing Your Dream Accounting Job

Get a professional qualification: A professional qualification such as the Chartered Accountant (ACA) qualification is highly respected in the accounting industry and can give you a significant advantage when applying for jobs. The ACA qualification is offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) and requires a combination of study and practical experience.

Build up your experience: Experience is highly valued in the accounting industry, and the more experience you have, the more attractive you will be to potential employers. Consider taking on internships or part-time work in accounting firms while you are studying to gain practical experience. You can also consider volunteering your time to work on accounting projects for non-profit organizations.

Network and build relationships: Building relationships with other professionals in the accounting industry can be a great way to learn about job opportunities and get your foot in the door. Consider joining professional organizations such as the ICAI or attending industry events and conferences to meet and connect with others in the field.

Focus on your skills: In addition to your qualifications and experience, it’s important to focus on developing a range of skills that will make you stand out in the job market. These may include technical skills such as proficiency with accounting software, as well as soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Show your passion: Employers are looking for candidates who are passionate about the accounting profession and who will be motivated to excel in their roles. Show your passion by staying up-to-date with industry developments and actively seeking out opportunities to learn and grow.

Tailor your CV and cover letter: When applying for accounting jobs, it’s important to tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific position and company you are applying to. Use specific examples to demonstrate your relevant skills and experience, and highlight your achievements and successes. we have more in depth tips on creating compelling CV’s that stand out

Consider specialization: The accounting industry is vast and there are many different areas in which you can specialize. Consider focusing on a particular area such as tax accounting, forensic accounting, or sustainability accounting to differentiate yourself from other candidates. This can also make you more attractive to potential employers who are looking for candidates with specialized expertise.

Get certified: In addition to a professional qualification, you may also want to consider getting certified in a specific area of accounting. For example, the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification is highly respected in the field and can give you an edge when applying for jobs.

Build your online presence: In today’s digital age, it’s important to have an online presence as a professional. Consider setting up a LinkedIn profile and creating a professional website or blog to showcase your skills and experience. You can also use these platforms to connect with others in the industry and stay up-to-date with developments in the field.

Be proactive: Don’t just wait for job opportunities to come to you – be proactive in your job search. This might mean reaching out to accounting firms or companies that you are interested in working for and expressing your interest in a position. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on job boards and industry publications for new job openings. According to Riana Topan from Talent Egg it is key to build your network when actively looking for a new role.

Volunteer your time: Volunteering your time and skills can be a great way to gain valuable experience and make a positive impact in your community. Consider volunteering with local non-profits or organizations to help with their accounting and financial needs. This can not only help you build your skills and experience, but also show potential employers your dedication and commitment to the profession.

Ace the interview: The interview is your chance to really shine and show potential employers why you are the best candidate for the job. Be prepared to answer a range of questions about your qualifications, experience, and skills, and come prepared with specific examples of how you have demonstrated these in the past.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of standing out in the competitive Irish accounting job market and landing your dream job. In conclusion, standing out in the competitive Irish accounting job market requires a combination of qualifications, skills, experience, and a proactive approach to your career.

Extra Tips

By getting a professional qualification, building up your experience, networking and building relationships, focusing on your skills, showing your passion for the profession, and tailoring your resume and cover letter, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job.

You may also want to consider specializing in a particular area of accounting, getting certified, learning a foreign language, building your online presence, and volunteering your time to gain valuable experience and make a positive impact in your community.

Remember, it’s important to stay focused and be proactive in your job search. Don’t just wait for opportunities to come to you – seek them out and be prepared to go above and beyond to differentiate yourself from other candidates. With hard work, dedication, and a commitment to continuous learning, you can stand out in the competitive Irish accounting job market and achieve your career goals. Good luck!

Our Solutions.

Martina Quinn Finance Recruitment specialises in the placement of qualified accountants up to executive level nationwide, Our teams have extensive experience (67 years combined) recruiting in the Irish Market. Reach out to the team here in Martina Quinn Finance Recruitment for the best advice and support in building your finance teams contact us today.

8 Practical Reasons To Change Your Secure Accounting Job

Posted on 4 November 20224 November 2022 by Martina Quinn

The market is an accounting jobseekers market right now — The market is a jobseekers market right now

Why didn’t you change your accounting job this year? What is preventing you from seeking out a new position that better satisfies your needs? A position offering greater compensation, benefits, flexibility, and career prospects?

We switched from a employers to a job seekers market over the last two years. There has been a change from candidates almost being able to pick and choose where they can work. Accounting jobs are plentiful but there is a shortage of supply of fully qualified accountants.

Right now, the Great Resignation, the skills gap, and Covid’s effects are causing the personnel scarcity to spread to numerous other industries. Employers’ difficulties in hiring are not improving. Particularly for hiring managers in the finance industry, where 82% of them cite hiring accountants as their greatest challenge..

Just over two years ago we were being warned by the ERSI that we will face the largest recession in history when lockdown was being implemented. However, the post-Covid economic collapse that was expected never happened. In actuality, the opposite happened.

According to Irishjobs.ie, the job market is still expanding strongly in the majority of sectors, with job openings rising 119% on a yearly basis. All these facts lead us to ask our original question Why didn’t you change your accounting job this year? Below is our list of 8 reasons why you should change your secure accounting job.

The Skills Gap Within Accounting Jobs

The majority of LinkedIn users move jobs, companies, or industries every 4 years, making it the exception rather than the rule to stay with one for your whole career. Staying in the same role for many years often leaves employees unmotivated, uninspired and performance levels don’t reach levels required. Often accountants are over worked due skills shortages to meet the demands within the industry.

Flexible Work Options

Employers are not just expanding the work-from-home model because many employees are eager to return to the workplace. You can customise flexible work to meet your needs for a healthy work-life balance. This can range from an individualized hybrid working paradigm to working periodically during the year from a different country.

Employers are paying closer attention to what their employees require. And instead of the conventional expectation that individuals fit their lives around their job duties, they are enabling people to fit their work around their lives.

Increased Annual Leave Days

Many employers are providing more days off for their staff. Some examples include having your birthday off. Multinationals such as Netflix have adopted an unlimited time off policies.

4 Day Workweek

A four-day workweek is an experiment being conducted by Kickstarter and other businesses. Employees are expected to work just as hard and will be paid equally. Trials conducted in Iceland between 2015 and 2019 revealed that production remained constant or even rose. Future-thinking companies should be open to negotiating a four-day workweek as further experiments are conducted in Spain and New Zealand.

Well-being and Mental Health

The pandemic has really brought attention to the importance of mental health and wellness. A crucial first step for managers and HR (Human Resource) is acknowledging the stress that employees are experiencing. Providing resources to assist workers in coping with burnout and other mental health concerns is also important.

Increased leave and flexibility as well as mental health treatment through wellness are crucial strategies for reducing work-related stress. Nowadays, it makes sense to have a solid wellness program that allows employees to have a better work-life balance.

Joining a gym or participating in other activities should be included of employee benefits packages. Think about your priorities and bring them up when dealing with recruiting managers or recruiters.

Access To Accounting Leadership

Employees anticipate that their profession will matter and have meaning. People who are happier, healthier, and less prone to switch roles at work are more productive.

People can better comprehend the purpose of their job by having access to leadership and decision-makers. They can also coordinate their individual ambitions with those of the businesses. It offers workers a strong sense of belonging, which raises morale, and it enables leadership to receive sincere input.

Continuous Accounting Professional Development

A business catchphrase is now “learning is a lifelong process.” The half-life of a taught talent is five years, and for good reason. As automation and the impact of technology increase, “major changes to the working environment” will occur during the next ten years and what it means for accounting jobs.

Success requires ongoing skill development. However, balancing L&D with the demands of work and life can be quite difficult. especially if workers believe the options aren’t sufficient to suit their needs.
Personalized L&D packages with predetermined time and financial budgets are less of a perk and more of a need. Especially for businesses trying to hire and keep talented, engaged, and motivated staff.

Family Care

Women make about 80% of people exiting the workforce. The quantity of household and childcare work that women are expected to perform after working a full day at the office is one of the key contributors.
Employers looking to retain this talent or attract women who are on the verge of quitting their jobs can provide family-related benefits.

Consider these three crucial areas: childcare support (whether financial or time-related). giving upskilling more time to resume their work after a break equal parental leave for men and women would level the playing field.

Stock Purchase Options

An established business with consistent development and obvious career advancement offers a sense of long-term security that a start-up simply cannot match.
Thomas Jefferson is credited with saying, “With great danger comes great profit,” though. It takes a strong person to take the risk of joining a newly founded firm with enormous aspirations, endless possibility, and an uncertain course.

However, especially in terms of stock options, the rewards might be amazing. a benefit that many start-ups provide since they lack the resources and infrastructure necessary to compete with well-established companies.

At least three Irish start-ups have become unicorn billion-dollar businesses in the past two years. Others have been bought and sold for millions of dollars. Investing in one of these businesses early could result in financial success. Whatever happens, it will be a challenging experience.

To Summarise

When it comes to negotiating new employment in a new accounting job, candidates are at a distinct advantage due to the spike in job advertising and lack of applicants. The epidemic has altered an employer’s overall approach to several facets of work, including flexibility, wellness, and learning and development. Employers will need to use more innovative strategies to draw in and keep talent given that over 41% of workers worldwide are considering leaving their jobs.

Workers are in a distinct position, especially those with experience in industries with high demand. Don’t let worries or preconceived notions prevent you from exploring what is possible in the modern workplace.

Need Some Help?

Martina Quinn Finance Recruitment specialises in the placement of qualified accountants up to executive level nationwide. Our teams have extensive experience (67 years combined) in recruiting in the Irish Market. We help you find the right accounting job that matches your experience and needs.

Our leading finance recruitment agency is based in Limerick, and we have excellent accounting and finance jobs in Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary. Check out some of our roles in our job portal.

Reach out to the team here in Martina Quinn Finance Recruitment for the best advice and support in building your finance teams contact us today.

Get The Finance Candidates You Deserve – A Guide

Posted on 1 September 20221 September 2022 by Martina Quinn

Top accounting and finance organizations are reporting that it is challenging to source employees with the necessary skillset.

Getting the right candidates is proving difficult for accounting and finance organisations

Due to a high demand and a limited supply, finding qualified accounting and finance specialists is difficult. It’s critical now more than ever that financial recruiters understand how to locate and hire talent in today’s competitive employment market given that jobs in the finance industry are predicted to grow to 50% hiring intention rate.

According to CPA Ireland who estimates a shortfall of almost 15,000 trainees in the accountancy profession over the last decade. This has led to a shortage in quality qualified candidates in the market.

To help you in your search for excellent hires, we’ve broken down the main recruitment challenges such as:

Lack of qualified candidates
Skills shortages
Intense competition for talent
Quick and ever evolving digital landscape

In this article we will share tips to overcome these challenges and land great hires for your business.

Develop Your Company Employer Brand:

If you want to compete for top talent and stand out in the financial industry, you must invest in your company’s employment brand name. Find out how your potential new hires view your brand and what information they are most interested in learning.

Developing your employee brand is crucial to attract at retain top accountants and finance professionals

Recognize how it differs from what you are demonstrating to them. Try to alter their presumptions as much as you can to ultimately draw in more prospects.

Keep in mind that you’re competing with fledgling fintech start-ups, who probably have a fun, interesting employer brand. You must promote your business to your ideal candidates if you want to be truly competitive.

Use Recruitment Marketing Techniques For Hiring

The process of hiring continues after you establish your employer brand. To create a sizable pool of qualified candidates for present and future job openings and prospects, you should concentrate on targeted tactics.

Using recruitment marketing methods is a sure-fire way to draw in interested job seekers, but in order to do it successfully, you need to be innovative and think outside the box. It is a great technique to get and keep their attention to offer them pertinent electronic content and interesting employment ads.

Think outside the box to attract top accounting and finance talent to your organisation

Additionally, you can utilize technological tools like programmatic job advertising (often known as recruiting “bots”) to help you get your job openings in front of the appropriate candidates. This will enable you to target your ideal clients.

In order to significantly increase their ability to attract digital talent, 24% of firms in the financial services sector change brand perception through marketing and advertising according to PWC

Expand Your Sourcing Processes

You need to be looking in all the right places if you want to find the best financial services experts out there. Expanding your sourcing options is a terrific place to start because of this, but it might be easier said than done.

Make sure to promote your opportunities in as many pertinent locations as you can, including social media platforms and online job boards. Additionally, you can use LinkedIn to upload positions and try to source people.

Use as many different sources as you can to find prospects. A terrific way to meet entry-level applicants is to attend college and university graduation fairs and other recruiting events.

Establish a Graduate Employment Strategy.

One of the largest employers of entry-level workers is the financial solutions industry. Because of this, the majority of financial companies today use a graduate employment strategy to identify recent graduates who are just starting their careers.

While it is a great start, it is insufficient to retain momentum after you get them on board or to compete in such a competitive employment market. Establish a process for employing graduates from universities, but don’t just stop there.

Create a graduate programme that enables graduates to become future leaders in your business

Continuously work to improve their abilities and develop them into future leaders who will undoubtedly advance your business. “Train people well enough so they may leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want,” as Richard Branson once famously said.

Apply Inclusive Hiring Practices

It is clear that the finance sector has diversity issues. According to a recent study, fewer than 25% of people are aware that their companies are actively working to hire more women and people from ethnic minorities. There is always room for improvement even if finance organizations are making slow but steady progress in hiring even more diverse candidates.

You can utilize a variety of techniques to make your efforts at inclusive employment better. For instance, try crafting thorough job postings to attract a diverse pool of applicants and employ the principles of blind hiring to eliminate unconscious bias.

Make it a point to hire people based on their qualifications and skill sets to make sure they closely match what you’re looking for.

It’s critical to keep in mind that communicating your initiatives to both current and potential employees can help your inclusion and diversity policies as you grow your workforce. There is still a long way to go, but financial organizations are attempting to increase diversity in their workforce.

Create A Network of Corporate Alumni

When it comes to recruitment there should be a heavy emphasis on hiring experienced professionals and mid-career professionals not just young personnel and recent graduates. Due to their anxiety that history would repeat itself, many former employees left the sector during the economic downturn and never returned.

But why cut all ties with experienced finance specialists when lines of communication can easily be put in place. Maintaining contact with outstanding individuals is a great idea if you want to create a corporate alumni network that enables you to connect with former workers who left under favourable circumstances.

Consider creating a networking group on Facebook or LinkedIn that you can use to connect with former employees who might be hired again.

Job and Employee Growth Programmes.

It’s fantastic for your company to find and hire the appropriate people, but what do you do with them once they start working? You must have a suitable program for ongoing professional development that benefits you, your new hires, and your current personnel.

Create a suitable program for ongoing professional development that benefits you, your new hires, and your current personnel.

The foundation of your company’s employee growth proposition is a well-functioning development program, which is a great method to show your dedication to assisting employees in advancing their roles and careers.

Remember that having thorough hiring procedures in place is not enough; you also need to provide your team with the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary for them to grow professionally. Your commitment to creating an inclusive workplace must be genuine and sincere.

Connect Online

We have access to a variety of technology tools, therefore it only makes sense to use them while making employment decisions. It is quite effective to connect with job candidates via email and social media platforms,

Use LinkedIn to find accounting and finance professionals who are already actively looking for new roles

Social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are excellent places to engage with potential customers. According to a LinkedIn research, 49% of professionals contact with businesses on social media networks primarily to advance their job search. Why not therefore find them there where they are already actively looking?

Set Up an Employee Referral Programme.

Employee recommendations are a great approach to recruit new employees. By saving costs on candidate sourcing, this method shortens the time needed to fill a vacancy. Additionally, you’ll hire new workers that already fit in well with your current team and company culture, making the situation all around advantageous.

Use A Trusted Specialist Finance Recruitment Agency.

Competition is fierce and talent is scarce. To find the best individuals for finance jobs, you must be confident in your recruitment strategies. Everything starts with explaining to them what it means for your company to hire both recent graduates and seasoned employees.

Let us take the pain away from the accounting and finance recruitment task

The simple solution is to leave it to the specialists, like us, If you think you lack the specialized knowledge or just don’t have the time since you are already juggling many jobs already, Once you’ve done that, everything else will be simple to arrange, and you’ll soon be recruiting A-list employees.

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