Careers news

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 and 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 and 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.  

 Whether you’re applying for a new role in practice, industry, or financial services, your CV is your professional handshake and your sales document to get you in the door and to create an opportunity for you to speak to a prospective employer. It’s often the first impression you make with employers, recruiters and HR professionals. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be powerful allies in refining and tailoring your CV—but only if used wisely. For members of Chartered Accountants Ireland, the challenge is to harness AI for efficiency while maintaining authenticity, accuracy, and professional integrity. ✅ DO: Use AI to polish structure and language : Streamline formatting for clarity and consistency - Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are widely used by employers and recruitment firms. AI can help ensure your CV is clean, consistent, and easy to review, reducing the risk of being overlooked. Instruct the AI to reformat your CV to be more palatable to an ATS. Refine bullet points to highlight achievements and value-add - Instead of listing duties and responsibilities, use AI to sharpen your phrasing around measurable outcomes. For example: “Delivered audit efficiencies resulting in a 15% reduction in fieldwork hours.” “Implemented ERP system migration across three subsidiaries, improving reporting accuracy.” Ask the AI to suggest and enhance these elements in your cv. Tailor your CV to each role - AI will help you align your CV with keywords in job specifications. Tip:  Feed the job spec to the AI and then and ask it to align your CV with the required skills and competencies in the role. If you are pivoting into a different area of career direction AI tools can reposition the terms and grammar in your CV to be more pointed and bring your transferrable soft skills to the fore.   ✅ DO: Let AI help with tone and grammar : Ensure professional, confident language AI can eliminate passive phrasing and sharpen your tone so that your CV reads as achievement-focused rather than task-oriented. Instruct it on latter iterations to ‘sharpen the tone and make the terminology more achievement focused’. Highlight quantifiable results: Employers value tangible outcomes. AI can help you reframe statements to emphasise your measurable impact: “I reduced monthly reporting cycle by 30%.” “I led the €5M budget planning process across multiple jurisdictions.” ✅ DO: Use AI for brainstorming: Generate strong action verbs - AI can suggest impactful verbs such as streamlined, negotiated, implemented, advised, or optimised—helping you avoid repetition. Identify transferable skills - Particularly useful if you’re pivoting from practice to industry or vice versa. AI can help you surface skills such as stakeholder management, regulatory compliance, or systems implementation that may not be obvious at first glance. ❌ DON’T: Fabricate qualifications or experience Avoid inflated claims - AI tools may suggest impressive-sounding credentials or roles. Do not overinflate your actual experience or core skills and expertise.  Misrepresentation can damage your personal brand and career prospects. Always carefully review the revised CV and check your level of comfort with it. ❌ DON’T: Submit without personal review Guard against generic output - AI-generated CVs can sometimes sound formulaic or misaligned with what an employer expects to see in a CV. Proofread, personalise and put your own stamp on it which may mean small rewrites in sections. Include specific context - Employers value detail such as: Client sectors (e.g., construction, agri-food, financial services). Company names where acceptable. Employer revenue and employee numbers to give scale context. Eg - Software proficiencies (Sage, Xero, SAP, Oracle). Eg - Regulatory experience (Irish GAAP, IFRS, FRS 102, Central Bank reporting). Size and scale of current company eg- Number of employees in the company. Number of people you directly manage. Detail re the turnover level of the company for context. ❌ DON’T: Overuse buzzwords Substance over style Phrases like “dynamic leader” or “results-driven” are acceptable only when backed by evidence. Employers prefer concrete achievements over vague descriptors. Let your outcomes speak for themselves - Replace generic claims with specifics: Instead of “innovative thinker,” write “developed a tax planning strategy that reduced liabilities by €200K.” ⚖️ Final thoughts AI is a powerful tool for members seeking to sharpen their CVs. It can enhance clarity, structure, and relevance, but it is not a substitute for authenticity! Your CV should reflect your unique career journey, values, and professional integrity. Make sure your personality and ambitions shine through in the document. Think of AI as your assistant, not your author. Use it to polish, but ensure the final document is unmistakably yours. If you’d like tailored support for your CV or career progression, reach out to your Chartered Accountants Ireland Careers Team—we can provide personalised guidance aligned customised to your individual situation.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in recruitment processes to modernise candidate screening, assess skills, and predict job fit. AI-driven interviews can include automated video assessments, chatbot interactions, and algorithm-based scoring. Preparing for such interviews requires understanding the technology, adapting communication strategies, and ensuring compliance with best practices. Understand AI in recruitment AI tools in interviews typically perform: Video analysis: evaluates facial expressions, tone, and speech patterns. Natural Language Processing (NLP): assesses word choice, clarity, and relevance. Skill testing: automated coding challenges or scenario-based questions. Predictive analytics: matches candidate profiles to job requirements. Tip: research the specific AI platform used by the employer. Prepare for video-based AI interviews Technical setup: Ensure a stable internet connection. Use a high-quality webcam and microphone. Test lighting and background for clarity. Presentation: Dress professionally. Maintain eye contact with the camera. Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Practice: Record yourself answering common questions. Use AI-based mock interview tools to simulate the experience. Optimize communication for AI Structured responses: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioural questions. Keyword alignment: Incorporate relevant industry and role-specific keywords. Avoid ambiguity: AI systems favour clear, concise answers over vague statements. Demonstrate emotional intelligence While AI may analyse tone and sentiment, authenticity matters: Show enthusiasm without exaggeration. Maintain a calm and confident disposition. Prepare for gamified or cognitive assessments Some AI-driven processes include: Problem-solving games. Personality assessments. Tip: practice logic puzzles and familiarise yourself with game-based assessments. Address bias and fairness Be aware that AI systems can have biases. If concerned, ask the recruiter about fairness measures and appeal processes. Post-interview follow-up Send a thank-you email to the recruiter. Reiterate interest and highlight key strengths. Conclusion AI-enhanced interviews require both traditional preparation and technical awareness. By understanding the tools, practicing structured responses, and ensuring a professional setup, candidates can maximize their chances of success.