var tags = '';
lass="p1">According to the national research, the most in-demand contract positions for accounting roles are accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, assistant accountant and credit controller.
The most in-demand permanent roles are financial accountant, financial/business analyst, finance manager, tax specialist and strategic planning specialist.
Where the money is There is a clear demand for skilled candidates this year, courtesy of a stable economy creating appetite to pay more for accountants with solid experience and a detailed skill set.
Accounting salaries are bucking national trends; wages growth is nationally slow, but salaries within the accounting and finance sector are steadily rising.
Those who can demand the highest salaries are tech-savvy financial accountants who can consult on standards such as AASB15 and 16, financial analysts who can work in detail on acquisitions and growth opportunities, and analysts who can handle and backfill “business as usual” roles.
Experience at a big four firm — KPMG, PwC, EY and Deloitte — is also conducive to higher salaries. Robert Half’s research shows employers are willing to offer above-average salaries for those candidates with big four experience.
Despite concerns about robotic technology taking over basic and transaction-focused tasks, there is a rise in demand for transaction-focused job functions. As such, those in payroll and accounts payable are in a good negotiating position in 2019.
Those with experience in value-add and leadership roles, such as managers and controllers, are in a similar position to those in transaction-focused roles.