By Steven Petroff, Toronto Financial Recruiter
The new crop of young professionals who are about to enter the workforce is very open to careers in accounting, especially Generation Z. This is great news for an industry that has had difficulty attracting young professionals in the past.
Young Professionals Are Interested in Accounting Careers
According to research by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC):
“Gen Z’ers identified economic stability, job opportunities, and quality education as their top public policy priorities. When it comes to their career expectations, Gen Z seeks a stable career, competitive salary and benefits, and work-life balance.”
Many young professionals see accounting careers as aligned with career priorities. As summarized by Nina Hendy on In The Black:
“They see accountancy as highly aligned with their priorities, as the profession offers a stable career path (89 per cent important or very important), competitive salary and benefits (87 per cent) and a good work-life balance (84 per cent).”
Generation Z Are Open to Careers in Accounting
- 73% of Gen Z surveyed would consider a career in professional accountancy
- 21% have already decided to pursue a career in accounting
- 34% would consider a career in accounting but are still undecided about their career path
- Only 27% said they would not consider a career in accounting.
3 Ways Attract Young Professionals to Accounting Careers
With an influx of young talent willing to work within the accounting industry, it’s important for companies to capitalize on the opportunity. This means you need to offer a workplace that will attract this young talent. Here are some ways to get an edge over other accounting firms when recruiting Generation Z:
- Offer skill training: Young professionals want the flexibility to work in a number of roles and take on different responsibilities. They don’t want to be pigeon-holed into a specifically defined role and have no room for growth.
- Technology innovation: They want to work for firms that embrace technology and use it for innovation, not shy away from it. They want companies that stay on top of technology trends and provide them with opportunities to expand their digital skill set.
- Autonomy: Once they prove they can do the job, they want a strong work-life balance. They want the autonomy and flexibility to be able to work from home when needed and have flexible work schedules.
More Recruiting Advice for Accounting and Finance Firms
How to Build Employee Loyalty in a Talent Strapped Finance Industry
4 Effective Ways to Recruit Finance Talent Using Facebook
Recruiting Young Professionals Only Part of the Challenge for Accounting Firms
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