Accountants looking overseas for employment opportunities
27-06-2008
Accountants are increasingly looking to work abroad, which is heightening the risk of a skills shortage in the industry, according new research from GAAPweb.
It recorded an increase of nearly a third in the number of accountants searching for overseas roles between October 2007 and April 2008, Online Recruitment reports.
During the same period, it also saw a 48 per cent decline in the number of people searching for trainee and part-qualified roles in accountancy, raising concerns about a skills deficit.
Graham Ruddick, managing director of the firm, suggested that there could a number of reasons why those in the profession are looking for work abroad, including concerns about the UK economy and a desire to gain experience.
However, he noted: "The financial sector is already suffering from a shortage of candidates and with many candidates now choosing to go overseas, the battle for talent has never been more important."
Accountants are not alone in packing their bags for pastures new - a recent report from Manpower found that more than half of UK employees are considering working abroad.