Maz Williams

Key skills candidates need to be successful within Finance & Accountancy

Are you interested in finding out what skills are in demand across the Finance & Accountancy sector? Senior Consultant Liam Cox spoke to one of his clients who told him what skills finance candidates should be concentrating on, and offered his insight into what hiring managers might be looking for in the future. It can be hard to build a successful career within any sector, not least a sector that is becoming increasingly caudate-led. As a result, candidates looking to secure a job within Finance & Accountancy need to set themselves apart. A good way of doing this is by ensuring they develop and showcase the key skills many hiring managers look for across the sector. Finance professionals that continually build on their skills and react to the market are always the most sought after, and generally do very well throughout their career. But what skills doe hiring managers within the sector look for? Senior Consultant Liam Cox spoke to one of his key clients to find out the skills he is looking for, how candidates can showcase their experience during the application process and also what skills he thinks will become increasingly important in the future. What are the key skills you usually look for in candidates joining your team? There are a number of things we would normally look for, especially in junior candidates joining our team. One of which is confidence and how they come across. This is becoming increasingly important because of the direction that the sector is taking. The Finance & Accountancy sector is moving towards more of a “business partnering”, so we look for candidates that have a higher commercial acumen that we did previously. Candidates that have excellent communication skills, and that are able to relay financial data to stakeholders at varying levels is also highly important. We also want to try and test their team fit; how they will operate in a close knit environment and if they’re willing to help others. This is especially important to us as we have a small team and everyone we employ needs to get stuck in and help where possible. We tend to do this by asking scenario questions throughout the interview process. Experience is also a bonus. It isn’t always essential depending on the role but we can teach them what they need if they demonstrate they’re flexible and willing to learn from us. How have the skills of Finance & Accountancy candidates developed in recent years? The main difference tends to be that candidates nowadays lack “qualification skills”. We tend to find that candidates have a broader, more varied skillset rather than specific knowledge that you would likely gain through qualifications. This can swing both ways, it can be a bonus for a role that is likely going to have a lot of variety as they will have generally already had some good exposure. However, the higher up the ladder you go can have a detrimental impact as senior candidates generally need to be qualified and have some specific, niche training and experience. Having said that, I do think that the personality of some new accountants has definitely developed over the years, which is great to see. I think there is a much greater focus on soft skills now than there was when I first started my career, which will stand people in good stead moving forward. What skills is your team/the industry lacking the most? I don’t think my team is lacking a huge amount of skills, as I tend to ensure I hire junior candidates that I can develop and ensure they learn the skills we need them to have. We assess their capabilities of picking things up quickly and how open they are to learning from the interview stage and generally try and hire candidates on that basis. In terms of the sector as a whole, the biggest shortfall is the lack of qualified accountants on the market. My peers across the industry often talk to me about the struggle they have finding qualified candidates that are the full package, and have the right mix of technical ability and soft skills that they need. When looking at a CV to shortlist a candidate, what are the main things you look for? I generally look at a CV and score each section out of four in-line with the person specification and job description. This gives me a really good understanding of if the person is right for us, and usually helps me come up with a strong shortlist of suitable candidates. In terms of specifics, experience is the main thing I tend to look for, but the level of experience varies depending on the role. I then look for someone that I feel has the right personality and will be the right cultural fit for our business. To decide this I usually look to see if they have added any extra-curricular activities to their CV as this can give you a different perspective and can make one candidate stand out over another. I also appreciate that some younger candidates may not have achieved as much at work, so it can be nice to see candidates mention why they are looking to move on and what they are looking for in a new role. Generally it tends to be for progression, but it’s good to see. Are you looking for some support on writing your CV? Check out our CV guide and downloadable CV template here. What would you ask a candidate at interview to find out if they have the relevant skills/experience for your business? We would try to see if they’d done any research on both us as an organisation and the sector before the interview. With the financial pressures within the Public Sector at the moment, we need to know that a candidate is sure this is the right move for them and that they show a willingness to join us. Also, if we’re going to be investing in their long-term future, we need to know they’ve made an effort to show us they want the role. The kind of questions we would ask to find this out are: What do you know about us as an organisation? What kind of pressures do you feel the sector is facing at the minute? Who would our clients or customers be apart from the obvious? We would also ask specific personality and scenario questions related to the skillset of the role. As I’ve said, team fit is a big part of what we try to operate so we would definitely be asking about how they would see themselves working in a team environment when the pressure is on. Still not feeling prepared for your next interview? Why not head over to our Candidate Resources page for interview advice and common interview questions to prepare. What do you think the future holds in terms of skillsets and candidates joining the market? I think we will continue to see a drop in the number fully qualified candidates on the market, which is why we are trying to put more emphasis on training people who show an interest in becoming qualified. The training and programmes we provide are really beneficial for all parties. Hiring finance professionals in this way also means that we get qualified accountants that know how we work. Candidates are also going to want to work for businesses that will invest in their future, something that has become synonymous with the sector. So although I think the number of qualified candidates may drop, I think the number of candidates that will want to pursue a career in the sector will continue to increase. Employers will therefore need to be able to show candidates what they can do to invest in their future in order to continue attracting the best talent on the market. Do you think you have the skills required to pursue a job opportunity within Finance & Accountancy? If so we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with our team today, or check out our latest live vacancies here. Alternately, you can find more advice, blogs and resources specifically written for Finance & Accountancy professionals on the insights section of our website.

10 reasons why a recruitment consultant can be an asset to a new graduate

Students and newly qualified accountants often agree that securing a job after graduating/qualifying is a stressful and daunting experience and many have no idea where to begin. The UK jobs market is huge, and without proper advice, and a clear idea of what you are looking for finding the right role can be a long and extremely laborious process. Students, graduates and soon-to-be graduates can have the most difficult time as the market is generally flooded with talent. That is why I always recommend that students seek the advice of a recruitment consultant in the first instance, even if just to ask some questions around what to do and how to go about it. Here are the top reasons why I think students could benefit from working with a recruitment consultant to find their first role out of university. Recruitment consultants have a strong relationship with employers Recruitment consultants work closely with their clients which enables us to understand what skills and expertise they require to complement their team. Clients will trust that any candidate we put forward will be fully vetted and suitable for their requirements. Recruiters have access to roles that may not have been advertised on the traditional job boards Not all graduate schemes/jobs are advertised on your standard job boards. Many clients will leave it to their chosen recruitment firm/firms to search and advertise graduate vacancies as part of the agency package. If a consultant can create a strong shortlist from graduates they already have registered they may not need to advertise the role, limiting the number of graduate vacancies on the market. Recruiters can offer unrivalled CV and cover letter advice We know CV writing can be tough, certainly when you have limited work experience. Different clients like to see different things on CVs also, so it can be difficult to know what information to include. Recruitment consultants can advise you on your CV and ensure both your CV and cover letter are suitable for your chosen market. If you are interested in receiving our free Sellick Partnership Graduate CV Template and CV writing guide then please head to our Candidate Resources page or email jemma.bailey@sellickpartnership.co.uk. This template is an excellent tool to utilise when compiling your CV. An experienced recruiter can give you specialist advice in your chosen sector Every recruitment consultant at Sellick Partnership is an expert in their market. Whether it be Finance & Accountancy, Legal, HR, Procurement, Change & Transformation, Actuarial or Housing & Property Services, we all have a wealth of knowledge that is beneficial to both clients and candidates. It is important for us to share this knowledge with graduates as their inexperience can mean they have little understanding of the market. Especially in modern times when markets are constantly changing, it is our responsibility to keep on top of it and share this with our candidates. Recruitment consultants can mentor you throughout the process and give you Interview coaching and guidance Many graduates will have experienced an interview situation, however graduate interviews are usually very different. There are many different ways employers like to do the interview processes and it’s usually down to personal presence. The most common type is face-to-face for graduates. As recruiters we aim to meet with all of the candidates we work with as part as the vetting procedure, so we can help you develop your interview presence before you meet with any employers. If you want further advice on preparing for your next interview, check out our interview advice and preparation on our Candidate Resources page or get in touch with me to receive a free copy of our complete interview guide. Recruiters can enhance your applications greatly Recruitment consultants have the power to enhance your CV by discussing your profile in detail with their client and answering any queries they may have. This can greatly enhance your chances of securing an interview, especially as the recruiter can elaborate on anything that may not have been included on the original document. This is especially crucial for graduates who may not have a wealth of experience. Recruiter can discuss key projects or modules with you, and relay this information to the client. This approach often means that I can secure graduates an interview where they may not have if the client had just received their CV with little explanation. A recruitment professional can find roles quickly The graduate recruitment market is hugely competitive, so acting fast is essential. A recruitment consultant will be able to constantly monitor the market and bring opportunities to your attention quickly, often meaning that your application is submitted very early on in the hiring process. This can greatly enhance your chances of securing a role, and can often mean that no opportunities are missed due to time constraints. Working with a recruiter can improve your references Graduates will have limited references to choose from, so the last thing you want is multiple businesses contacting them. A recruitment consultant will deal with all of your reference requests, meaning your references can concentrate of supplying one glowing reference rather than having multiple requests. Recruiters can negotiate on your behalf Securing your first role can be daunting, especially when it comes to negotiating your salary and package. A recruitment consultant will be able to do this on your behalf. Personally, I always have an honest conversation with any candidate and we make a joint decision on salary and any benefits they require. I can then use this information to negotiate with the client on their behalf, meaning that I can get the best deal possible. Using a recruitment agency is free Recruiters will not charge you a penny, so there really is no reason not to use one. I am always more than happy to speak with, offer advice and assist graduates with their job search, and will always do my best to help, even if they do not secure a role through me. Get in touch If you are looking for a graduate role within the Finance & Accountancy sector I would be delighted to help. please get in touch with be straight away for a confidential chat by emailing jemma.bailey@sellickpartnership.co.uk or call me directly on 01332 542580. Alternatively, you view my latest roles here.