Demand for early career accountants has increased by 20% in the last 12 months, according to new figures from talent advisory and recruitment firm Barden.
It said the demand is being driven by finance teams restructuring and reshaping themselves for the future.
Barden defines 'early career' accountants as those with 3-5 years post-qualification experience.
Today's data shows that finance managers, finance business partners and senior financial accountants are amongst the most sought-after talent in organisations big and small.
Practical accounting skills remain important but increasingly CFOs are prioritising candidates with people skills - such as the ability to influence others, to lead others, to lead change programmes, and the ability to communicate financial information to non-financial people, the report states.
"It has been widely reported in recent months that greater attention needs to be devoted to the development of softer skills, the sorts of skills that early career professionals have not had the opportunity to develop as effectively during Covid," said Elaine Brady, Managing Partner at Barden Leinster.
"We are seeing this on the ground, and increasingly it is these core skills that differentiate who is promoted/hired and who is not," she added.
The findings come as Barden announces a new three-year agreement to support the Chartered Accountants Ireland Young Professionals group.
The partnership will ensure that chartered accountants who are in the early stages of their career have access to the most up to date marketplace intelligence and expertise they need.
