market-and-industry-news

People with accounting jobs at private firms could see their employer's finances become more constrained as a result of public contract cuts, it is predicted.

Insolvency trade body R3 has outlined what it admits is a worst-case scenario, gauging what might happen to the private sector if all public contracts were to be cancelled.

The predictions were achieved by surveying small businesses to see how they believe they would be affected by the removal of all their existing public contracts.

A tenth would be likely to go out of business, according to R3, taking the insolvency rate from 26,000 in 2010 to as much as 150,000.

For people in accounting jobs with private companies, staying in business could become a major issue, as 11 per cent - around 173,000 firms - anticipate severe financial difficulty if public contracts are removed.

Steven Law, president of R3, recently commented that more than one in four insolvencies are believed to be caused by the failure of another company, leading to a chain reaction of firms going out of business.

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Updated: 10 September 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Individuals in HR jobs at relatively prosperous companies could still be facing difficulty in accessing the funds needed to recruit and train new employees.

With growth taking place in a number of industries and sectors, Chris Baguley, managing director of corporate lender Bridging Finance, says some firms are "finding their resources stretched".

This could relate to any asset required for expansion - from physical infrastructure to the appointment of new employees by people in HR jobs at growing companies.

"Even for those businesses with a positive cash flow, the lack of funding from the mainstream lenders can be a barrier to growth," says Mr Baguley.

He adds that those which are able to access cash on a short-term basis might find it easier to invest in the future of their operations.

In particular, he says that his own company is handling clients with an immediate need to raise finances, in spite of holding strong levels of equity.

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Updated: 10 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Updated: 10 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People who serve in accounting jobs for different members of the same family have been told that they may encounter instances where one partner is hiding money from the other.

Sheri Jacobson, a psychotherapist at private consultant Harley Therapy, agrees that honesty is the foundation of many strong relationships.

However, she believes that some people still maintain separate finances from their partner - potentially including a secret stash of funds.

"The secret can be very detrimental whether or not the other person finds out because it's deliberately concealing something from your partner," she comments.

Such an approach could be encountered by people in accounting jobs, with Ms Jacobson adding that she believes the ease with which advice and opinions can be obtained in the present day is a driving force behind the trend.

With many people perceiving an end to a world where relationships endure, she suggests that secret finances may be seen by some as contingency plans in case their current affair should come to an end.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 09 September 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Updated: 08 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

As the recession draws to a close and the upswing begins in markets nationwide, an open and honest approach in HR jobs could be one key to retaining a loyal workforce.

John Taylor, chief executive of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), explains that it costs thousands of pounds to recruit and train a skilled employee.

In consequence to this, mass redundancies during turbulent economic times leave companies facing a bill to increase their workforce once again as markets become more prosperous.

During the most recent recession, Mr Taylor notes some of the more innovative approaches taken by people in HR jobs and senior management.

For instance, some offered sabbaticals or part-time contracts to previously full-time employees.

Others kept staff on full-time but dealt with a downturn in business by offering training in the spare time which resulted.

These companies - which include car manufacturer Nissan - can expect a more highly skilled staff base as a result, Mr Taylor suggests.

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Updated: 08 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

The decision means that £1.25 million could be saved by HMRC by eliminating duplication of P800 tax calculations and P2s pay as you earn coding notices.

However, the Chartered Institute of Taxation has objected to the move due to the reduced amount of information that will be passed on to people working in accounting jobs who handle tax on behalf of clients.

"By keeping tax agents less well informed about their clients' tax obligations, HMRC are likely to find they lose more money than they save," argues deputy president Anthony Thomas.

He adds that a greater number of tax returns are likely to prove erroneous following the move, while HMRC will have to field more enquiries from tax agents.

The Chartered Institute of Taxation celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2010 and now has 15,000 members who qualify to practise under the title of Chartered Tax Adviser.

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Updated: 08 September 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

The majority of independent financial advisers (IFAs) use multiple platforms in the conduct of their financial services jobs, according to industry information provider Defaqto.

Just two per cent of those surveyed by the organisation said that they do not use platforms at all when deciding which products to recommend to clients.

But 54 per cent use at least two different platforms, with some using as many as four.

Fraser Donaldson, insight analyst for funds at Defaqto, suggests that IFAs are a step ahead of the industry's expectations when it comes to fulfilling the duties of their financial services jobs to the best of their ability.

"Regulators are keen on segmentation of clients and matching products and services for them appropriately," he explains.

Defaqto notes the rise in use of platforms by IFAs across the board in recent years.

The total of assets under management now stands at more than £100 billion within the IFA community, the organisation claims.

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Updated: 08 September 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

With continued focus on maximising return on investment and minimising expenditure, Gartner claims that the number of permanent placements available with IT firms is unlikely to return to pre-recession levels.

However, that does not mean that there are not employment opportunities available, as people in IT HR jobs are reportedly offering more temporary staffing opportunities and short-term contractor roles.

Lily Mok, research vice-president at Gartner, adds that the availability of skilled candidates remains tight despite the conditions in the sector.

"Despite the fact that there was some level of ease in hiring during the last 12 months, IT organisations continued to face challenges in finding quality candidates," she explains.

Ms Mok works in Gartner's CIO and executive leadership research group, covering issues ranging from workforce planning to employee retention and rewards.

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Updated: 08 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

The research organisation reports that, of 230 organisations it surveyed this year, 48 are applying mobile tools to workforce management issues.

Some of these are simply making use of mobile telephony to communicate with their employees.

However, some people in HR jobs at those 48 firms are carrying out their tasks using mobile systems.

Time-keeping, attendance and scheduling are all among the areas where mobile technology is being applied, says Aberdeen Group senior research analyst of human capital management Mollie Lombardi.

Wider issues are also seeing mobile technology used by best-in-class organisations to automate processes or simply to carry them out while on the move.

Learning content delivered to employees wherever they may be, phone-based recruitment procedures and scheduling tasks are three of the main areas listed by Aberdeen Group for where this is the case.

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Updated: 07 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Jayson Saba, research analyst in the human capital management practice at Aberdeen Group, describes the threefold approach being taken by people in HR jobs at best-in-class organisations.

Rather than focus purely on the costs associated with human resource functions, he explains that the best companies also work to cut the administrative responsibilities of their HR professionals and to improve satisfaction levels among existing employees.

Aberdeen Group assessed more than 160 organisations in the compilation of the report to determine which are achieving the greatest level of success in driving business results forward using the data that they collect.

Mr Saba covers "a bevy of technologies", Aberdeen Group says, with a focus on how employee performance, talent acquisition and human resource systems can help people in HR jobs to fulfil their duties.

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Updated: 06 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Individuals in banking jobs face a natural tendency to act impatiently when their goals are within reach, according to the Bank of England's executive director for financial stability Andrew Haldane.

He explains that "the patient planner becomes a spontaneous doer ... the cautious saver becomes a reckless spender" as their strategies near completion.

This contrasts with the fundamental nature of banking jobs as requiring long-term thrift and patience in order to achieve the greatest levels of growth.

"At root, banks and capital markets are simply a means of matching saving to investment," adds Mr Haldane.

When impatience is allowed to take hold, however, he argues that over-borrowing, over-trading and under-saving are all likely to emerge.

Mr Haldane's role as executive director for financial stability is a key element in the Bank of England's remit to maintain stability in the markets it governs.

He joined the Bank in 1989, taking up his present role two decades later on January 1st, 2009.

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Updated: 06 September 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

A new update has been issued for the tool, which is being phased out in the new year.

Stephen Banyard, director of HMRC's Business Customer Unit, says: "I encourage all employers who use our CD-ROM to download the update as soon as possible."

The update is required even if people in HR jobs are using the February 2010 edition of the Employer CD-ROM.

In 2011, the disc is due to be replaced, meaning no paper pack will be sent out to begin the new pay-as-you-earn tax year.

From February, downloadable versions of the necessary tools are to be made available, including the required forms, learning modules, calculators and the Employer Database.

However, the new tools will be compatible with the existing Employer CD-ROM providing the current update has been downloaded and installed.

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Updated: 06 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Instead, a more hands-on method is being used by many to nurture talent and entice skilled individuals into the company.

Kevin Martin, vice-president and group director of the analyst's human capital management practice, notes the findings of research covering 380 people in business, recruitment and HR jobs.

"Among top-performing companies, the method of simply casting a line and waiting for a bite has been replaced by a proactive and strategic process," he writes.

This incorporates relationship management and a focus on candidate experience in an environment where competition for the right employees has "skyrocketed".

Mr Martin has been at Aberdeen Group since March 2007 and, under his stewardship, more than 100 research papers covering human capital management have been published by his team.

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Updated: 06 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Within the FTSE 100, 97 per cent of companies' pension schemes could be paid in full if they were to hold back on dividend payments and postpone capital expenditure plans, KPMG estimates.

However, it advises those in FTSE 100 accounting jobs not to take such drastic action, due to the unique nature of the current effects on pension scheme funding.

"The most important thing in securing the future of pension provision is to secure the future of the business - not the other way round," stresses KPMG pensions partner Mike Smedley.

He adds that deficits in pension schemes at the moment are likely to be inflated by the impact of the recession on cash flow and profits.

KPMG argues that a greater impact is being felt on sponsoring companies in the modern pensions climate, while managing schemes is becoming ever more complex.

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Updated: 01 September 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Laura Dewar, policy and parliamentary officer at the Single Parent Action Network, argues that recruiting single parents should not be seen as a numbers game.

But she adds that vacancies that match the individual's skills could prove beneficial to their long-term financial health.

"It's not going to keep them out of poverty - and it's not going to keep them off benefits - if they just do a short-term job," Ms Dewar says.

She also points out the obligations that people in HR jobs face when dealing with single parents who they already employ.

After six months, those with caring responsibilities - in particular anyone with a child aged under 16 - can ask for flexible working conditions to be considered, she notes.

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Updated: 01 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Industry analyst Gartner explains that demand for skilled IT professionals is likely to exceed supply as the new version of the operating system picks up pace.

The research firm suggests three possible solutions, dependent on whether budget or labour is the main constraint.

Migrating to a virtualised desktop environment could be less labour intensive due to its central deployment, but will still cost as much in equipment, says Gartner.

Windows 7 developer Microsoft is itself looking into this area, saying that the modern workforce demands the flexibility of being able to operate in different locations.

The second option - upgrading existing PCs - should cost less but is likely to postpone the full migration to Windows 7 by only two to three years.

Alternatively, bringing upgrades forwards and buying entirely new computer systems can avoid some of the issues that might be seen by refreshing existing equipment.

People in HR jobs are told to expect the "resource burden" to hit its peak in 2011-12, when the availability of skilled workers is expected to be at its lowest ebb.

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Updated: 01 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

The findings from IFF Research reveal that two-thirds of people in senior-level recruitment and HR jobs consider the 16-year-olds they have hired to be well grounded for the role to which they were appointed.

Despite this fact, 94 per cent of companies did not recruit from school leavers during the recent recession, instead focusing on those with higher levels of education.

With the recent news surrounding the number of people who have failed to qualify for a place at their preferred university, it could be of particular interest that slightly more employers recruited 18-year-old college leavers than under-24s leaving higher education during the recession, at 11 per cent versus ten per cent.

Higher education action group Universities UK recently called for better advice to be given to young people when considering their degree course, to avoid people enrolling on to programmes unsuitable to their needs.

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Updated: 01 September 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

While many people may expect good accounting jobs to be hard to find in the present climate, research from KPMG reveals that many managers are facing difficulty in appointing staff with the necessary skill levels to adequately fulfil their purpose.

The tax and advisory services provider collaborated with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development on a study of skills, migrating and offshoring.

It found that many finance and accounting jobs are being filled by workers from overseas - the majority of whom come from outside of the European Economic Area.

Of the 600 employers who responded to the survey, 18 per cent - 108 respondents - are looking beyond the UK's borders to fill accounting jobs.

A similar proportion (17 per cent) believe that they will continue to do so into the third quarter of 2010.

KPMG itself is part of a global network, with 10,000 partners and staff in the UK alone and a parent group that it says is Europe's largest integrated accountancy firm.

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Updated: 27 August 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Low unemployment in the IT sector - even following a recession - indicates the lack of availability of skilled candidates to be appointed by people in HR jobs with vacancies to fill, it is suggested.

Gerry McLaughlin of IT workers' portal IT Contractor explains that unemployment in the sector at present stands at less than five per cent.

This could be set to fall even further as people in HR jobs at companies that have weathered the recession are tasked with appointing more IT staff.

"IT will prove to be a lucrative and much safer profession over the next five to ten years," Mr McLaughlin argues.

"The information age has arrived and those working in IT are in the vanguard of it."

However, as employment rates approach 100 per cent among the skilled workforce, he adds that recruiters face a number of problems.

As well as the lack of candidates, these include associated effects like the increase in asking salary that is likely to emerge due to competition between employers.

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Updated: 27 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

The Chartered Management Institute has told individuals in HR jobs that any changes made to company strategy in light of the recession should be communicated properly throughout the workforce.

Without a focus on effective communication from the top level of an organisation, the institute warns that employees - including those at the management level - can become demotivated.

"They are driven by really understanding the company vision and having a sense of purpose in terms of what can be done," explains Petra Wilton, director of policy and research.

By communicating actions taken to weather the recession, people in HR jobs may therefore find they are able to boost workforce motivation, rather than see it fall due to the economic turbulence.

Ms Wilton calls communication "an absolute critical part" of the institute's model of employer engagement and its impact on the effectiveness of a workforce as a whole.

Updated: 27 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in banking jobs could currently face customers who perceive a 0.5 per cent base rate of interest as the normal level.

Despite the fact that the rate is an all-time low reference point for interest charged by mortgage providers and other lenders, Paula John, editor of property loans information provider Your Mortgage, notes the risks that emerge over time.

She points out that, historically speaking, a fixed-rate mortgage at a five per cent interest level - ten times the base rate - would still be a good long-term opportunity for buyers.

"There is a danger that, the longer we have a 0.5 per cent base rate, the more people will forget that," she says.

As a result, people in banking jobs could face complaints from borrowers that the interest rates advertised on their products are too high.

Ms John adds a note of caution to consumers that rates will eventually begin to climb - although she does not expect them to swing too rapidly towards the upside.

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Updated: 26 August 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

People working in banking jobs should act ethically, particularly during the fallout from the recent recession, it has been suggested.

Rachel Mason, spokesperson for the Fair Investment Company, argues that a burden of responsibility lies with people in banking jobs to ensure that consumers can afford to take on new credit cards.

"It seems reckless to be offering customers great introductory deals when they cannot afford to pay back the debt once the deal is over," she comments.

However, she adds that banking customers also share the need to be realistic about taking on new borrowing.

She concedes that credit card providers are profit-making enterprises and, therefore, that introductory deals are one more way of gaining customers.

Ms Mason tells the users of those cards that they should remember that they do not have to accept any new lending that is offered to them if they do not believe they can afford to take it on.

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Updated: 26 August 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

Defined contribution schemes could be among the employee benefits that people in HR jobs are asked to manage in the years to come.

Previously, pensions in many workplaces have operated on a final salary basis, with employers paying out according to the level reached by the individual at the end of their career.

However, this is now changing as more final salary pension schemes close their doors - an event that Hargreaves Lansdown pensions analyst Laith Khalaf calls "the end game" for such products.

Instead, he expects that people in HR jobs and financial decision makers in companies across the UK will see greater use of defined contribution pensions in the years to come.

These offer a level of confidence to employers, he explains, due to the fact that they can be aware from the outset of how much they will have to put into participants' accounts in any one year.

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Updated: 26 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, jobs, market-and-industry-news.

From the start of the millennium until 2008, rising property prices led to housing becoming more of a financial investment for many people and less a choice of where to live.

However, the faltering economy in the past two years has reversed this trend, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, which could see financial services jobs return to the traditional types of investment advice seen in previous years.

Chief economist at PricewaterhouseCoopers John Hawksworth says: "Housing is certainly a significantly riskier asset than index-linked gilts, although not as risky as equities."

Activity has not yet returned to the world of business investment, PricewaterhouseCoopers recently noted, adding that this is probably due to a lack of demand rather than an unwillingness from lenders to underwrite loans for such deals.

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Updated: 23 August 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

Updated: 23 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Figures compiled by insurance provider Aviva show that 39 per cent of employers believe they take the necessary action to identify any problems in their workforce.

A similar proportion (42 per cent) welcome any concerns from their workers under an "open door policy".

However, people in human resources jobs could find a gulf between senior management's beliefs and the truth at ground level.

For instance, Aviva found that 96 per cent of employees would be reluctant to speak to their manager about health issues, while 21 per cent of people would expect a negative outcome for their career if they did.

The news follows figures from the firm that indicated employers' attempts to treat their workforce could be putting their health at risk, with 51 per cent of out-of-office social events involving a visit to the pub.

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Updated: 23 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

The financial services firm explains that a greater number of A-level students are now considering entering the world of work.

Its own HEADstart scheme offers an alternative route to accounting jobs for those with UCAS points totalling 280 or more.

This is equivalent to two B grades and a C grade at A-level, or two C grades and one A.

"Trainees put everything they learn in their studies straight into action," says James Chalmers, board partner for strategy and talent at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He adds: "They are earning while studying towards a professional accounting or tax qualification."

He adds that the opportunity to enter the world of work when leaving college, rather than university, can be particularly well suited to the needs of individuals with a clear vision of what they want to do professionally.

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Updated: 23 August 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

The latest round of appointments to senior-level financial services jobs at Allianz Commercial sees Russell Corbould-Warren take the post of SME underwriting manager.

He takes over from Catherine Dixon, the subject of a previous announcement regarding financial services jobs at the insurance provider.

She moved from the SME underwriting role to a more senior position as property and risk control manager.

Mr Corbould-Warren is to take responsibility for the insurer's small business account, optimising its pricing and segmentation to help drive profitability.

Head of SME affinity and broker markets David Martin says: "Russell brings a wealth of commercial experience and systems understanding which will be vital to the ongoing development of Allianz's SME proposition."

The group also recently announced that Sarah Smith had been promoted to the position of operations manager within its claims division.

In a similar announcement, James Barclay took the position of claims manager at Allianz Legal Protection.

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Updated: 19 August 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

A survey of people in high-ranking accounting jobs has revealed that many expect to see businesses held accountable for their carbon emissions in the years to come.

Carried out by the Carbon Trust, the survey assessed the viewpoints of 200 individuals in senior finance and accounting jobs at large organisations.

Almost three-quarters (72 per cent) said that they expect carbon accounting to be mandatory in years to come.

Slightly more (76 per cent) added that they think companies will be asked to pay to compensate for their carbon emissions.

Harry Morrison, general manager of the Carbon Trust Standard Company, says: "The debate about whether or not carbon footprinting and payment will become mandatory for business appears to be over as far as finance heads are concerned."

Two-fifths of those surveyed expect to see the changes take place in the next ten years, with 16 per cent anticipating no longer than five years before they come into effect.

Operating on a not-for-profit basis, the Carbon Trust aims to accelerate the move towards a low-carbon economy.

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Updated: 19 August 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Experience learned in a number of accounting jobs helps Victoria Brough to qualify for her new role as head of corporate communications and media relations at the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the organisation asserts.

Ms Brough is a former investment banker and, as well as being a graduate in economics, holds the status of chartered accountant.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales notes that the status typically sees individuals give high-level advice to businesses on increasing market share and improving profitability.

Often they go on from accounting jobs to set up businesses of their own, the organisation adds.

Prior to her LSE appointment, Ms Brough was working as head of external affairs for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at newswire Thomson Reuters.

LSE group chief executive officer Xavier Rolet says: "She brings media relations skills of the highest pedigree and has a record of delivering successful and cohesive corporate affairs programmes at both board and operational levels."

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Updated: 19 August 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Suggestions have been made to provide a cash incentive to companies for people in HR jobs to train interns in a way that makes them more likely to find a permanent position.

The thinktank Demos recommends a cash payout of at least £1,000 to providers of internships if somebody they train goes on to permanent employment within a year.

Demos adds that each individual not in education, employment or training costs £120,000 to support.

The proposals could see payouts as high as £5,000 made in some cases, which could lead people in HR jobs to consider providing more internships.

Julia Margo, director of Demos, says: "Getting at-risk young people into internships will go a long way to giving them the opportunities and aspirations open to middle class graduates."

Demos' work in 2010 encompasses five broad themes, comprising family and society, violence and extremism, public interest, political economy and public finance.

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Updated: 18 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs could find they are able to gain an increase in productivity from employees by not subjecting them to a relentless frenetic pace in their workload.

Dr Jochen Menges, lecturer in human resources and organisations at Cambridge Judge Business School, makes the suggestion in a podcast from the academic institution.

He explains that breaks are a necessity in order to restore energy levels and return to a faster pace of working as part of a cyclic process.

Without providing breaks, individuals in HR jobs could see motivation among the workforce drop, with productivity likely to follow it.

"The acceleration trap takes place when organisations ask their employees to work on a high level of energy for most of the time," Dr Menges says.

He adds that this can mean a demand for accelerated effort not only day after day, but for months at a time - and says "you need to slow down in order to speed up".

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Updated: 17 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

A research preview from Aberdeen Group outlines the many data collection duties fundamental to modern HR jobs.

They include recording timekeeping and attendance within the workforce, as well as processing payroll in accordance with this information.

"How organisations collect and maintain accurate standards and controls about the basic building blocks of employee strategies is critical," writes report author Jayson Saba.

Mr Saba adds that core data management has become "the cornerstone" of the HR role in modern companies.

His remit at Aberdeen Group incorporates analysis and research from the human capital management practice.

This encompasses issues such as talent acquisition, succession planning and employee performance, along with wider themes such as implementing enterprise-wide human resource systems.

Mr Saba's professional experience includes a stint at the online tools development division of Fidelity Investments.

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Updated: 17 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Skills gaps within a new business's workforce could be the first place for people in human resources jobs to look in order to bring employees at start-up firms up to standard.

IBA Start-up Business Adviser of the Year 2005 Sylvia Constantine explains that it is inevitable for people to have some areas where they are not so proficient, even if they have knowledge to transfer on other issues.

Her comments could provide a basis point for people in human resources jobs to assess a new workforce and eliminate and gulfs in knowledge that may be unearthed.

"Everybody has transferable skills and knowledge from their previous employment and their life but there will be gaps," Ms Constantine asserts.

"Try to identify those gaps and use every means possible to fill them."

She adds that business leaders can also set good standards of customer service by drawing from their own experiences as consumers - and by adopting an enthusiastic approach to their work.

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Updated: 17 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Discounted share schemes could be one way to get people in finance jobs to engage more closely with the overall success of the organisation.

Charles Cotton, performance and reward adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, explains that there can be taxation advantages associated with offering discounted company shares as an incentive.

The possibility could be of particular interest to companies that offer finance jobs - and whose workforce may therefore be more aware of investments in general.

"Employees, because they have these shares, are therefore more interested in what makes the shares go up or down," says Mr Cotton.

"So they become more business-aware; become more aware of the economic issues at large," he adds.

He also notes that owning a part of the company can help to make employees feel more as though they are a part of the firm itself and more appreciative of any rewards extended to them.

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Updated: 16 August 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

The likelihood that employees, once trained, will leave the company may be among the issues faced by people in HR jobs on a daily basis.

Sylvia Constantine, an experienced business adviser, suggests that the problem is greater for small businesses, as a single person leaving represents a greater proportion of their workforce.

However, people in HR jobs at organisations of all sizes may be concerned about the potential for up-skilled staff to take their newly acquired skills elsewhere.

But Ms Constantine notes that there are clear positives to be derived from training staff at all levels - including management.

"Every business will get some benefit from having a highly trained and skilled workforce," she says.

She also suggests that the negative connotations associated with some government schemes to introduce the right to demand training for employees may arise due to the fact that few politicians have been in business themselves.

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Updated: 16 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Moves by people in banking jobs to lend to British businesses more dynamically have gained praise from Defaqto.

The financial industry information provider notes the British Bankers' Association announcement this week that people in banking jobs at major institutions will be working with the government to free up the supply of business credit.

Defaqto banking specialist David Black says: "Anything the banks are seen to be doing to improve lending and the availability of finance to small businesses is clearly good news.

"But the proof will be in the pudding."

He adds that, while collaboration between the government and the financial sector could help to heal old wounds relating to the responsibility for business credit, it remains possible for politicians to easily shift the blame elsewhere.

Mr Black suggests that any lending that does occur will still need to be a good business move for the banks involved - and must be based on a sound commercial proposition from the borrower.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 16 August 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

People with banking jobs at some of the UK's best-known financial institutions are to be involved in the process of removing barriers to business finance, the British Bankers' Association (BBA) reveals.

The BBA outlines a letter from its chairman, Stephen Green, to chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

It details plans for individuals in banking jobs to work with the Bank of England, HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to remove obstacles from the business financing process.

"Mr Green said that the chief executives of the UK's high street banks were to guide a series of work streams designed to identify barriers to businesses securing finance," the BBA explains.

The letter itself is an update on the progress made by the BBA taskforce set up as a consequence of the Green Paper entitled Financing a Private Sector Recovery.

Mr Green notes that the taskforce's remit is to assess both the demand for and the challenges faced by business finance, as well as to recommend on areas relating to funding and liquidity within the banking system itself.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 16 August 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

Best practice among firms of all kinds could help to highlight the optimal approach to take when hiring to banking jobs.

Aberdeen Group reports that the best examples of hiring practice it has seen occur in firms where candidates are assessed both before they are hired and after they have been appointed to a position within the company.

The most important part of the process is that which takes place before the appointment, the analyst suggests, particularly in starter firms.

"For organisations that are just starting out, this is often the first step and can serve as a foundation upon which to build an entire assessment strategy," Aberdeen Group says.

Companies which adopt a best practice approach to hiring people into banking jobs could be up to 47 per cent more likely to use pre-hire assessments than the industry average, in light of figures cited by the research group.

Previous research from Aberdeen Group recommended assessing vacancies themselves - particularly at senior level - to ensure people are appointed into a role that will serve the company into the future.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 12 August 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

At a time when the government is downsizing some areas of the public sector, official figures show growth in employment due to people with banking jobs at nationalised institutions.

The latest labour market report from the Office for National Statistics shows a year-on-year increase of 0.5 per cent in the number of people employed in the public sector.

Figures are based on March 2010, when more than six million individuals were working for government organisations and other public bodies.

However, the report includes a rise of almost 250,000 between September and December of 2008.

This includes the combined workforce of people in banking jobs at Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland Group, both of which are considered to have become part of the public sector in October 2008.

More recently, a slight decline in public sector employment resulted in a 0.1 per cent drop between December 2009 and March 2010.

The Labour Market Statistics series includes figures relating to unemployment and claimant counts, labour disputes and vacancies.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 12 August 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

Trying to regulate flexibility into finance jobs and other professions could be a misguided approach to ensuring accessibility to the kinds of freedom extended by some businesses, in light of comments from the Federation of Small Businesses.

Head of policy Andrew Cave claims that many firms are already aware of the advantages that they can achieve by offering flexible working conditions to their staff.

As a result of the relationship that flexible working puts in place, he adds that companies are able to form "a close-knit team" with their employees.

However, regulating to ensure access to such freedoms can destroy this relationship, he warns.

"It's difficult to get across - particularly to central government - that by introducing that you endanger the dynamic that works so well otherwise," Mr Cave comments.

The current coalition administration, in its programme for government published in May, set out plans for a reform of the regulations applying to people in finance jobs.

However, it also promised a "one in, one out" pledge for business regulations leading to no net increase in red tape faced by UK companies of all kinds.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 10 August 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Bringing candidates into accounting jobs from outside of the firm could be one way to make sure they have the necessary interpersonal skills to manage their team.

Tina Lamb, senior partner at communication training firm Impact Factory, suggests that some people promoted internally do not have the awareness of management skills that is required to excel once placed in charge of other employees.

"People forget that, with most types of promotions, you need the skills needed for the people side of things that aren't to do with the actual business," she says.

Instead of appointing people on an assessment of these skills, however, she adds that many people are promoted based on their level of success in their existing role.

Her comments could lead people with accounting jobs to fill to look outside of their existing workforce in order to gain an employee with the correct skill level for the role.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 10 August 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Small businesses may want to seek people with experience in accounting jobs to help them make the transition to a larger company structure.

Tim Campbell, former winner of The Apprentice and chief executive officer of social enterprise the Bright Ideas Trust, explains that many small firms are content with being a workforce of one or two people.

However, those that choose to grow should be provided with mentors, he suggests.

Individuals with experience in accounting jobs could be well suited to such roles, with the ability to advise on the expenses associated with hiring new employees and potentially facing new corporate taxes.

"For those companies that do want to grow there has to be the finance in place and knowledge to support them," says Mr Campbell.

He adds that with the correct support in place, companies can avoid the "same pitfalls" and errors that businesses before them may have made.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 10 August 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson is supporting the government in scrapping the default retirement age, allowing people in HR jobs to retain older workers more easily in the years to come.

Steve Webb, minister for pensions, says: "We must harness the skills and experience of our older generations."

"Many older people want to work after age 65 and have a wealth of skills and experience that are not being used."

Figures from the Mayor of London's Office show that 57 per cent of London's employed over-60s are male.

However, among over-50s in general unemployment of a year or more is higher than any other age group.

The mayor also recently launched Young Londoners - successful futures, detailing his desire to give young people in the capital the life opportunities that they need in order to thrive.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 10 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Cuts in the public sector could see more business processes outsourced to people with finance jobs in the private sector, according to Ovum.

A report from the business analyst explains that there is no evidence to support the suggestion that the coalition government is averse to outsourcing business processes.

However, with plans to reduce expenditure within the public sector itself, people with HR and finance jobs elsewhere could find their skills required as an outsourced function.

"Suppliers should be engaging with government organisations on how they can take over and manage back-office and administrative services such as human resources, finance, procurement and customer services," the report suggests.

It adds that central government departments which make large financial transactions and local authorities are two potential avenues to target for suppliers.

Ovum is part of the Datamonitor group, with research findings drawn from the expertise of 350 analysts and collaboration with 18 of the globe's 20 largest corporations.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 09 August 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in permanent placements should be judged by their output - and not by the amount of time they spend at their desk.

That is the suggestion made by Mike Petrook, head of public affairs at the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

He argues that conservative daily targets could allow some people to waste seven and a half hours of their day effectively doing nothing.

"The most important thing that managers need to recognise is that the most fundamental thing is output, not input," he asserts.

His observations include people in permanent placements at all levels - including managers, who he says put in 43 days of overtime each year.

But this does not mean that the extra time put in is used productively, he warns, potentially meaning "there is little point in it".

The CMI exists to champion leadership and management in order to raise the performance of businesses nationwide.

Updated: 09 August 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, permanent-placement.

Jerri Barrett, vice-president of marketing for the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, explains that many companies are doing more to retain skilled female workers.

Mentoring is one way in which they can help to achieve this, which may inspire some people in HR jobs to consider implementing similar principles in their own workplace.

Another option is introducing greater flexibility in the roles that women are expected to fill in the workplace.

"Companies are paying more and more attention to their corporate cultures and are making significant efforts on retaining their female employees, especially at the mid-level," says Ms Barrett.

The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology aims to ensure that technology has a positive impact on women and vice versa.

Updated: 09 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Mike Emmott, public policy adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, says that older people who want to stay in work should be accommodated with the types of role to which they are well suited.

For instance, rather than being put in a high-pressure, high-ranking position, he suggests that they might prove just as valuable to the company in a role which allows them to support their co-workers more directly.

Accountant office support jobs could provide this opportunity to share "experience and wisdom" without suffering a substantial drop in pay compared with serving in a more senior role.

Mr Emmott adds that, with current changes in legislation, the concept of retirement is disappearing - leaving flexible working as a new way of looking at a person's elderly years.

Find information on the latest Office Support roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 04 August 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, office-support.

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) suggests that training for managers should be an area for investment in order to raise levels of leadership.

In doing so, people in HR jobs could be able to achieve the dual benefits of improving managers' self-confidence while also increasing the amount of faith other employees have in their leadership abilities.

Head of public affairs at the CMI Mike Petrook says: "Our own research has shown that 50 per cent of people think they can do their job better than their manager."

This may be in part due to the fact that four in five managers have no professional qualifications, he adds.

By investing more in training - as is done in continental Europe - some of the issues associated with this fact might be overcome, Mr Petrook concludes.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 04 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

The organisation explains that there is a disparity between marketing - which generates brand awareness and leads - and the success of people in sales jobs in terms of converting those opportunities into profits.

As a result, some companies can see an efficiency rate as low as 20 per cent in terms of the sales department making use of the information generated through marketing activities.

Rich Vancil, vice-president of IDC's Executive Advisory Group, says: "Process improvement is the path forward to better alignment between sales and marketing."

"This year, large technology companies are seeing sales and marketing expenses grow faster than revenues."

By automating some of the main processes involved in both sales and marketing, he suggests that up to 20 per cent can be saved on existing budgets.

The Executive Advisory Group exists to advise on benchmark data in the sales and marketing sector, in order to allow professionals in the industry to plan their future investments.

Find information on the latest Sales & Marketing jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 03 August 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, sales-and-marketing.

In all, 906 candidates succeeded in completing their Professional Stage qualifications this summer, of which 50.2 per cent did so without failing a single module.

Of the 2,796 students who sat papers towards their Professional Stage - but not necessarily to reach full completion - 73.4 per cent did not fail a single paper.

Gavin Aspden, director of qualifications at the ICAEW, says: "I am delighted to see that over 900 students are a step closer to membership of the ICAEW as the result of hard work, support from employers and excellent training."

He adds that chartered accountant status can open the door to exciting finance jobs and business opportunities.

Financial accounting saw the highest pass rate at 93.7 per cent, while financial reporting and financial management were the least successful at a 77.3 per cent pass rate for each.

The ICAEW calls the ACA qualification the "first step" towards achieving chartered accountant status.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Extract:  Nearly 1,000 candidates face a "bright future" in finance jobs after completing their ACA Professional Stage in ICAEW exams. 

Updated: 03 August 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Looking back over the first half of 2010 

What stands out is how quickly the market changed from one where the supply of candidates was greater than the number of roles, to one where the reverse is true. As a result we are back in a market which while not at 2006 and 2007 levels, is one where strong candidates have a high degree of choice and hiring organisations need to be willing and able to move quickly when they see the right candidate.

Within this edition of Market Insight we look at:   

 Where the demand is?

 Where are the skill shortages?

 How can you ensure you are a candidates' employer of choice?

Trends through Q2 of 2010

Q2 saw the job flow rise slightly on Q1 and strengthen compared to the first half of 2009. Overall job flow for the first half of 2010 was more than double than the same period in 2009. What has happened is that the rise in the number of jobs has begun to plateau after the growth in Q1 2010. It is likely that this tailing off was caused by the May General Election, uncertainty in the PIGS economies and the continued drive to regulate the banking industry.

The strongest flow of roles was across Finance and more from a permanent perspective. The main driver for that came from within Product Control and regulatory roles. Temporary roles within finance were within change projects and mirrored the permanent side in terms of the desire for Product Control and technical accountants.

Within Operations demand has been driven by middle office roles including trade support, and bookrunners. This demand has been more permanent in nature, although it has been supplemented by organisations looking at temporary options. For temporary operations the demand has been very much in middle office as well as thedata and corporate actions spaces. Compliance focussed roles such as KYC and AML also saw demand increase.

What skills are currently desirable? 

Finance

. Demand for Product Controllers is high and is across all asset classes, although people with structured and exotic experience are highly sort after.

. Finance transformation projects and systems implementation projects are taking place at a number of organisations and this is creating roles that are both temporary and permanent. Where possible businesses are trying to move existing employees and then back filling, or they are looking for specific project experience.

. Technical accountants remain in demand, in particular people who have a level of product exposure. In addition Regulatory and Liquidity specialists are being sort across the market both from a temporary and permanent perspective.

. There is a demand for cost and revenue accountants who are able to analyse results and provide strong commercial recommendations.

Operations

. There has been an increase in Project and Change Management roles, these roles are primarily temporary and interim in nature and relate to businesses trying to increase their STP levels.

. The demand for middle office candidates with structured and exotic product experience remains high. Demand is for both temporary and permanent candidates.

. Comodities are an area that many businesses are continuing to grow and volumes remain strong.

. What is key is a demand for candidates who understand the importance of control and operational risk and how, within an operations roles they can influence and drive that control. 

What does this mean to you? 

These figures show that the market remains stable and that there is still high demand for candidates. I wrote at the start of the year that it would be interesting to see whether confidence had returned to the market and I believe it has. What has happened though is that the market is seeing the results of the number of people who left the market, candidates who are holding tight until 2011 and businesses holding on to current employees.

The increase in roles that are being recruited for, coupled with the reduction in candidates looking to move has led to intense competition for these people. This is between companies and current employers, meaning that there has been a rise in counter offers. It is important  that recruiting companies ensure that they are selling stability, progression and development where possible. These are stronger reasons for people to move than remuneration.

To create candidate buy-in, companies need to ensure they select a recruitment company that will act as a business partner for them in the market place. This is important in a market of short supply where competition between employers is high.

What does the 2nd Half of 2010 hold? 

We are likely to see further tightening in the number of candidates that are available and looking for work. Reasons for this include the fact that some candidates will look now to hold on until 2011 when bonsues are paid. Some candidates are reluctant to move after two years of turbulence, meaning that candidate flow will remain challenging.

What hirers need to do is sell their companies to ensure candidate buy-in throughout the process, be flexible on what they look for in a candidate and move processes quickly. Remember candidates have choices and you need to give them every reason to choose you.

Go to www.poolia.co.uk for more information

Updated: 03 August 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, london, market-and-industry-news.

With the pensionable age rising and the default retirement age due to be removed from the world of work, more over-50s could be looking to move into banking jobs from other sectors.

Figures from HSBC show that the majority of the current older generation do not expect to stop working completely at any point in their lives.

However, they are also looking to different disciplines, with 30 per cent of over-50s opting to switch career paths - which could see some apply their business acumen to banking jobs and other finance roles.

Donna Tipping, senior consultant at Forster AGEncy, a provider of communication solutions tailored for the older worker, says the findings are not surprising.

"With a minimum of ten to 15 years left to work, why wouldn't 50somethings want to transfer their skills to another sector?" she asks.

She adds: "All power to those older workers who refuse to be left on the scrapheap."

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 02 August 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

People in UK HR jobs have been told to consider engaging more closely with their workforce in order to ensure that the employment relationship is a mutually beneficial one.

Mike Petrook, head of public affairs at the Chartered Management Institute, suggests that the issue of employee engagement is one that should not be overlooked by people in HR jobs in the UK.

"We need to look closer at how we are engaging with our staff," he says.

"One of the big issues is, are they getting what they want from their place of work?"

This is as important as making sure that the company itself is benefiting from the individual's employment, Mr Petrook adds.

He looks back to a study published by the government in 2009 which revealed that there was, at the time, a disconnect between employers and their workforce in many cases.

The report found employee engagement at an all-time low, Mr Petrook notes.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 02 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Scrapping the default retirement age of 65 could make some elements of HR jobs almost impossible, according to the Confederation of British Industry.

Deputy director-general John Cridland argues that, without a clear cut-off point at which people are expected to retire, it could be more difficult to offer them benefits.

"These proposals could make workforce planning and providing some employment benefits - such as critical illness cover - next to impossible," he says.

For people with HR jobs, this raises the question of how best to deal with an ageing workforce following the planned removal of the default retirement age.

Mr Cridland adds that physically demanding roles in particular could be troublesome, as it is not possible for older people to remain in some of the jobs that they could do when they were younger.

Existing regulations allow workers to request that they be allowed to stay on past the age of 65; however, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills says the coalition government has committed itself to removing the default age completely.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 02 August 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in UK banking jobs may be interested in the outcome of the recent stress tests of European financial institutions.

However, one economist suggests that the testing did not employ a worst-case scenario - and was not tailored to focus on UK banks.

"I don't think the emphasis was on the UK really," says Alan Clarke, UK economist at financial services provider BNP Paribas.

But he adds that "UK banks are able to withstand a reasonable-sized shock", which may reassure people already in or seeking banking jobs within the sector.

Mr Clarke adds that a positive outcome that might emerge from the stress tests - which the continent's banks passed - could be an improvement in confidence.

If this occurs in the single-currency eurozone, he argues that trade may gain as a result.

The impact this could have on business banking remains to be seen, as Mr Clarke also concedes that, with house prices down, financial institutions are unlikely to want to increase their lending to companies too soon.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 30 July 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

Placing cyber security experts into office support jobs could help them to spread the message of best practice throughout a workforce.

The Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) explains that a greater awareness about online security issues and how to tackle them can help internet users to protect themselves.

In business, this might be achieved by hiring into office support jobs people with a technical knowledge or broad understanding of anti-virus software or network perimeter security.

Nicholas Lansman, secretary general of the ISPA, says: "The work that cyber security professionals do is incredibly important and ISPA welcomes the effort to encourage more people in to this profession."

His comments come as a new online initiative is launched to help identify people with the necessary technical knowledge to become cyber security evangelists.

The Cyber Security Challenge features competitions and games aimed at people of all backgrounds, with those whose awareness of security is the greatest to be awarded with one of 30 prizes.

Find information on the latest Office Support roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 30 July 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, office-support.

People in HR jobs may be overlooking the importance of diversity when trying to fill permanent placements in the current economic climate.

Rachel Krys, campaign director for the Employers Forum on Age, concedes that turbulent times may make it tempting to hire an individual who closely resembles the team already in place.

However, if that group consists only of people around the same age, she argues that the added bonus of different levels of experience may be lost.

"Having people of all different ages makes a much stronger and much more adaptable team," she says.

"When you put lots of people who are the same together, it is actually really bad."

Her comments may inspire people in HR jobs to take a new approach to filling the permanent placements that are put at their disposal.

By opting for an older applicant with demonstrable experience, they could find they are able to add an assured employee to their workforce while also demonstrating an awareness of - and avoidance of - ageism.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 30 July 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

The news that employees will no longer be forced to leave permanent placements when they reach the age of 65 has been welcomed by one elderly people's charity.

Age UK claims that everybody wins from the decision, which was outlined in the coalition government's plans for its administration and is now being pursued by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

Charity director Michelle Mitchell says: "People over 65 will have full employment rights for the first time. The economy will benefit from older workers' precious skills and experience and their increased buying power."

However, some protections were already in place for people in permanent placements, as the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills notes.

Among them was the entitlement to request to be allowed to stay on past 65, as well as a ban on employers retiring staff at an earlier age, unless they were able to demonstrate an objective reason for doing so.

Updated: 30 July 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, permanent-placement.

Students hoping to raise their chances of gaining permanent placement in the position of their dreams could find summer internships help prepare them for office support jobs and other roles.

Business analyst PricewaterhouseCoopers explains that internships - even if they are unpaid and simply involve handling some administrative duties - are a foot in the door and can allow students' favourite employers to appear on their CVs.

Working in an administrative role during the break from university could also allow students to build the network of contacts they may need to secure permanent placement in office support jobs following their graduation.

"If students are to maximise their appeal to potential employers they must be focused on long-term career planning and the long university holidays provide a perfect time to do this," says director of talent recruitment Sonja Stockton.

The analyst recently suggested that a rise in temporary roles might be seen as companies look to reduce staffing costs in accordance with tight European regulations - unlike in the US, where companies have been able to reduce salaries and downsize their workforce as necessary.

Find information on the latest Office Support roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 30 July 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, office-support.

Companies wishing to make permanent placements appeal to the best possible candidates could find increased holiday allowances to be one way in which to do so.

Figures from IFF Research show that holidays are among the most important aspects of a job offering in terms of achieving a positive outlook on the position.

The study addressed people in part-time, full-time and self-employed positions to determine how holiday entitlements differ between different permanent placements.

In the public sector, satisfaction levels were relatively high at 68 per cent of employees; however, this proportion dropped to 42 per cent in the private sector.

The analyst suggests that part of the gap could come from the fact that teachers typically receive lengthy holidays and are part of the public sector.

However, IFF Research joint managing director Jan Shury adds that companies in the private sector may want to consider increasing holiday entitlements as an alternative to wage cuts in the current economic climate.

Employment and benefits is an area of focus for the research firm, which was established in 1965 and covers six main thematic topic strands.

Updated: 28 July 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, permanent-placement.

Temporary staffing in the private sector could be one way to offset the cuts in employment expected in the public sector.

Small business portal Bytestart explains that its users are among the largest overall contributors to HM Treasury in terms of taxation.

"As the bloated public sector is shrunk it's vital that small businesses are there to provide employment and stoke the engine of the economic recovery," says director Emyr Williams.

Despite the economic turbulence seen in recent years, the ability of small firms to provide both temporary staffing opportunities and permanent placements may be improved under the coalition government.

Mr Williams explains that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats seem "far more pro-business" than the Labour government which preceded them.

He also notes that business owners often adopt an entrepreneurial spirit when faced with economic circumstances that seem difficult on the surface.

This allows small firms to maintain optimism where others might see a threat, he concludes.

For more information on temporary roles and permanent placements contact Poolia Recruitment Specialists today.

Updated: 28 July 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, permanent-placement, temporary-staffing.

While employee succession plans are one way to keep positions filled with talented individuals, those in HR jobs may want to reassess their own preparations for if a senior member of staff leaves.

According to figures from PricewaterhouseCoopers, vacancies are typically filled by the intended successor only one in three times.

The business analyst suggests that company leaders and those in HR jobs may instead want to maintain a list of "exemplar" employees who are able to inspire their colleagues.

Preparing for change is a key part of making any major decision, the firm adds, such as downsizing the workforce or taking other austerity measures.

"Companies need to ensure employees remain engaged during any subsequent changes as their support is equally vital to return on workforce investment," says human resource services partner Richard Phelps.

The analyst previously urged business leaders to adopt the appropriate tone in dealing with staff and customers alike as a "make or break" factor in maintaining a healthy relationship.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 28 July 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs can perform to the highest standard if companies invest in the systems that they need in order to do so, it is claimed.

Analyst Aberdeen Group indicates that "substantial gains" can be made through individuals in HR jobs if they are given the technology to integrate issues such as payroll, workforce management and other core duties of the department.

In its assessment of the sector, the research firm focuses specifically on companies with employee numbers ranging from 50 to 1,000 individuals.

"The state of the economy is driving organisations to invest in core HR systems to manage costs, ensure compliance and allow HR personnel to be more strategic," writes Jayson Saba.

Mr Saba is Aberdeen Group's human capital management practice research analyst, responsible for assessing industry trends in enterprise HR systems and succession planning, employee performance and talent acquisition tools.

His expertise includes a stint with a provider of self-service employee benefit tools and a number of years helping to run his family's business.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 27 July 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Permanent placement of dynamic individuals into finance jobs can enable prompt action from businesses during "precarious" economic times, according to analyst Aberdeen Group.

In its report How Best-in-Class Plan, Budget and Forecast in Today's Dynamic World, the research firm outlines how forward-thinking individuals can be a key element in responding to a changing sector landscape.

"Highly effective financial planning, budgeting and forecasting can successfully enable decision-making even in periods of unprecedented change," writes analyst Cindy Jutras.

She adds that five key elements play a role in this, comprising performance management, knowledge management, technology, process and organisation.

However, a separate report from Aberdeen Group indicates that a lack of investment into putting individuals into permanent placement could be leaving firms at risk during tough economic times.

In Effective Talent Management Drives Profitable Business Growth, Kevin Martin writes that cutting workforce investment leads to burnout and low morale, impeding business growth as a result.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 26 July 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs may want to encourage communication among the individuals that they employ in order to keep information flowing around their workplace.

Martin Lyne, marketing director for small to medium-sized enterprises at telecommunications firm Everything Everywhere, explains that communication is a useful way to promote interaction through a range of different media - and not just face to face.

"Having the necessary tools and processes in place to promote open communication is therefore a must for business leaders," he argues.

For people in HR jobs, candidates with a significant presence on social networking platforms, including the business-specific site LinkedIn, could be an indicator that they are willing communicators.

Mr Lyne suggests that mobile phones are enabling an increasing variety of methods of communication among workers.

With the latest handsets, these include email and video conferencing while on the move, helping to compensate for times when a face-to-face meeting is impossible.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 26 July 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Candidates applying for investment banking jobs in the years to come could face a different landscape due to a number of present-day trends.

The latest Financial Activity Barometer from John Gilbert Financial Research (JGFR) shows how the recent recession and turbulent economy have led to a likely change in the industry.

Chief executive John Gilbert says: "The retail financial services industry is set to go through a major restructuring, which is likely to have far-reaching effects on savings, investment and borrowing behaviour."

One effect that could impact on candidates for future banking jobs is the proposal to separate retail and investment activities to protect consumers against stock market risks.

Two-thirds of the public support this idea, according to figures from JGFR due to be elaborated upon in a coming report.

JGFR undertakes its research in order to help financial organisations of all types predict consumer behaviour in the coming months, so that they may ensure they achieve a positive relationship with their primary customers.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 26 July 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

An ever-changing taxation regime is taking up the time of small and medium-sized enterprises' owners and the people in related financial services jobs, according to the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Immediate past president Andrew Hubbard says: "Small businesses and their advisers will spend a lot of time playing around with the numbers, trying to work out the best way to structure themselves, as opposed to getting on with running the business."

This is due to the changing taxation landscape for small businesses, with some fairly complex rule updates over the past year for people in financial services jobs that serve commercial customers to attempt to understand.

For instance, Mr Hubbard notes that being self-employed has advantages including the biannual nature of paying tax - rather than through the pay as you earn system - and the greater opportunity to claim financial relief due to expenses.

He adds that greater stability is needed in small business taxation, in order that firms might be able to plan for the long term with greater confidence.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 26 July 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

A human resources expert has suggested that a greater number of employees would like their bosses to be frank and honest about the overall performance of their company.

Claire McCartney, resourcing and talent planning adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, believes that by providing this information to the workforce, they can unite around a shared aim as well as developing new ways of working together to meet challenges.

"The relationship and contract between employee and employer works both ways and employees need to ensure that they are actively seeking out development opportunities and contributing their best in this difficult climate," she stated.

Ms McCartney's comments come in the light of a survey by chrysaliscourses.co.uk, which found that one-third of workers felt unappreciated by their bosses and 63 per cent admitted they were considering a change of career as soon as possible.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 22 July 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Work placements and internships can be an asset to HR jobseekers looking to get a foot on the career ladder, it has been suggested.

Vodafone's UK HR director Matthew Brearley said there are a great number of bright and capable young applicants leaving university seeking employment.

However, to succeed in being hired he thinks candidates need to stand out from the crowd, HR Magazine reports.

He admitted that while internships are not an absolute barometer of a strong potential worker, they are a good thing to have done and graduates with experience in some form tend to show better judgement and a pragmatic approach to the world of work.

"From our own experience at Vodafone we are always looking for grads who are bright, web savvy, positive and have that spark of energy," Mr Brearley added.

This follows comments from Peter Panavotou at The Write Stuff, who advised jobseekers to try and fill gaps in their resumes where possible to help them appear more attractive to employers.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 22 July 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Temporary jobs can be a good route for graduates in a competitive jobs market, according to one expert.

GraduateFog.co.uk founder Tanya de Grunwald said that students leaving higher education are adopting a harder attitude towards their career by putting the need to pay off their debts, such as loans, ahead of professional ambition.

She believes that this may be a result of the level of money graduates need to pay back and the current crop of university leavers going up against those who did not secure permanent placements last summer as firms offered fewer positions.

"They may not be glamorous long-term solutions, but part-time work, temping and volunteering are all worthwhile. Don't feel it's a 'step down' after your degree," Ms de Grunwald commented.

She added that, by taking such a position, young candidates can demonstrate a good work ethic to potential employers for the future.

A survey published last week by the Association of Investment Companies found that 32 per cent of students would take a job with a higher salary instead of following their career ambitions to pay off their debts.

Find information on the latest Office Support roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 20 July 2010.
Categories: london, market-and-industry-news, office-support.

People in accounting jobs are being told that the government response to a report about trying to encourage greater gender diversity in the City has been positive.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation's Accounting and Financial Services sector group chair Bill Haynes believes it is good that the coalition administration accepts the problems underlined by the document.

He said that while the primary objective is making sure the most talented and capable candidates are appointed to directorships, regardless of race or gender, "it is crucially important to recognise the need for a productive and balanced team profile within the board."

Mr Haynes added that both applicants and businesses need to accept that current hiring processes will lead to the same people succeeding, particularly when boardrooms are susceptible to "group think" and are not creating solutions to problems in the finance and accounting sector.

The Treasury Select Committee hinted that the lack of diversity in senior positions may have helped to undermine performance in the industry during the economic downturn.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 20 July 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Those in HR jobs may be encouraged to learn the jobs market has been described by one industry specialist as steady.

Chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation Kevin Green said Office for National Statistics (ONS) data published this week is positive.

ONS revealed the unemployment rate for the quarter leading up to May 2010 was 0.1 per cent down on the preceding three-month period, standing at 7.8 per cent.

Mr Green remarked: "These figures are an encouraging sign of the stability returning to the jobs market as was borne out in our Report on Jobs last week with an upturn in [some] sectors."

However, according to the expert, the public sector could help to bring down potential redundancies by copying efficiency measures implemented in private companies.

Many businesses have done well to hold on to their best talent during the recession, he explained, while still being able to reduce their costs.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 16 July 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs are being told that how a company conducts its operations will need to be altered as a result recent legislation passed in parliament.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has published guidance to deal with changes in the Equality Act in order to help business better understand how it will effect their day-to-day activities in practice.

Among the issues that might impact on companies are rules governing third party harassment, which could result in employers being liable if a staff member feels aggrieved in this way.

People in HR jobs have also learned that pre-employment health questionnaires will no longer be given out to new workers as from October.

John Taylor, Acas chief executive, said: "Fairness in the workplace is good business and motivates staff as well as improving effectiveness and productivity."

Athough it is an independent body, Acas is largely funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 16 July 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs are being told that the success of their industry should lie in allowing professionals to share ideas and set the culture when it comes to hiring processes.

Sir Richard Branson, chairman of the Virgin Group which runs a wide variety of operations in areas such as transport and entertainment, told HR magazine that his company's guiding principle for staff usually revolves around setting some parameters but largely letting individuals "get on and do their stuff".

He said: "The key to effective people management is ensuring everyone has a little of people management in them."

Furthermore, Mr Branson admitted that although there are process and approach systems that encompass the company structure, the different Virgin brands have some freedom about what they want to do.

Writing for People Management on Monday (July 12th), Serene Consulting chief executive Kevin Balchin advised people in HR jobs to stand up to macho management styles.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 16 July 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in accounting jobs are being told the roadmap for adopting a universal financial reporting method needs to be slower.

That is according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the Big Four auditors, which said it fully supports an aggressive timeline in trying to attain a single set of global stands, but believes the current one is not sufficient given the complex nature of the projects.

The finance and accounting firm said that despite the International Accounting Standards Board's commitment to additional outreach, it is pessimistic that target dates can be met for adopting the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) in the US.

"We do not believe that constituents have the resource bandwidth within the targeted board timelines to complete effective, thorough analyses of the accounting, business and operational impacts," PwC added.

Since 2001, the IFRS has been adopted by companies in more than 100 countries including the UK and although the US has yet to convert, it did sign a memorandum of understanding four years ago to conform to the standard.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 14 July 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People looking for London banking jobs are learning that university students should receive advice about their careers as part of their qualification.

Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, believes guidance sessions could be included in the timetable to help them in the post-recession fight to secure work.

A report by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation had warned that the economic downturn was having a disproportionate effect on youth jobless numbers and there is the potential for a generation of 16 to 24-year-olds to be at risk of being scarred by long-term unemployment.

However, Mr Hawes stated that students in their final year of university could benefit from learning about CV writing, interviews and assessment centres if is part of the curriculum.

"By and large, most graduates decide to look for work when they leave university, by which point they are possibly back at home with their parents, miles away from their uni," he said.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 14 July 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

Those looking for office support jobs are being advised to add new skills to their resumes as it may boost their chances of landing a role.

According to Peter Panavotou, senior consultant at CV advice service The Write Stuff, filling in gaps in the fields of education and employment may help a candidate stand out from the crowd.

His words come as the Guardian revealed last week that employers are now looking at more than 70 resumes per vacancy.

Mr Panavotou said that bosses like to see evidence of candidates being proactive in their hunt for a position - whether it be for an office support job or another sector - but do not appreciate applicants who expect opportunities to arrive on a plate.

He added: "Even if it is something completely unconnected, you can fill a gap while also building skills with something such as a first aid course."

Find information on the latest Office Support roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 14 July 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, office-support.

People in HR jobs in the UK should be aware of unethical behaviour from company bosses or managers and be willing to stand up to such attitudes, it has been suggested.

Writing for People Management, Serene Consulting chief executive Kevin Balchin noted a trend in a wide range of organisations towards "macho management".

Furthermore, he suggested that there is an increasing tendency in public sector bosses to consider "quiet, considerate" forms of management as ineffective and "too slow to demonstrate a real result".

Mr Balchin said he is worried about what he sees as attempts to "graft" private sector methods of leadership on to the public sector, when such approaches are unproven or disregarded by the other private firms.

Last month, the human resources director of the Metropolitan Police Martin Tiplady told a meeting of industry figures that he hoped the sector would bring greater value to companies going forward.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 14 July 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People aspiring to work in the City are finding that more banking jobs are becoming available in the capital.

The Financial Times reports that opportunities are on the increase and with other areas of the UK labour market looking less appetising, recruitment in the Square Mile shines more brightly.

"A telling sign of the City's returning confidence is Royal Bank of Scotland's plan to hire almost 600 graduates this year," it said.

Furthermore, the publication stated that signs will remain encouraging as long as confidence is not dashed by problems in the eurozone, the sovereign debt market or the introduction of a new bank levy in the UK.

Last week, the Confederation of British Industry revealed that people in financial services jobs had seen increased business activity at its fastest rate since 2007.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 14 July 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

A boot camp set up by finance and accounting company Accenture is leading to a significant number of young aspiring professionals securing a job, according to one of its recruitment figures.

Jessica Davies, graduate recruitment schemes and process lead with the organisation, told the Association for Graduate Recruiters conference that 85 per cent of participants in the initiative are being offered positions, People Management reports.

This compares with a success rate of 40-60 per cent of university leavers gaining employment with the finance and accounting firm before the introduction of the boot camp.

Ms Davies stated that it took the company four months to create and deliver its first event, which Accenture believes offers something different to graduates by "giving them a raw view of the business, our values and getting them to tackle real-life client issues".

Accenture employs around 190,000 staff in 120 countries.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 14 July 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Accountancy age reports that the UK firm has promoted five staff working in London - Pauling McGee, James Nicholls, Andy Cotter, David Isherwood and Julie Rice - while Paul Bates has taken up a senior position at its Leeds office.

BDO's managing partner Simon Michaels stressed that those in accounting jobs with the organisation are its lifeblood and "at BDO we strive to create an environment where the highest calibre individuals have the chance to thrive within a collaborative culture where clients come first".

He added that is particularly important it is able to "nurture, develop and promote" fine employees within its ranks.

BDO is the fifth-largest accounting organisation in the world and has in excess of 1,000 offices in more than 100 countries, serving a range of clients including firms in telecoms, retail and real estate.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 14 July 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Bosses hiring for procurement jobs are being told that an inflexible approach to recruitment processes may mean that they are missing out on number of talented candidates.

Mike Petrook, spokesperson for the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), said that with the UK suffering from a skills shortage at the moment, it is important to be open minded with regards to hiring procedures otherwise there may be a negative impact.

"By being inflexible in terms of the type of employment that you're offering, your organisation could be shutting itself off to reams of top talent," he added.

Furthermore, Mr Petrook argued that the employers should not get bogged down in bureaucracy of staff hours and must concentrate on the quality as well as volume of someone's work.

The CMI claims to be the only body of its kind in the UK to promote strong management and has more than 86,000 members.

Find information on the latest Procurement roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 12 July 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, procurement.

Updated: 12 July 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, office-support, temporary-staffing.

University leavers seeking office support jobs or another permanent placement should not struggle to find employment if they adopt a flexible approach, according to one expert.

Charlie Ball, deputy research director at the Higher Education Careers Service's Unit, indicated that graduates have many different options when it comes to looking for the right role for them.

He suggested that this can mean taking one of a many avenues such as working for a smaller business or even a "lower status" job that offers progression into a graduate role and noted that a lot of university leavers often find they reach these positions fairly quickly.

Mr Ball's comments follow a survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), which revealed the number of applications from those leaving higher education has soared, with an average of 69 candidates competing for each position.

Find information on the latest Office Support roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 09 July 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, office-support.

People in senior human resources jobs are being presented with an opportunity to make create value-for-money public services as the government looks to make savings, according to one industry figure.

Dean Shoesmith, president of the Public Sector People Managers Association, told HR magazine there is no doubt workers would perceive an increase in VAT and pay freezes as a "double whammy", but urged professionals in the sector to use this time wisely.

He stressed the importance for people in human resources to get employees to understand what benefits they already receive in "complete terms" as well as trying to introduce "total reward benefit statements across the sector".

"Only then will we be successful in retaining and motivating existing staff and attracting new staff," Mr Shoesmith added.

On Sunday (July 4th), transport secretary Phillip Hammond told the BBC that government departments are unlikely to be hit by spending cuts of around 40 per cent, despite being warned to be ready for such a situation.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 09 July 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

One of the UK's Big Four finance and accounting firms Ernst & Young (E&Y) has appointed 48 new partners working in Britain and Ireland.

The new appointees will work in all four of its product services, which are its Advisory; Assurance, Tax and Transaction Advisory divisions, with further investment planned for those areas over the next year.

Scott Halliday, E&Y's managing partner for the UK and Ireland, said that operations in the UK make a significant contribution to the accounting company's global interests, in terms of generating revenue and the "mobility" of its skilled personnel.

In September, the organisation posted worldwide revenues of $21.4 billion (£14 billion) for the fiscal year to the end of June 2009 and its global chairman James Turley praised staff for being able to adapt during a "challenging year".

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 07 July 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

A personnel expert has suggested that future applicants for sales and marketing jobs as well as for other sectors may need hard commercial skills to cope with any financial fallout that may arise.

Dr John McGurk, an advisor on talent development and learning at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, warned that the ability to manage these realities when they occur is a key skill that every company should have.

He said: "You need to know how your business makes money or how it serves its customers. You need people who understand that".

Furthermore, those looking for sales and marketing jobs were told that innovation and creativity will also be vital commodities that businesses will need to have if they are to win new markets and be able to develop successful products.

Last month, a survey by Egon Zehnder International showed that as few as five per cent of organisations believed they possess the right resources to deal with future economic instability.

Find information on the latest Sales & Marketing jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 07 July 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, sales-and-marketing.

Accounting jobseekers and candidates in other sectors may be missing out on talented university leavers because some companies prioritising a system considered outdated.

Chris Jackson, a spokesperson for the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, said that the University and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) points format may be being misused by graduate recruitment schemes as it was never intended as a measure for potential employment.

He suggested that using the Ucas tariff was not in the interests of both students and employers, especially with more recent evidence available about applicants.

Furthermore, those looking for accounting jobs were told that it can mitigate against candidates who performed "modestly" at school and may not have received the same support as some of their peers, yet might have excelled in higher education.

Last week, Ucas announced it is to review it current points system and indicated that the current method is outdated.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 06 July 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People seeking banking jobs have been told by one expert that spending time making each application unique can boost their chances of landing a role.

Director of career coaching firm Talent Transitions Chris Morrall said graduates in particular could benefit from adjusting their CV for each position to which they apply.

"To increase chances of getting an interview, do research on the company and tailor the application for the job," he explained.

His remarks followed recent statistics from High Fliers that found one-third more university leavers were hired by City investment banks in 2010 when compared with last year.

Commenting on the availability of jobs, Mr Morrall stated vacancies are up, but there were still unfilled positions last year as many people did not show "interpersonal skills" in interviews.

Being fully prepared and rehearsing potential questions could enhance a person's chances of being employed, he went on to say.

For more information about banking jobs in London contact Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 01 July 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

People in financial services jobs have seen the growth of activity increase at the fastest rate since 2007, new figures suggest.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) teamed up with PricewaterhouseCoopers to produce its Financial Services Survey, which revealed that nine per cent more businesses witnessed volumes increase than decrease in the last quarter.

Some 38 per cent of companies said they saw more business in the three months to June, compared with the 29 per cent that claimed they had fewer transactions.

John Cridland, deputy director-general of the CBI, said: "Firms hope that activity will strengthen over the coming quarter and are now planning to expand their staff numbers."

Angela Baron, adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, recently said that people in accounting jobs should consult their staff on ways in which the efficiency of operating systems can be improved.

Click here to find financial and accounting jobs in London through Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 01 July 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Women in finance jobs have been harder hit by the recession and are finding it difficult to have their voices heard, it has been said.

India Gary-Martin, president of the City Women's Network (CWN), suggested that tough economic times cause companies to have less flexibility and require more from staff, including working longer hours.

This can be a problem for mothers needing to balance their jobs with child care obligations and more women are needed in the sector, especially onto company boards, to have the issues addressed, the expert explained.

"Initiatives to increase the number of women on boards are less attractive to companies whilst fighting through in a recession," Ms Gary-Martin added.

She claimed that businesses should now be focusing on attracting and retaining more strong female talent into roles during the economic recovery.

A recent survey by the Confederation for British Industry and PricewaterhouseCoopers showed that firms expect to increase employee numbers in the next quarter, which could see more women take up finance jobs.

Click here to find finance jobs in London through Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 01 July 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

New research has shown that there has not been the expected backlash against the banking industry among those seeking graduate jobs.

Despite the popular conception in the media of finance sector workers having contributed to the credit crisis, university leavers are still looking for banking jobs in UK, the High Fliers report showed.

It was also discovered that graduates taking banking jobs were more likely to receive a higher starting salary than they would have two years ago, with basic pay rising by ten per cent to £42,000 in the period.

Martin Birchall, managing director of High Fliers Research, said: "If anyone was expecting moral outrage and shying away from the banks then it hasn't happened. People are still very, very keen on working in the City."

High Fliers Research is behind the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list and the UK Graduate Careers Survey and has been reviewing the jobs sector for degree-holders for the past 15 years.

Click here to find banking and financial services jobs through Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 01 July 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

Those searching for banking jobs could struggle as financial services firms move to freeze budgets.

Banking jobs in IT could become less available as financial firms move to freeze their IT budgets, it has been suggested.

The CBI has found that many financial services firms are holding back on growth in their IT departments over the next year, with few firms planning to invest in technology over the coming 12-month period.

Firms are basing the decision on a fall in trade over the last quarter. Many companies have also forecast an increase in regulation over the second half of 2010 and want to avoid risking employing non-compliant staff, Contractor UK reported.

There is also a reduction in the number of temporary IT contracts arising within the banking sector, it has been indicated.

As a result, those in banking jobs are feeling the effect, with many permanent IT contractors finding themselves posted within the company to head up major projects.

Earlier this month, it came to light that graduates seeking banking jobs were urged to keep looking as there were still vacancies available despite a decline in graduate schemes.

Click here to find financial services jobs

Updated: 29 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

Those working in banking and financial services could find themselves receiving bonuses for good customer service if plans to change the banking culture are instigated.

Banking jobs could be rewarded for providing great customer service instead of pushing sales if new proposals are adopted.

Which? published a ten-point manifesto on June 24th outlining ideas to improve the UK's banking services in the aftermath of the recent financial crisis.

The document set out key points that Which? believes would "help to rebuild trust between banks and their customers".

The proposals put a new emphasis on customer service and suggest that banking staff would receive bonuses for good customer service rather than being given incentives for selling products to customers.

In addition, the Future of Banking Commission published a report earlier this month criticising the industry as being "structurally flawed" which had "failed its customers".

It too pushed for a change to banking culture, encouraging those offering financial services to stop rewards for product selling and refocus on customer service.

Ed Bowsher, head of consumer finance at lovemoney.com, said: "The proposal that bonuses should be paid for good customer service rather than sales is welcome."

For more information about banking jobs

Updated: 29 June 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, banking-and-financial-services.

Human resources jobseekers could need more skill training, according to one expert.

Those looking for human resources jobs could find they are in need of more skill training, believes an employment specialist.

Phil Flaxton, chief executive for not-for-profit initiative Work Wise UK, was commenting on the proposal put forward by David Cameron's coalition government to encourage those living in high unemployment regions to relocate to areas with better prospects.

Despite his support for the initiative, Mr Flaxton said he believed there was also a need for more skills training.

He said: "There is still fundamentally a skills shortage in this country. We have got to make sure the processes are in place to ensure we get people trained and skilled up for the next 15-20 years."

Between April and May this year, the number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) fell below 1.5 million for the first time since March 2009 to 1.48 million. However the number of people now unemployed rose by 23,000 to 2.47 million.

Updated: 29 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Permanent jobs could still be hard to find for the unemployed despite relocating as part of the coalition's new proposals, claims one expert.

Relocation for a permanent placement does not necessarily guarantee a job, says one expert, despite being the coalition government's latest initiative to get more people into permanent positions.

In a recent interview published in the Sunday Telegraph, Iain Duncan Smith revealed plans to relocate unemployed people to areas where there were jobs. But Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, warned that relocation does not mean a definite job.

He said: "Overall it is a very sound move. However, I think it could be difficult to implement and it does not necessarily guarantee that they are going to get a job."

Forcing people to relocate could also put them in difficult situations with hard decisions about what to do with dependent family members, he warned.

Figures released this month by the Office of National Statistics showed that unemployment rose again in April to reach 2.47 million, with those having been unemployed for 12 months or more hitting 772,000, the highest since April 1997.

Updated: 29 June 2010.
Categories: jobs, market-and-industry-news, recruitment.

The IR35 tax is set to be reviewed - but abolishing it may affect temporary staffing.

Although numerous freelancers decide to work on a contract-by-contract basis, they have been blighted by the levy which has only served to find minimal instances of situations where tax is owed.

According to John Brazier, managing director of not-for-profit professional association PCG, reviewing IR35 needs to be done carefully to get the end result right.

"Post-IR35, we hope that the new environment works for freelancers and the economy. We also hope for a fairer structure that is transparent and is understood on all sides," he added.

However, any moves to change the tax could impact temporary staffing, if more freelancers enter the market.

Mr Brazier noted that in addition to providing a convenient lifestyle choice, this type of work is a burgeoning and increasingly crucial part of the UK's economic climate.

Updated: 28 June 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, temporary-staffing.

New plans to break the cycle of poverty could help people find accounting jobs, among other roles.

The coalition government unveiled proposals aiming to assist consumers in finding work outside of the area in which they live, rather than stagnate in a region with little potential.

Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith told Sky News' Sunday Live some groups of people were "stuck" in unemployment - and relocation might therefore solve some of the problem.

"While there's been more work created over the last 15 years, actually most of that has gone to households that already have work," he added.

The news follows measures unveiled in the recent Budget to reduce tax credit eligibility for families who earn more than £40,000.

In addition, benefits will be calculated from April 2011 via the consumer prices index, rather than the retail prices index. This, the government said, provides a fairer deal for benefit claimants.

Updated: 28 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Highly qualified middle-aged people looking for employment may need to show businesses what they can do if they are to succeed.

This is the opinion of Daily Telegraph columnist and management expert John Timpson, whose comments are likely to be of note to anyone in or in search of HR jobs.

Discrimination still exists in some areas - despite legislation - and as such applicants must be realistic about their prospects.

"Prospective employers need proof before they pay you what you think you are worth. Your idea of the skills gap may not coincide with theirs," he explained.

Mr Timpson went on to say, however, that people who show positivity and confidence in an interview are sure to eventually find a suitable role.

His comments came in response to a reader's query about how to find a position despite having run a successful business with 22 staff.

HR jobs experts may also be fielding queries from people in similar situations - so Mr Timpson's reply might be of use.

Updated: 28 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in banking jobs and other professions may benefit from feeling more valued by their manager.

This is according to a recent article in Management Issues, which summarised various research showing that employees may be "turned off" if they are not respected and continually reminded of their weaknesses as opposed to their strengths.

Writer Mitch McCrimmon said there are some simple techniques leaders can try out in order to make staff aware of their value.

The tips may be particularly pertinent to those in banking jobs given the economic climate of the past few years and the increasing pressure of the sector.

Asking employees what they think about certain issues is recommended, Mr McCrimmon added, because it stimulates others' creativity and engages people.

Delegation is also key, he went on - but in terms of responsibility, not tasks.

"This means identifying their strengths, what they want to learn and do more of in future, then delegating projects that are challenging but not outside their capabilities," he concluded.

The comments follow a recent recommendation from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which said companies can improve efficiency via smart dialogue with their employees.

Click here for more information about banking jobs with Poolia Recruitment Specialists in London.

Updated: 28 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

Brits looking for financial services jobs may be pleased to hear the latest news regarding flexible working.

According to a survey conducted by Citrix Online, 47 per cent of enterprises in the UK have seen an increase in the number of people taking advantage of workplace mobility over the last five years.

Furthermore, 77 per cent of respondents said their employers offer them the technology they need to get their job done away from the office, such as laptops, notebooks and smartphones, HR Magazine reports.

Bernardo de Albergaria, vice-president and general manager of global marketing and ecommerce at Citrix Online, told the publication: "Flexible working comes from an ability to trust staff. An inability to trust staff underlines a much bigger problem in business."

A total of 68 per cent of businesses encouraged their staff to work flexibly, the research found.

The Trades Union Congress recently advised bosses to introduce flexible working so that employees can watch England compete in the World Cup.

Click here to find financial services jobs with Poolia Recruitment Specialists in London.

Updated: 28 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

To improve efficiency people in accounting jobs should consult their staff on ways in which operating systems can be improved, one expert has advised.

Angela Baron, an adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said if firms have a variety of options for employees who may want to make suggestions, they are more likely to get good feedback.

She noted that an area on a company's intranet page can be useful, as is a forum where workers can interact with each other.

"It's good to have a discussion just to spark people off and think about things that they wouldn't have thought about before just sitting in a dark corner on their own," Ms Baron continued.

She noted many public sector companies consult their staff "extensively" over ways in which operations can be improved.

During his Budget speech earlier this week, chancellor George Osborne said restraining public sector pay and the high costs of pensions may help to ease pressure on public services.

Click here to find financial services jobs

Updated: 28 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Taking a vocational course instead of going to university could be a sensible option for those hoping to acquire human resources jobs in future, it has been suggested.

Sarah Clover, business development manager at notgoingtouni.co.uk, said that because of the recession, the number of people using their degrees to get a job is falling.

This is because the country is still recovering from the effects the recession had on the market, she explained.

As an alternative, Ms Clover commented that vocational courses may be a much better option as they mean people will already have the skills companies are looking for from their new recruits.

"With the average university debt reaching £20,000 and with tuition fees looking certain to increase, taking a more vocational approach is definitely an option worth considering," she continued.

Yesterday (June 23rd), Edge revealed that over four million vocational qualifications were awarded in 2009, with this number continuing to increase.

Updated: 28 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

The Budget has created a "real opportunity" for people who are looking for financial services jobs, one industry commentator believes.

Edward Winterton, recruitment finance spokesman for Bibby Financial Services, said financial pressure on less-sizable enterprises will be eased by the increase in small business rate relief in October.

Along with a £5,000 national insurance break for start-ups, he thinks this will create jobs across the UK, especially in regions that were worst-hit by the recent economic downturn, Recruiter reports.

This comes after the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's Resourcing and Talent Planning Survey showed the number of companies planning to implement an employment freeze has fallen from 42 per cent to 22 per cent in 2010.

"The reality is that the country is in hugely difficult economic times and maintaining a healthy cash flow can reap considerable benefit," Mr Winterton continued.

Earlier this week, the emergency Budget was delivered by new chancellor George Osborne.

Updated: 28 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

There is a decline in the number of people securing accounting jobs in the finance industry, it has been suggested.

Tom MacInnes, research director at the New Policy Institute, said rising unemployment levels are a "real worry" in the UK, especially considering the low number of young people getting work.

In his opinion, the excessive amount of Brits aged between 16 and 25 without a job is a "chronic" problem in Britain.

Furthermore, they are likely to suffer when they go for accounting jobs in the future, as short-term unemployment at a young age is "scarring", Mr MacInnes continued.

"Your ability to hold down a job in later life in your late 20s and 30s is limited by experience of unemployment when you are younger," he noted.

The Office for National Statistics recently released job market figures for the three months to April 2010 and found the number of unemployed people increased to 2.47 million - a rise of 23,000 citizens.

Click here to find Poolia Recruitment Specialists financial services jobs

Updated: 25 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

The default retirement age creates stereotypes about older people in financial services jobs, it has been suggested.

In the opinion of Claire Nurden, research and policy officer for Independent Age, those over the age of 65 should be allowed to choose when they finish working.

This is because many are still able to fulfil their duties while others may prefer to ease their way into retirement by gradually reducing their hours, she explained.

"Many of the people we support at Independent Age tell us that they miss working and the work environment and feel more than capable of carrying on," Ms Nurden continued.

She said the retirement age implies people in financial services jobs over the age of 65 are less capable of doing their work.

Her comments come after a new survey commissioned by Age UK revealed 65 per cent of the public think the default retirement age should be scrapped.

Click here to view Poolia Recruitment Specialists financial services jobs

Updated: 25 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

Companies have been advised on ways in which they may be able to reduce the number of people in banking jobs who take sick days.

Sue Hayday, senior research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies, said measures such as back-to-work interviews and trigger points can lower absence rates.

Similarly, businesses should promote the idea that they do not tolerate casual absence or make flexible working arrangements to discourage people from taking non-genuine sick days to deal with domestic responsibilities.

This can include allowing people to work from home, changing the times they start and finish in the office or letting them make up time at a later date.

Ms Hayday also said it is important to ensure "line managers are trained and able to manage the attendance of their staff".

Unum recently revealed that stress counts for 23 per cent of all long-term sickness, which is down from the 33 per cent recorded in 2006.

For more information about banking jobs

Updated: 25 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

Employers have been urged to let people in sales jobs watch England's final group match in the World Cup today (June 22nd).

The team will be facing Slovenia at 15:00 BST and if they win they will be guaranteed a place in the final 16.

As a result, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has encouraged companies to let employees enjoy the game, either at home or somewhere on the firm's premises.

According to the organisation, flexible working can have many benefits for companies and if they do not already have arrangements in place, this could be the perfect opportunity to try out a new scheme.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber suggested bosses discuss the options with their sales staff, as this may help to avoid tension from building in the office.

"We would encourage them to let people watch the games if they like - and then claim back their time afterwards. That way, everyone wins," he added.

Updated: 24 June 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news.

People in human resources jobs may know the importance of keeping their workforce feeling positive and well-motivated.

If this is the case, the comments of one industry expert about incentivising the office could prove to be useful.

Andrew Hodgkins, acting managing director at Keith Prowse, explained the nature of today's businesses means many people often get stressed at work.

To counteract this, he recommended bosses in financial services jobs motivate their employees by entertaining them at a cultural or sporting event.

"Star employees who have proved their worth over a sustained period can be rewarded with fine dining, superb service and the excitement of an international sporting contest," Mr Hodgkins advised.

He also stated that spending time together out of the office can encourage members of staff to form new relationships.

These comments come after a study conducted by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work found 79 per cent of managers are concerned about stress in the workplace.

Updated: 24 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Martin Tiplady, the man currently occupying to human resources job with the Metropolitan Police, wants the industry to take a look at how it can continue to be relevant and cost-effective in years to come.

Speaking at the HR Forum on Friday (June 18th), he told delegates that the industry needed to understand its business and help to facilitate it, stating: "If we don't do HR with attitude, we will be dumped."

He argued that the sector needed not to get carried away with whether it held board positions or name notoriety within a company structure, as it would not be a "a worthwhile argument".

Mr Tiplady suggested people in HR jobs could offer "good, pragmatic, common-sense solutions" that are direct and free of jargon.

At the same event, the person in charge of human resources at Santander talked of the troubles he faced when dealing with extra staff joining the company after the buyouts of Alliance and Leicester and Bradford and Bingley within a short timeframe.

Updated: 23 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Office support jobseekers are learning that a package of measures unveiled by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) today (June 21st) are being touted as the means to ensure the UK sustains jobs and businesses during the recovery.

The range of proposals forwarded by the CBI include the introduction of flexible working patterns within more companies, as well keeping the individual opt-out from the maximum 48-hour working week to allow employees to do longer hours if they want to earn more money.

According to the confederation's deputy director-general John Cridland said businesses need to do all they can to create a jobs market that not only suits Britain but makes the UK the place for employment.

Last week, Star.co.uk argued that homeworking could allow firms to both recruit outside their original catchment radius, but also enable them to hire staff from cheaper areas.

Find information on the latest Office Support roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 22 June 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, office-support.

A recruitment expert has told people in sales and marketing jobs that human resources departments are having to think creatively in order to ensure their workforce has the requisite talent and skills available.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's (CIPD's) Resourcing and Talent Planning Survey revealed that organisations had reported recruitment difficulties, often due to a lack of skills available to them.

However, the proportion of companies intending to implement a freeze on employing new staff dropped from 42 per cent in 2009 to just 22 per cent this year.

As expected, the public sector bucks the trends in this area with 51 per cent of organisations likely to put a hold on recruitment, compared with just 16 per cent in the private sector.

Earlier this month, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation reported a rise in the number of people securing permanent placement.

Find information on the latest Sales & Marketing jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 22 June 2010.
Categories: london, market-and-industry-news, sales-and-marketing.

University leavers looking for banking jobs are being urged to keep looking as there are still graduate vacancies available, an expert has said.

Tom Davie, director of professional development on the board of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, is advising students to use all means at their disposal in order to find an opportunity including career advisors and job portals.

He cited the example of Santander's scheme of hiring graduates for banking jobs and suggested that, although some schemes are being reduced, there are many businesses that will still take on people leaving higher education.

Mr Davie, who is also deputy head of careers at the University of Durham, added: "They should be very proactive in selling their skills and abilities to those employers that are still recruiting - because they are still out there."

Last month, the Confederation of British Industry conducted a survey that found fewer companies are now freezing their graduate recruitment schemes compared with 2009.

Updated: 22 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

The HR director of Santander told delegates at an industry event yesterday (June 17th) about how he had to deal with the swift takeover of Bradford & Bingley in 2009 and how to cope with a swell of extra employees.

Mark Adams said, to attendees of the HR Forum that there were staff, that left work and Bradford & Bingley on Friday and by Monday had suddenly changed companies, this at a time they in the process of buying Alliance and Leicester, HR magazine reports.

Of the merger with Abbey National in 2004, people in HR jobs learned that while those staff are now "moulded into the Santander way", it was not easy to control the bank's personnel in "a consistent way".

Mr Adams is on the shortlist for the same publication's HR director of the year award, along with other personnel figures such as Graham White of Westminster City Council and Andy Doyle of ITV, with the winner announced on June 29th.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 22 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

The Audit Commission has explained why it has decided to abandon its quest for a new chief executive.

Those in accounting jobs were told that the watchdog's - which describes its role as "driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness" in such services - decision to delay is due to "rapidly changing circumstances", according to chairman Michael O'Higgins.

A number of news providers have suggested that a cut in the organisation's grant and the emergency budget taking place on Tuesday (June 22nd) may also have played a part.

Interim boss Eugene Sullivan is currently earning £196,000, although including car allowance, travel and accommodation costs, his total pay package is worth £235,000.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles, suggested the £240,000 being offered to candidates for this senior public sector accounting job went "against the spirit" of austerity going through taxpayer-funded services.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 22 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs may want to push for a unified framework on digital media as it may expand the potential area employers can dip into for talent, while saving money, according to one industry specialist.

Hugo Harber, director of convergence and network strategy at Star, said that companies in London may be able to recruit outside the M25 if they utilise the benefits of homeworking.

He said that the plus points for firms of adopting this approach includes better management of resources and "reduced consumption" which are "all good for a business's health, as well as the planet's".

Meanwhile, a report by Frost and Sullivan showed a growth in web conferencing services of 19.3 per cent across Europe.

Mr Harber estimated that flexible working could significantly reduce an organisation's "office footprint" - based on use of utilities, rent, hardware and its management - said to be worth around £5,000 per desk annually.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 22 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

A healthcare organisation from the US has acknowledged the existence of bank covenants, meaning its books can only be audited by one of a certain group of finance and accounting companies.

In Amedisys's 81-page credit agreement is a particular clause that indicates that only an organisation from PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Deloitte and Ernst & Young may be selected to carry out these duties, Accountancy Age reports.

"Audited consolidated balance sheets of the group members. [must be] reported on by and accompanied by an unqualified report from a Big Four accounting firm," it reads.

The same publication noted that this is not an isolated case and a joint statement issued recently from those finance and accounting companies officially confirmed their existence.

Earlier this month, the Hemscott Adviser Rankings showed the Big Four maintained their stranglehold on the market of FTSE 100 companies' auditing contracts, with only BDO Stoy Hayward from outside that group to have clients feature in the index of leading shares.

Updated: 22 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs and company bosses may need to offer positions with more than high salaries as benefits to young qualified applicants, an expert has said.

Tom Davie, head of careers at the University of Durham, suggested that graduates are considering issues such as work-life balance and corporate social responsibility on the part of the employer, as well as how that firm's operations fit with their own values and beliefs.

Furthermore, he said that there are applicants at high-flying academic institutions in the UK that are deemed worthy of a high pay packet, but often choose a position with a lower wage.

Mr Davie, who is also director of professional development at the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service, told those in HR jobs that university leavers are fully aware of the range of options they can choose from.

His comments follow a poll by Graduate Prospects that found just six per cent of newly-employed workers from higher education were lured into their current role by how much a company is paying.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 21 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

London-based banking and financial services firm Jupiter Fund Management has reportedly raised £220 million to pay off debt from a private equity-backed management buyout three years ago.

As a result, its directors and figures in senior banking jobs are set to earn a total windfall of £33.5 million thanks to the share issue, the Telegraph reports.

It has claimed that chief executive Edward Bonham Carter, brother of film actress Helena Bonham Carter, is to have a 3.5 per cent stake in the organisation, while TA associates that funded the 2007 takeover will own 22 per cent.

The publication also suggested that its appeal for investors is two and a half times over subscribed.

Earlier this month, the Times reported told people in banking jobs that star fund manager Tony Nutt was estimated to have a shareholding worth £70 million for a nine per cent in the business.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 21 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, london, market-and-industry-news.

A finance and accounting figure with a UK supermarket brand has suggested an economic recovery is happening, but remained fragile and required balance in fiscal policy.

Laurie McIlwee, finance director at Tesco, noted in the first quarter report that a rise in VAT is going to be part of a wider austerity package, yet argued that timing is an issue and the government may be better waiting to introduce such a measure.

The finance and accounting expert said that putting VAT on food would be "nonsensical" and could lead to a decline in consumer spending.

In the quarterly statement, Tesco announced that sales had increased by 8.2 per cent, thanks to the opening of stores in Asia.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the company's chief executive, Sir Terry Leahy, was to step down from the role.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 17 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Auditing of banks can be improved if people learn from what happened during the economic crisis, according to one finance and accounting body.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales's (ICAEW's) Financial Service Faculty has today (June 15th) issued a report, which includes interviews with senior investors and policymakers of UK banks, trying to identify areas where the system can be made better.

Ian Coke, head of the faculty, said that institutions could do more to "explain the value of audits to outsiders", something he suggested may boost market confidence.

In the meantime, the finance and accounting body is making its own commitments to developing good practice guidance and creating an investor forum to discuss themes to help industry professionals when reporting season comes around.

The ICAEW has approximately 132,000 members working across all sectors of the British economy.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 17 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Imelda Walsh has confirmed that she is to leave the top HR job at Sainsbury's and has "plenty of irons in the fire" at the moment.

She told HR magazine that she is planning to recharge her batteries and consider different roles after almost ten years with the supermarket chain.

"My plan was always to step down after 2009, but I was persuaded to keep putting it off," Ms Walsh said and she admitted to being conscious of leaving before people become fed up with her.

The publication stated that the woman in the top HR job leaves a significant legacy of championing flexible working rights both with the company and industry-wide, having led the Labour government's review on the issue.

In a separate interview with People Management, she described her excitement and being able to step back and assess the opportunities open to her.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 17 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has begun its search to find a suitable candidate to replace Neil Roden in its senior HR job.

People Management reports that he will remain in his post for another five or six months to help RBS chief executive Stephen Hester to appoint his successor.

Mr Roden told the publication that he was not leaving to go to another company, but had been working in HR jobs for 30 years straight, including the last ten years as HR director and felt it is time for a break.

He joined the firm from National Australia Group in 1997 and was involved in human resources issues during a transitional period for two of its subsidiaries, Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale.

"I want to take advantage of the time off to decide what to do next, which is actually quite difficult in a job like mine because you're so busy. So I've got some decisions to make," he added.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 17 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

There was an increase in people securing permanent placements during May and salaries for full-time workers rose for the seventh month in a row, according to new research.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and accounting firm KPMG published their latest Report on Jobs, which revealed that the number of long-term vacancies continued its upward trend for the tenth straight month, although the rate of growth eased for the second consecutive month.

Chief executive of the REC Kevin Green highlighted that accounting jobs, HR professionals, software developers and chefs are in the most demand.

However, he sounded a note of caution with the public sector facing fewer opportunities and the private sector only improving slowly.

"This month's jobs data further underlines the need for urgent action if we are to avoid a new 'lost generation' of workers," Mr Green stated.

Last week, he told public sector leaders that the impending cuts in spending represented a one-off chance to create sustainable reform.

Updated: 15 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Finance and accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) believes that investment professionals provide a "useful barometer" for the debate on reforming financial reporting.

Pauline Wallace, head of public policy and regulatory affairs at PwC, said its survey of investors and analysts offered a breadth of views and suggested that the feedback has contributed "an important steer" for those looking to create a uniform code.

Its poll found that many respondents were in favour of a "mixed measurement model" and that such an approach "reflects an entity's underlying business and economic reasons for holding an instrument".

As the finance and accounting organisation noted, the International Accounting Standards Boards and US Federal Accounting Standards Board (FASB) have been trying to reach agreement on reporting convergence, but have appeared to move further away from a deal.

It is thought that getting the support of the FASB is important to legitimising the IASB push for a universal reporting standard

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 15 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in accounting jobs are being told that the Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR) pre-Budget forecasts provide optimism for future unemployment trends and, with it, public finance projections.

John Hawksworth, head of macroeconomics with big four finance and accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, agreed with the OBR's decision to revise down figures for economic growth.

He noted that public borrowing was lower than forecast during the previous Budget speech in March, Alastair Darling's last as chancellor before Labour's election defeat.

Furthermore, Mr Hawksworth told people in accounting jobs that achieving the same structural budget deficit projection for 2014/15 as before requires only an additional tightening of 0.3 per cent of gross domestic product.

This equates to just £4 billion of extra savings that need to be made by the Treasury and the expert suggested that accelerating this deficit reduction may avoid an adverse reaction from the bond markets.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 15 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Those in HR jobs are being told that business leaders are keen to put people issues at the top of their agendas when public sector cuts hit their organisation, but one-quarter of bosses have admitted they are ill-equipped to deal with the changes.

HR magazine reports that a survey from Communications Management - which provides advice and programme implementation for private and public sector clients - revealed that 47 per cent of managers see problems such as low morale in the workforce as a key point to tackle.

The biggest change in priority over the coming year is structural reform including headcount with 41 per cent putting that ahead of strategic policy change (28 per cent).

What may interest in people in HR jobs is that the survey uncovered poor internal communications, a lack of effective leadership and a dearth of experience in change management to be among the biggest barriers to reforming the makeup of a public sector company.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 15 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

With the World Cup in full swing, employers and people in HR jobs will be aware of the possibility of increased absences during the tournament.

However, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has issued guidelines for its members to help them with handling the problems of extra sick days being taken.

Fiona Coombe, REC director of professional development, said employers need to make it clear to their staff that they are monitoring attendance during the tournament.

She stressed: "Should an employee's sickness absence then be directly linked to football fixtures, an investigation may take place and they may be subject to disciplinary action."

One particular fixture that may prove a headache for employers and people in HR jobs is England's final group game against Slovenia, which kicks off at 15:00 BST.

But there are numerous guides for dealing with this, including those from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which promotes flexible working as a viable option in avoiding too much in lost productivity.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 15 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in senior HR jobs are urging the government to make cuts to public sector pay across the board, as it looks to tackle a ballooning budget deficit.

Personnel Today reports that leading industry professionals have indicated that this is a viable option, but that the coalition government - which has already pledged to slash £6.2 billion from the public sector budget - should be aware that job losses may be an inevitable consequence.

Richard Crouch, who occupies a senior HR job at Somerset County Council, said: "It is probably right for society as a whole to accept some pain to support the rebooting of the economy. This should be via short to medium-term measures rather than long-term."

However, Graham White, currently in the top HR job at Westminster Council, stated that widespread cuts were not a reasonable solution to lowering expenditure.

Earlier this week, Recruitment and Employment Confederation chief executive Kevin Green stressed that the impending budget reduction facing parts of the sector represented a one-off chance to create sustainable reform.

Updated: 15 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs are being told that personnel departments should take the time to respond to every job applicant if possible, because it helps preserve a strong employer brand.

Angela Baron, employment advisor for the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, reminded industry professionals that candidates invest a significant amount of time and effort into their applications.

She told People Management that HR managers should show at least some "low-level courtesy" in getting back in touch with applicants if they have been unsuccessful and added "a nice email doesn't cost much".

Employers and people in HR jobs were advised to avoid putting up too many hurdles in the process of recruitment to simply trim the numbers of people applying, as it may harm their brand image.

Although, more recent innovations in technology have meant the manager looking to hire can come to the applicant through virtual reality tasks to analyse the potential that some jobseekers show.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 15 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

A study has suggested that people in HR jobs will witness the creation of a new personnel role over the next decade.

Research conducted by the Future Foundation on behalf of Google suggested that technology has allowed elements of IT and human resources functions to become more integrated, HR Magazine reports.

Google has claimed that, by 2020, human systems directors will be in place and candidates will have a powerful role within a company, commanding respect at boardroom level, while overseeing large parts of employee performance and structure.

The study involved 3,500 employees, 100 HR managers and 100 IT managers in the UK, Germany, Japan, the US and France.

Judith Kleine Holthaus, account director of the Future Foundation - which claims to "identify, explain and measure trends" through its research - predicted that personnel managers will be contributing to an "innovation economy rather than a knowledge economy".

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 15 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

Two people in leading accounting jobs are said to be the front-runners to succeed Sir David Tweedie as chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

Accountancy Age reports that New Zealand-born Ian Mackintosh, currently chairman of the UK Accounting Standards Board, is a candidate for the role, based in London.

The other contender put forward by the publication is Fayzeul Choudhury, who is controller and vice-president of strategic resource management at the World Bank.

Both men are seen as having excellent credentials to assume this top accounting job, with Mr Mackintosh making a name for himself at the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and Mr Choudhury formerly a member of the IASB Standards Advisory Council.

Mr Tweedie has been leading the quest for world economies and their companies to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standard, but it is still awaiting support for US financial authorities who have delayed their decision.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 15 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in finance and accounting jobs are learning that high-street retailer WHSmith is shaking up its boardroom, including the appointment of ex-ITV finance director (FD) Henry Staunton.

He will become a non-executive director of the company on September 1st and the firm believes it has acquired the services of a man with "extensive finance and retail experience".

Mr Staunton held the position of FD at the terrestrial broadcaster between 2003 and 2006 following a testing period for the organisation, after the collapse of ITV Digital in 2002.

He left to become non-executive director at Ladbrokes, a position he held until last month.

In addition, he also sits on the boards of Legal and General, Merchants Trust and Capital and Counties as well as fashion retailer New Look.

Outgoing chairman Robert Walker is delighted that Mr Staunton has agreed to join and said he will be a "valuable addition" in the boardroom.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 15 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in accounting jobs have been told that the creation of a Joint Committee on Taxation could help reduce "badly constructed laws".

The Charted Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has called for improvements to the way the UK goes about implementing changes to legislation in this area.

CIOT president Vincent Oratore said that the current approach is "deeply flawed" and had the ability to give some taxpayers an unintended bonus while penalising others.

Furthermore, he argued that, at the moment, there is not enough expert scrutiny or sufficient time for parliament to analyse what effects such changes in policy could have.

People in accounting jobs were told: "The context is promising. There is a growing consensus among thinkers in this area ... that the system could, and should, be better."

Meanwhile, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales is calling upon industry professionals to share their customer service experiences when dealing with HM Revenue and Customs.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 15 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs are learning of an information gap that, if solved, could help boost decision making at a company.

According to the UK Talent Intelligence Survey from Taleo - a specialist in talent management solutions - 91 per cent of employers want details on competency and skills shortages in their workforce, but only 55 per cent have reliable access to relevant data.

Similarly, nine in ten stress the significance of possessing knowledge on how a staff member's goals are aligned to that of the business, yet only 57 per cent can obtain reliable information.

Alice Snell, vice-president of Taleo, commented that people in HR jobs do recognise the necessity for having details on all parts of employee performance.

However, this kind of data cannot be collated as "an afterthought", but should be part of a company's talent management approach going forward.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 09 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in accounting jobs are learning that George Glass is the new president of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), having been elected on Saturday (June 5th).

Mr Glass was sworn in at the body's annual general meeting held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre and brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the industry.

"I am delighted and honoured to have been elected CIMA president in what is proving to be a crucial year for management accountants," he said.

Having graduated as a mechanical engineer previously, Mr Glass qualified as a management accountant in 1977 and is also a former financial director of UCM Timber Group.

CIMA currently has more than 172,000 members in 165 countries and its examinations cover certain areas of accounting jobs that other qualifications do not.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 09 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Those seeking office support jobs were told that today's meeting of industry leaders and thinkers is one of the most crucial discussions about public sector jobs for 30 years.

At the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's public sector summit, experts on the issue will debate ideas to help maintain high-quality services in a climate of austerity.

REC chief executive Kevin Green said the announcement by chancellor George Osborne of a plan to cut £6.2 billion in government spending acted as a catalyst for debate on the future of employees in both permanent placement and temporary jobs.

"The whole focus should be on long-term sustainable reform rather than short-term slash and burn cuts," he said.

In recent months, as a response to its monthly Report on Jobs, Mr Green has urged both the current and previous governments to be careful when making savings in the public sector and not to unnecessarily trigger an even larger recession.

Find information on the latest Office Support roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 09 June 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, office-support.

Graduates looking for London banking jobs may be interested to learn that employers across many sectors in the UK are looking for more than just a degree mark when it comes to selecting the right candidates.

According to Martin Pennington, director of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, replacing the current classification system for university students may make it easier for bosses to look at an individual's ability and achievements.

He noted that an increasing number of people are graduating with a 2:1 grade and this creates a quandary when trying to compare many applicants, with employers finding today's method insufficient to their requirements.

Furthermore, Mr Pennington indicated that managers and recruiters are keen on candidates who use their own time to nurture other skills and take opportunities outside of their courses.

The Higher Education Policy Institute last week proposed replacing the current system with general overviews of students' performances and capabilities.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 08 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, london, market-and-industry-news.

Global financial and accounting firm KPMG, considered one of the big four accountancy companies in the UK, has released a report which outlines what it sees as a significant change in the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

According to the document, called Transformation: The Future of Alternative Investments, the shift is led by institutional investors demanding changes to the system, including better controls and increased transparency, which means they now have the upper hand.

Anthony Cowell - the lead author of the report for the finance and accounting firm - suggested that people looking to plough money into the market may want an investment manager's interests to be more aligned with their own.

As a result a new breed of manager has emerged with entrepreneurial instincts, offering multiple approaches and products to their clients.

Since 1995, the London Stock Exchange's AIM has had 3,000 companies from across the world join its listings.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 07 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, london, market-and-industry-news.

There were fewer sick days taken by British staff last year than at any time since 1987, according to a survey of people in private sector HR jobs.

The Workplace Health Survey by the Confederation of British Industry and healthcare company Pfizer Absence revealed a marked decrease in the number of people off work due to ill health in 2009, as UK workers took a combined 180 million sick days.

People in HR jobs were told that the combined costs of absences by employees equated to around £16.8 billion during 2009 and private sector figures observed that 27 per cent of that number, among their organisations, was not as a result of genuine ill health.

CBI director of employment policy Katia Hall believes that workplace health policies and schemes are a key part of reducing the number of sick days taken.

Indeed, a recent study by Business in the Community found that company wellbeing initiatives could help boost profitability and shareholder returns.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 07 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, london, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs are learning of a government-led drive to reduce red tape, which is apparently stifling business growth.

Speaking yesterday (June 3rd), business secretary Vince Cable announced an action plan, which includes a potential review of 200 rules and regulations introduced by the previous administration currently in the pipeline.

He claimed that the cost of implementing this proposal put forward by the Labour government would be around £5 billion a year before 2011 and £19.1 billion a year after that.

"The deluge of new regulations has been choking off enterprise for too long. We must move away from the view that the only way to solve problems is to regulate," he added.

People in HR jobs were told that businesses needed to take on increased social responsibility as the government seeks to deliver in terms of protecting consumers and the environment.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 07 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, london, market-and-industry-news.

People in accounting jobs are learning that Paul Heiden and Gay Huey Evans are to join the board of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) as non-executive directors.

Mr Heiden is an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and is a former chief executive of the engineering group FKI, Accountancy Age reports.

He will chair the LSEG audit committee, after the group carried out the first stage of its review, the first step to what it describes as refreshing its membership.

Mr Heiden has held roles as finance director at Rolls Royce and is currently executive chairman at Talaris Topco.

Ms Evans is the vice-chairman of investment banking and investment management at Barclays, with duties including managing its sovereign funds.

Chris Gibson-Smith, chairman of LSEG, expressed his delight at their appointments and believes they will add skills knowledge and experience to the board, as it goes through its development.

Updated: 07 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Getting the best talent into HR jobs will require changing perceptions among aspiring professionals who are perhaps put off by the image of the profession, according to one expert.

Speaking to the delegates at the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development's Building HR Capability conference, Georgina Kvassav said the industry could ill afford to remain a "well-kept secret" in order to attract a high calibre of candidates to the industry.

She implied that HR jobs have a brand problem and only people in the profession are aware that it is not a boring vocation or even repetitive.

"We need to connect the two as there's a huge void between them and to do that we need to tell the HR story," Ms Kvassav added.

The expert pointed to Rachel Campbell, currently global head of people at accounting firm KPMG, as an example to others showing that those in HR jobs can make an impact at a "high strategic level" of an organisation.

Ms Campbell was succeeded in her former role as UK head of people at the company by Michelle Quest earlier this year.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 04 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, london, market-and-industry-news.

New international standards for financial reporting that were set to be universally ratified for use by people in accounting jobs may be delayed by decision makers in the US.

The UK has already committed to the convergence plan recommended by the London-based International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and supported by the G20 group of leading world economies and will phase in the new rules starting next year.

However, Reuters reports that the Financial Accounting Standards Board, which sets guidelines for American finance and accounting companies, is discussing a revised plan with the IASB.

It is thought that gaining the support of US authorities for the International Financial Reporting Standard before this deadline is key to getting its big corporations to conform.

The IASB has written to the leaders of the G20 to ask for its current mid-2011 deadline to be rescheduled after the FASB's response.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 04 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in banking jobs are learning that a star fund manager's shareholding in their company could make him worth more than £70 million.

Tony Nutt runs the high-performing Jupiter Income Trust, currently valued at around £2.8 billion, and is believed to own a nine per cent stake in the investment management operation, which is looking to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, the Times reports.

People in banking jobs were told that, based on the company's share mid point valuation for potential investors, his share portfolio is estimated to be worth £71 million.

However, he would only be allowed to sell 20 per cent of his holding in the firm, meaning he could raise up to £14.3 million.

Jupiter started life as a specialist boutique in 1985, but has since grown into one of the country's most successful investment management operations, looking after UK and offshore funds.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 03 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, london, market-and-industry-news.

Coalition proposals to publish the salaries and expenses of public-sector officials have been described as "intrusive" by one expert.

Mike Cooke, the lead for pay and reward at the Public Sector Managers' Association (PSMA), told People Management that there is an "inappropriate balance" between the right to release information and safeguarding an individual's privacy.

People in HR jobs were told that the shift has "swung far too heavily in favour of public information" and that views about an official's rights were not given any credence when the plans were drawn.

In the Queen's Speech last week, the decentralisation and localism bill included the provision for every public body in the UK to publish job titles of every member of staff plus details of pay packages for senior figures.

Charles Cotton, reward adviser for the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, is supportive of the measures but believes that holding public sector officials to account will require more than putting up names on a website.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 03 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs are being told that the long-term impact of the recession has had an effect on issues such as remuneration and talent retention.

Speaking at the British American Business Conference, Aviva's director of HR John Ainley suggested workers had to feel pride working in their companies, otherwise it could not be transferred to customers, HR magazine reports.

People in HR jobs were told that risk, long-term stability and governance were key issues in engendering trust from employees.

At the same event, Financial Times assistant editor Michael Skapinker warned that the effects of the downturn will remain but personnel figures need to be thinking ahead.

"We need to think about what sort of leaders we need and how we will attract them - not just now but ten to 20 years down the line," he said.

Meanwhile, BT is introducing a social media network for its staff to encourage greater collaboration on company projects in the future, Computer Weekly reveals.

Updated: 03 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in accounting jobs are being told that big four firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has increased its share of FTSE 100 companies for which it performs auditing duties.

According to the Hemscott Adviser Rankings, PwC increased its share of blue-chip organisations to 41, with KPMG having 24, Deloitte 20 and Ernst & Young 17 clients, Accountancy Age reports.

The only finance and accounting company from outside the big four to do work for a FTSE company is BDO Stoy Hayward.

Overall, KPMG still has the largest number of listed clients for its auditing service with 391 companies ahead of PwC on 332, while Grant Thornton is the finance and accounting company with the most Alternative Investment Market (AIM) companies to its name.

The Hemscott Adviser Rankings consist of institutional advisers and their "quoted clients", which is made up of UK and Channel Islands-based organisations listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Domestic and overseas companies listed with equity shares on the AIM are also counted in the results.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 03 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in accounting jobs are learning that big four firm Deloitte has announced it is admitting 32 partners into the organisation.

In its corporate finance department the company has made eight partner promotions and appointed 24 associate partners.

Timothy Mahapatra, Deloitte's managing director of corporate finance, indicated that the announcement reflects the continued growth of this area of its business despite what he calls a "challenging time" over the past year.

He suggested these appointments are as a result of its commitment to clients and "the manner in which we have responded in market conditions" as well as it focus on developing new opportunities for expanding its interests.

Mr Mahapatra added that it showed its ability to provide "challenging and interesting careers in spite of the tough economic environment".

Meanwhile, Accountancy Age is reporting that Deloitte is planning to recruit more than 1,100 graduates over the next 12 months, which mirrors movement by KPMG in this area and its drive to increase the number of places to university leavers this year.

Updated: 03 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

Those in HR jobs have been warned of the risk of discrimination in allowing flexible working only at certain times during the World Cup.

A survey by DLA Piper found just over half of UK businesses plan to allow staff to swap shifts or adjust start and finish times in order to support their team in South Africa.

However, the firm warned there is a risk of discrimination if employees are only allowed flexible working to watch certain matches.

Only a fifth of those questioned said they would allow flexible working for matches in which England is not involved, while three-quarters said they would not give the option to non-football fans.

The firm's UK head of employment Tim Marshall warned this could lead to allegations of discrimination.

He said: "By not offering flexible working patterns to staff that don't follow football at all and expecting them to pick up their colleagues' work, bosses could be undoing much of the goodwill they have tried to create."

Mr Marshall also reminded those in HR jobs and other managers that flexibility during the World Cup sets a precedent.

He said companies should consider whether they would allow the same flexibility for future events to accommodate those who feel passionate about other sports.

The World Cup kicks off in South Africa on June 11th, when the hosts face Mexico in the first match.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 02 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

The holder of one of the senior accounting jobs at Ernst & Young will be leading the company.

Liz Barber was an audit partner at the firm but will now leave the company after 23 years.

She will take up the post of director of finance and regulation at Yorkshire Water.

The decision to leave Ernst & Young has not been an easy one for Ms Barber.

However, she said: "I am excited to have been offered this opportunity to work with a company widely regarded as the best in the water industry."

During her time with Ernst & Young Ms Barber also led the company's water sector team, which Yorkshire Water chief executive Richard Flint believes will help her make a "huge contribution" to the board of his organisation.

Ms Barber is also highly respected in "regulatory, business and financial circles", he added.

Yorkshire Water plans to invest £1.9 billion into the region over the next five years.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 02 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in banking jobs are being told that a new code of conduct for FTSE 100 companies on gender and ethnic diversity is promising, according to a women's business group.

Toni Eastwood, training director at everywoman, welcomed the introduction of the guidelines by the Financial Reporting Council for governance standards and the particular reference to companies needing to show "due regard" to these issues, when in the process of hiring at boardroom level.

She believes that the code "will help to further the issue around gender imbalance in Europe" and suggested that having diverse representation in the senior ranks of a company is "proven to benefit" businesses.

The expert pointed out that there were fewer women directors working for organisations in the FTSE 250 in 2009 compared with previous years.

Ms Eastwood highlighted the introduction of a ruling last year in Norway that stipulates 40 per cent of company boardrooms must be made up of female members.

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 02 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

People in accounting jobs are being told that Alex Horne has been appointed as general secretary of the FA Group.

Mr Horne has been performing duties as interim chief executive of the Football Association since March and the acting chairman of the FA Roger Burden said he has been impressed with his work during his seven-year stay with the organisation.

He qualified as a chartered accountant with big four firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he specialised in business improvement and corporate turnaround assignments.

In addition, he held the position of finance director during the problematic construction of the new Wembley stadium, which was completed in 2007 at a cost of £757 million.

This represents the latest appointment of an accountant by the FA with Mr Horne's predecessor as chief executive Ian Watmore formerly working for Andersen Consulting.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 02 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs are being told that communication is the key to improving organisational performance.

According to David Pardey, senior policy and research manager at the Institute of Leadership and Management, the ability of a company's workforce to connect with each other from front line staff right up to executive level helps to boost trust.

However, he pointed out that when management structures are not trusted that can lead to a misinterpretation in information shared and could lead to a breakdown in communications within an organisation.

This follows research from the Ashridge Business School, which revealed that many top level managers fail to spend sufficient time interacting with employees.

According to the Ashridge Management Index, around half of respondents stated that senior bosses were guilty of not communicating clearly with their staff.

Mr Pardey added: "It is important for leaders to be able to trust their managers to communicate effectively with their teams and to pass on important organisational information."

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 01 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People looking for office support jobs may be interested to know that Europe's biggest public sector union appears unsure about the government's plan to extend flexible working.

Michelle Singleton, assistant policy officer for UNISON, is positive about pledges to bring down barriers to flexible working and promote equal pay and indicated that many UK firms were needlessly wary of utilising methods such as telecommuting.

She pointed out that some bosses may think when they cannot see their staff working it means they are not being productive, yet firms which have implemented these ideas are said to be reaping the rewards.

This follows the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's response to the points outlined in the Queen's Speech earlier this week, which included calls for flexible working to be introduced into the public sector as a necessary step in trying to preserve jobs.

Find information on the latest Office Support roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 01 June 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, office-support.

People in HR jobs are learning that graduate recruitment has picked up during May but the market will remain competitive for the foreseeable future as those who missed out on places last year are joining current university leavers in looking for positions.

Mike Hill, chief executive of Graduate Prospects, indicated that the number of employers now advertising vacancies had seen a significant improvement from 12 months previously.

He noted that more roles had been offered to graduates in the last week than in the whole of May 2009 and this month's figures have also overtaken May 2008.

People in HR jobs were told that, of the sectors now looking to recruit graduate talent, finance is said to be "extremely buoyant" with consulting also performing well, as are engineering and retail.

Graduate Propspects was set up in 1972 and works in partnership with recruiters and some of the most prominent bodies in higher education in the UK.

Updated: 01 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in banking jobs are being told that newly proposed rules could add an extra 100 pages of extra disclosures to annual reports.

A report by the UK Accounting Standards Board (ASB) highlighted a string of criticisms and concerns around the intended new standard for financial instruments as outlined by the second phase of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) review.

The IASB is recommending that banks would "continually reassess the health of their loans" and downgrade profit forecasts if they expect something bad will occur, Accountancy Age reports.

However, the ASB believes there are many issues that still need to be sorted out including the need for people in banking jobs to estimate loan losses 25 years in advance.

It said a "trade-off between meaningful disclosures and volume of disclosures" was required to sort out the issue.

The ASB collaborates with other national bodies from various countries in order to "influence the development" a universal format for financial reporting.

Updated: 01 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs are learning how a global cosmetics brand used revolutionary technology to recruit graduate talent to its ranks.

L'Oreal's recruitment director Thomas Riegel said that its new online game called Reveal not only gives students and university leavers problem-solving tasks to complete in its virtual work environment, but also offers personalised feedback to applicants, People Management reports.

He told the publication that the innovation "brings something new and fresh to the recruitment market" and confirmed that the best performers will be invited for interviews, potentially skipping parts of its typical employer searches for successful candidates.

People in HR jobs were told that the game is currently being piloted by students at Cardiff University with L'Oreal planning to roll out the programme in July.

This is the latest step into virtual recruitment technology after Procter and Gamble began using a similar feature to find the best talent for its company.

Updated: 01 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People looking for temporary jobs are being told that it is "an ideal route" from welfare into work.

That is the view of Kevin Green, chief executive of Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), who was responding to the plans laid out by the new coalition government in the Queen's Speech.

He is pleased to see reform of the benefits system at the heart of the government's agenda and suggested that current framework prevented people taking up temporary jobs, because the system is "too rigid".

Mr Green added that recruiters will be delighted that the effects of a rise in national insurance contributions will be "mitigated", with the REC and business organisations opposing the initial rise as it "would have added cost to jobs".

However, he did reiterate his caution over the state of public sector and called for the introduction of flexible staffing to avoid greater crises in the coming year.

Mr Green has voiced concerns in the past about the need for reforming the sector without triggering a widescale recession.

Updated: 01 June 2010.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, temporary-staffing.

People in HR jobs are being told by an expert that outplacement could be a valuable service to offer to employees.

Sian Harrington, editor of HR magazine, suggested this option could help the relationship between staff and their bosses and will leave workers with a higher opinion of the company they work for after they have left their role.

She indicated that many of the people will even recommend their former organisation to others looking for jobs, which is "a good thing to do" in terms of employer branding.

People in HR jobs were told that some companies see outplacement or career transition services as a benefit akin to offering pensions or health insurance policies and that many bosses will only make job cuts as a "last resort".

This follows research by the Institute for Public Policy Research, which revealed that the number of people in part-time positions because they cannot secure a full-time role has a record high of over one million.

Updated: 01 June 2010.
Categories: human-resources, london, market-and-industry-news, permanent-placement, temporary-staffing.

It seems that bosses at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) feel that people in their accounting jobs are too close to one of its big four rivals and are taking steps to conceal their own activities, according to a report.

The Daily Telegraph claimed that because of the proximity of its office to that of Ernst and Young in the soon-to-be completed More London development on the south bank of the River Thames, its managers are looking to install blackout blinds for PwC presentations.

As the publication noted, when PwC announced it was to new into a new headquarters, the firm called it an "exciting move".

However, with the two rivals as close as ten metres apart, there are concerns that employees of both companies, which could include those in accounting jobs, could spy on each other.

Apparently, PwC has already has made sure that none of its computer screen face its windows, in addition to automated blinds for audio/visual presentations.

Other organisations at the site include Regus, HG Capital and Montagu Private Equity.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 01 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, london, market-and-industry-news.

People in accounting jobs are being told that difference between a global standards body and its US equivalent can be reconciled.

Sir David Tweedie, chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), outlined a possible approach to his organisation and the Federal Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on the same page, with regards to valuation of financial instruments.

The difference of opinion came when the IASB and the FASB decided to look at the issue and came up with two separate solutions.

Whereas the US body wants instruments to be measured on "fair value", the global equivalent wants assessment on the assets alone, the Journal for Accountancy reports.

The IASB is still trying to gain support from the US government for its International Financial Reporting Standard, which it is hoped would legitimise this universal approach, designed to be easily understood in accounting around the world

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 01 June 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in financial services jobs are learning customer service is not a high priority for a number of organisations in the UK at the moment.

According to Jo Ganly, spokesperson for uSwitch.com, customers were seemingly unhappy with their current provider.

What may interest those in financial services jobs is that people are said to be aware of the level of competition for their business and how companies will try to get people to switch providers.

However, "they would sooner either wait and see or test the water out with a 'low risk' product such as a credit card or savings account", Ms Ganly notes.

She points out that with companies focused on staying on-track, this consideration may not be given as much credence.

In 2008, the British Banking Association pointed out that banking and financial services sector was the fasting growing over a ten-year period between 1996 and 2006

Find information on the latest Banking & Financial Services jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 01 June 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

People in accounting jobs are being told that reform of the state pension system is necessary to help avert a growing crisis.

Dr Ros Altmann, an economist and independent financial expert, has welcomed the fact that the new coalition government has addressed the issue with some urgency.

"The first step is to reform the state pension so that it forms a stable base on which private long-term savings can be built," she commented.

However, the expert expressed concern over the possibility of introducing means testing, which may penalise the private scheme that half of the UK pensioners have invested in.

People in accounting jobs were told that introducing such a measure might put people off contributing to an initiative.

Dr Altmann did stress the need to tackle the problem "head-on" or risk the working population being "taxed harder" in years to come.

Among the policies put forward by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat governing alliance is the pledge to simplify the regulations surrounding pensions in order to encourage firms to offer competitive schemes to employees.

Updated: 26 May 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs are being told that 15 per cent of the working population plan to take sick days to catch every match during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

According to a report by Kellogg's, just one in ten UK employees said that they would be allowed to take time off during the tournament, which may be problematic with one of England's games, in the early stages, kicking off at 16[:]00 BST.

However, the company's communications manager Louise Davies suggested that those organisations that can be adaptable and offer workers the chance to see the football and still be able to do flexible shifts may find employees work harder for them.

She pointed to Kellogg's own flexible pattern, which includes allowing staff to take Friday afternoons off when they completed their allotted hours, a detail that may interest those in HR jobs.

The company's research highlighted that while 20 per cent of workers are willing to take time off to watch football, only one in 20 are willing to use their own holidays to do so.

Updated: 26 May 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs are learning that workers from New Zealand are being seen as possessing a strong work ethic by UK employers.

That is the opinion of Anna Groot, regional manager of the Kiwi Expat Association in the UK and Ireland, which represents the country's citizens working abroad and its business looking to capitalise on global opportunities.

She suggested company bosses who are employing New Zealand staff ware "resoundingly positive" in their assessment and noted the level of education workers are bringing over as well as a keenness to pitch in and do whatever needs to be done.

Ms Groot suggested that potential employees travel to the UK are not only relatively well educated but also come with a broad level of experience due to having taken up a wider role in smaller companies back home.

Despite changes in visa requirements, which may have caused confusion for people looking to visit Britain to work, she noted that the number of New Zealanders in this country has remained constant.

Updated: 26 May 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.

The man occupying one of HSBC's senior commercial banking jobs has indicated that businesses in the UK have adapted well during the recession.

Noel Quinn, the firm's head of commercial banking, is reassured by the amount of export activity during the first few months of 2010, which is also 15 per cent up year on year.

He observed that a unique occurrence going into the recession is how UK organisations "preserved cash better" as well as being able to achieve debt reduction at the same time.

The expert noted that, in his position in a senior banking job, he came across a supplier to the construction industry which saw a 90 per cent drop in domestic turnover, but had managed to offset the decline having already increased efforts in terms of export operations.

A report last week from the banking institution revealed that UK companies are on a good footing and future success may be driven by innovation and business thinking.

Updated: 26 May 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, market-and-industry-news.

As I began to write this we awaited a General Election, now we have a coalition government which will hopefully not effect the positive signs that we have seen through out the first third of 2010. What this opening to 2010 has given us is high demand for staff across temporary, interim and permanent recruitment into financial services.

Within this edition of Market Insight we will look at where demand is, and probably more importantly given the state of the current market look at where there are shortages in candidate supply, trends that we have noted and what these may mean to the market.

Trends through Quarter 1 of 2010

Quarter 1 of 2010 for Poolia's financial services team saw the job flow rise significantly on Q1 of 2009 and the growth on Q4 2009 was also notable. The job flow on Q4 was up by 35% on Q4 and more than double of Q1 from 2009. All of this shows that there has been an increase in confidence and that we are returning to what the market was like in 2006 / 2007.

The flow of roles has been across all areas of finance and operations, for both temporary and permanent recruitment. Where the main drivers have come have been in product (particularly structured and complex derivatives) related areas, particularly those providing a control function such as Product Control and middle office related functions.

What these figures show is that market confidence has grown and is continuing to do so. The apprehension that was shown in Q4 has gone. In the January issue of Market Insight Poolia noted that the time to gauge how market confidence was effecting recruitment would be the middle to end of Q1. The reason for this was that bonuses would have been paid, budgets have been approved, and year ends were over. The result of this has been the continued increase in role flow, however the supply of suitable candidates has become more scarce.

So where has the growth come from?

Areas of demand

Operations

. There has been an increase in the demand for candidates with KYC knowledge and for people with client on-boarding experience. These have primarily been from a temporary basis but permanent demand is now increasing.
. The demand for candidates with structured and derivative product experience is up across all asset classes, and demand is across temporary and permanent especially within the middle office roles such as trade support, trader's assistant, and trade review type roles.
. Commodities are an area that many businesses are continuing to grow and volumes remain strong. This demand was seen in Q4 but is continuing to grow.
. A key requirement across all roles being recruited currently is that people need to be able to add value by looking at and challenging existing processes and ways of doing things. The aim behind this is to reduce bank's operational risk by improving controls.

Finance

. The demand for Product Controllers across all asset classes has returned, particularly people with experience in derivatives from an Exotic and Structured background.
. Candidates with MI experience and the ability to analyse what is behind the numbers and therefore add value.
. Regulatory accountants continue to be in demand, as do accountants with core technical skills.
. New qualified candidates also continue to be in demand and this is across a number of different areas, though demand does seem to be highest in Product Control.

Candidate Supply

The permanent market has seen a decrease in the number of candidates who are qualified and suitable for the roles that are in the market. It had been expected that the flow of candidates may increase given the upturn in the market and after bonus season, however movement has not occurred at the levels that were expected.
 
As well as a number of candidates staying in existing roles as salaries and bonuses met expectations, candidates are still wary of moving given the events of the past two years. It is this combined with the fact that a number of candidates left the market, and the fact that roles being recruited for currently require specific skill sets.

This shortage, combined with an increase in the number of roles being recruited for has meant that candidates are being counter offered and there is the re-emergence of multiple offers. What this does mean is that it is essential that organisations are moving processes as quickly as possible and as importantly are selling to candidates. Poolia should be able to provide information about candidate motivations and what candidates are looking for in a role to prospective interviewers so that this information can be used to help secure a candidate. Candidates want to know only about the role on offer, but about the opportunity, the progression and why your company is a company they want to work for.

From a temporary perspective the shortage is not as pronounced for temporary roles. The supply is down on 2009 as candidates who were made redundant during the downturn find work and we move back to a more traditional temporary market. From a finance perspective there has been an increase in the number of Australians and New Zealanders coming into the market. While this is not at the same levels as 2007, in part due to the exchange rate, the supply is stronger.

What does the rest of Q1 2010 hold?

With what is hopefully a stable coalition government, and hopefully regardless of the Greek and Southern Europe situation, Poolia expect the current levels of recruitment to continue and potentially increase. This will be across Finance and Operations for both temporary and permanent recruitment. The candidate flow however is likely to remain as it is currently, and within that there will be people who are testing the market rather than actively pursuing new opportunities.

Discrepancies in levels and make up of compensation, that have been caused by the differing situations that banks find themselves in, mean that the playing filed is not level necessarily when trying to attract candidates. Again this why the ability of organisations to move quickly and to be able to sell the opportunities that exist become even more important. This is especially so for mid tier organisations who now face more competition than in 2009 as the large investment banks have returned to the recruitment market.

What is likely to happen is that there will be a continued drive to hire people, but the candidates that are more scarce than they were over 2008 and 2009, and this means that recruitment processes need to take this into account to ensure that organisations are able to get the people that they want.
 
Contact Poolia today to discuss your recruitment needs 

Updated: 17 May 2010.
Categories: banking-and-financial-services, finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in accounting jobs are learning that industry body has called for the new coalition government to come clean over its tax plans as early as possible.

The UK200 Group, a mutual professional association representing mid-tier firms in the sector, has claimed the new coalition government needed to bring to an end any uncertainty about their proposals, Accountancy Age reports.

Since the Liberal Democrats agreed to enter into partnership with the Conservatives, a number of tax policies have needed to be amended or scrapped as a compromise.

For example, people in accounting jobs may be aware of a widely reported plan to introduce exemptions on those earning less than £10,000 and a scaling back of the Tories proposed cut in national insurance contributions.

David Whiscombe, a member of the group's tax panel and a partner with London-based firm BKL, said a "rethink" of plans made in recent years by the Labour administration.

Find information on the latest Finance & Accounting jobs at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 17 May 2010.
Categories: finance-and-accounting, market-and-industry-news.

People in HR jobs are being told by a UK body that employers must be consulted by the new coalition government before trying to implement a cap on immigration.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) stated that it welcomed the policy programme agreed by the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats during last weekend's negotiations.

It believes that a stable government can address "economic challenges" facing the UK in the coming months.

CIPD director Stephanie Bird affirmed her delight at the scrapping of a rise in national insurance contributions and said initiatives giving more immediate support to jobseekers looks "sensible".

However, people in HR jobs were told that the organisation continues to have deep concerns over proposals to cap non-European Union immigration, which it argues could leave bosses struggling to hire the level of talented workers to achieve growth.

Find information on the latest Human Resources roles at Poolia Recruitment Specialists

Updated: 17 May 2010.
Categories: human-resources, market-and-industry-news.