A new year is always a great time to take a step back and assess your career. Even if you have no intention of making a career move this year, taking some time to reflect upon where you are and where you want to be in the future is important to ensure you stay on your career path.
Things will not remain static, and it’s important to stay on top of finance industry trends and the potential challenges they could present. Our finance and accounting recruiters have put together a list of some of the trends finance professionals need to pay attention to in 2017:
1. Technology Continues to Play a Bigger Role in the Finance Industry
The use of technology in all facets of the finance and accounting industry will only continue to become more important. For finance professionals, this means you will need to develop your technology acumen and stay on top of new trends and tools that enter the market. These tools will have an impact on your current role and impact the requirements of future finance positions you apply for during your career. Expect digital tools, big data, and process automation to take a more prominent role.
2. Demand for IT Skills Is on the Rise
Companies will add new requirements to job descriptions in 2017 for finance job candidates, namely in the area of IT. Therefore, it’s important to update your IT and technology skills to meet the changing requirements of companies looking to hire finance professionals.
3. Companies Want Well Rounded Finance Professionals
Being a finance professional has a lot more to do with just crunching numbers in 2017. Companies want finance and accounting professionals who have a diverse skill set, not only in terms of finance knowledge and skills but also in terms of business, communications, IT, project management and other areas. The good news is that companies are willing to pay more for professionals with diverse skills.
4. The Door Is Wide Open for Women
Even though finance is viewed by many to be a male-dominated field, there is ample opportunity for women to thrive as diversity becomes more important in the workplace.
“Finance has become the first field of opportunity for women because promotions are based on merit – not the old-boy network. Experts say accounting and its natural offspring – finance, treasury, budgeting – are less obstructed by the macho cultures more prevalent in manufacturing and engineering, other traditional paths to the corporate pinnacle,” says Detroit News via Careers in Finance.
Get More Finance Career Advice
Check out these blog posts from our finance and accounting recruiters:
5 Potentially Career Changing Job Search Resolutions
5 Tips to Advance Your Finance Career at a Young Age
How Important Are Industry Connections for Finance Professionals?
IQ PARTNERS is an Executive Search & Recruitment firm supporting clients across the country. We help companies hire better, hire less & retain more. We have specialist teams of recruiters in Financial Services & Insurance, Marketing Communications & Media, Emerging Tech & Telecom, Consumer Goods & Retail, B2B & Industrial, Technology, Accounting & Finance, HR & Operations and Mining & Engineering. IQ PARTNERS has its head office in Toronto and operates internationally via Aravati Global Search Network. Click here to view current job openings and to register with us.
