Employers within financial services need to set themselves apart as the sector moves into a candidate-driven market, according to a Marks Sattin survey.
The financial recruitment agency said the growing shortage of specialist skills in financial services would fuel an increase in rates and remuneration.
Marks Sattin director, Ieuan Williams, said employers must be more proactive in how they attract top candidates and retain in-demand talent, by ensuring their value proposition is relevant to today’s market.
“As we move into a candidate-driven market, employers should be looking to set themselves apart by executing on workforce engagement strategies that attract and retain top talent,” Williams said.
However, the survey found only 29 per cent of candidates were actively looking for a new role, compared to 42 per cent in 2015.
Flexible work options was found to be the top benefit to entice a candidate to move or stay with an employer, followed by career development.
“With candidates having the upper hand in the Australian financial services and accounting market, and with increased pressure on remuneration budgets, employers must look at how they formulate and execute attraction and retention strategies to differentiate themselves,” Williams said.
The survey found the top 10 roles in demand for 2016 are:
- Fund accountants
- Unit pricing professionals
- Claims specialists
- Investment operations
- Paraplanners
- Advisers
- Injury management advisers
- Accountants skilled in business partnering
- Allied health professionals
- Underwriters.
