Leadership and tech skills hard to find: Executives
Finance executives in Canada say leadership and technology skills are most difficult to find when hiring says new research from staffing firm Robert Half Finance & Accounting.
They say business analytics skills are in high demand, as 28 per cent of CFO say these skills are mandatory for all accounting and finance positions. Another 52 per cent say they are mandatory for some roles. Finance managers, meanwhile, say big data and advanced analytics are top currently used technologies, followed by cloud-based systems and mobile applications. In addition to the 25 per cent of finance and accounting roles currently using tools like predictive analytics, another 27 per cent say they expect to use them within the next three years.
“As digital transformation reshapes businesses, Canadian organizations seek strong leaders with technical know-how to help manage this change across a range of financial roles. Companies, however, struggle finding professionals with this expertise,” say the report’s authors. CFOs report that leadership abilities and technical experience or aptitude are the most difficult to find in accounting and finance job candidates.
“Business analytics tools will continue to advance, with newer technologies that allow finance staff to focus less on manual tasks and more on leading projects that speak to the broader goals and strategies of the organization,” adds Robert Half’s senior district president, David King. “Professionals should proactively educate themselves on emerging and in-demand skills to demonstrate their command of the field and promote their marketability in the evolving financial space.”