Introduction
The job market for Chartered Accountants at all levels will be a combination of positivity, optimism and caution. While overall the sentiment is positive, recruitment in some areas is moderating in response to cost-efficiency pressures and business transformation. That said, overall, the demand for Chartered Accountants is predicted to remain strong. Some employer will continue their journey of adapting their approach to traditional hiring models, focussing on the acquisition of specialised skills and investing heavily in talent pipelines to secure the next generation of Chartered Accountants. For job seekers and employers alike, understanding these trends is essential to staying competitive in an evolving market.
There will continue to be uncertainty in relation to global economy and geopolitical conditions, however, to date employers continue to prioritise hiring experienced finance professionals capable of driving governance, transformation, and strategic financial performance. The job market for Chartered Accountants is proving to be resilient including at the newly and recently qualified level and the outlook overall is positive.
What sectors are recruiting
Professional services & corporates
Large professional services firms and international practices are continuing to hire finance, accounting and advisory talent across all areas of their business in Dublin and regionally. Large corporates and multi-nationals are continuing to recruit after a brief hiatus related to the concerns in relation to the impact of potential tariffs.
SMEs and small medium sized practices
The outlook in these areas is positive also with sustained recruitment activity across practice and industry.
Where will the roles be located
Dublin
Dublin continues to be a central hub for options, particularly in Technology, Financial services, Shared Services, and Life Sciences and pharmaceuticals.
Regional growth
We expect to continue to see increased levels of hiring across practice and industry regionally during 2026 following a pick-up in 2025. This includes within the SME and indigenous sectors.
Northern Ireland
Belfast remains active, driven by professional services, manufacturing, public sector reform and continued growth in Tech and Fintech. Northern Ireland’s public sector continues to offer strong opportunities at senior finance levels due to ongoing transformation initiatives.
Global opportunities
Irish Chartered Accountant continue to be highly sought after worldwide, with roles available in the UAE, Australia, Canada, the US, and the Cayman Islands
Salary trends
After years of inflation-driven increases, salary growth is likely to continue to stabilise in 2026, especially for entry to mid-level positions. This is the case in ROI and NI. However, experienced Chartered Accountants with specialist skills in the areas of
financial planning & analytics, business transformation and automation will continue to command premium packages.
Bonus structures will remain attractive and will be aligned with company and personal performance in many instances. Comprehensive and flexible benefits packages will remain to attract and retain top talent.
It is worth noting that pay expectations will continue to be tempered by hybrid working flexibility rather than driven solely by base salary with candidates prioritising flexibility and work-life balance over financial considerations.
Hybrid & remote working
Hybrid models are now the norm with many qualified accountants expecting to work from home at least some of the time with most spending 2/3 days in the office. Despite the increased focus on a return to the office for the most part hybrid working remains the approach adopted by many organisations.
Skills in demand
Leadership capability continues to be one of the most sought‑after skillsets particularly for those seeking to advance their careers and who are managing and developing growing finance teams and businesses.
Communication and stakeholder engagement skills remain key differentiators for senior candidates.
Technical competence in audit, tax, governance, compliance and complex reporting remains essential in both practice and industry roles. Strong monthly and quarterly reporting discipline continue to be critical for organisations navigating uncertain conditions in 2026.
Data and digital skills including Power BI, automation tools, ERP expertise and system literacy are increasingly required due to the developments in IT, AI and automation.
Business transformation experience, especially in process optimisation or finance function redesign, is in high demand as is experience of managing projects in these areas.
Interview & recruitment trends
Interviews will continue to be a combination of virtual and in-person meetings with the initial screening process most likely to be conducted online followed by a more detailed in-person interview. AI is also being incorporated into recruitment processes including AI screening and structured assessments to help employers with their evaluation.
Competency based interviews are being used across organisations small and large and are pivotal in focusing on leadership behaviours and demonstrating impact.
Timeliness for interview processes have become more protracted in recent times with hiring managers being more discerning in terms of the selection process. This is a trend that is likely to persist in 2026.
Conclusion
The outlook for the jobs market for 2026 is positive with opportunities arising for Chartered Accountants at all career stages. To remain competitive members will need to remain up to date with market developments including recruitment trends and the skills requirements of employers which are evolving inline with market developments.
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