Hays Accountancy & Finance - April 2008

Public Sector

Hotspots

Payroll staff with ERP systems skills, such as SUN/SAP, are hotspots of demand, followed closely by assistant accountants due to the approach of financial year-end. Full function accounts payable, management accountants and internal and external auditors are also required.

Meanwhile business analysts have become increasingly in demand as an organisation's growth areas are carefully analysed and costed out. Financial accountants are a hotspot of demand for temporary roles as the end of the financial year draws closer while project accountants, or those with sound experience in this area, are in very short supply.

The coming quarter

Organisations prefer to take staff on permanently in order to retain their skills, and so the outlook is very buoyant for the coming quarter. Roles are often created when organisations come across a candidate with excellent skills and experience and on the whole public sector employers are becoming increasingly aware of the candidate short market and are more responsive in terms of making quick decisions.

As we approach the end of financial year we expect an extremely busy quarter for temporary recruitment.

Executive

Executive recruitment within the public sector is not a fast moving segment. People in these roles are well entrenched and provide good stability to their organisations. There is however more movement at the middle management level as people are promoted.

High demand for business/financial analysts due to the approaching end of financial year will be a predominant feature of the executive market this quarter.

Salaries

Salaries are likely to remain steady at their current levels over the next quarter. Salaries, in general, are slightly lower in the public sector than in the private sector, however the public sector generally offers better non-cash benefits such as more acceptance of work/life balance, nine-day fortnights, additional superannuation and in some instances, salary sacrifice arrangements.

Candidate trends

There are two types of candidates emerging in the current market - those who are motivated by the money on offer and those who want work/life balance.

Some candidates seem to feel they can command a greater salary than their experience justifies, and employers will not employ people without the appropriate skills.

Expected tenure for newly qualified candidates has fallen as they often change roles after one to two years. This is certainly impacting the market. These candidates tend to chase a higher salary rather than benefits.

Candidates, even when not currently working, are being more particular about which role they will take as there are so many opportunities on offer.