While accounting professionals are regularly in demand, it’s worth noting a shift that’s taken place in the job market over the last year. While the job market has been strong and national unemployment is creeping lower and lower, we’ve now remained at a 50 year low for all of 2019. Additionally, the unemployment rate for accountants floats well under the 3.5% national average, at about 2.0%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Just in the past two years, I’ve seen a substantial decrease in accounting candidates who are open to pursuing new opportunities,” explains Eric Barth, a Director within The Execu|Search Group’s Accounting/Finance division. “Nearly every accountant who wants a job has one—which means employers are in desperate need of talent.”  

Eric says that this shift in the job market is affecting the most important processing roles within an organization. “While the talent pool may have decreased for these positions, businesses are still in need of someone to fill these critical operations roles,” he says. In particular, the following roles are in very high demand from employers:

• Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Payable
• Staff Accountants
• Senior Accountants

Why you should look for new opportunities now

If you’re experienced in one of these four disciplines, now is the perfect time to look for a new opportunity. “Not only is busy season just around the corner, but there are a ton of benefits to the job seeker in this type of job market,” explains Eric. “Not only are employers hungry for top talent, but they’re speeding up their hiring processes to meet your needs. Plus, some are even starting to increase their offers for the right candidate.” 

How to stand out to employers

If you’re considering making a move, it’s important to know that your accounting skills are highly valuable right now. However, it’s also critical that you put in the hard work to stand out as a top candidate. For example, Eric suggests adding more details on your resume about your experience. “Be sure that you’re thorough in your resume writing, and you include key details about what you’ve done,” he says. “If you’ve been responsible for accounts payable invoices, for instance, an employer will want to know details like how many invoices, the dollar amount you’ve handled, and more.”

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