Finance Hiring Expected to Surge as Demand for Data and AI Skills Accelerates

New data from Robert Half shows a sharp acceleration in hiring across UK finance and accounting. 58% of employers expect to increase permanent headcount by summer, up from 50% in late 2025. Contract hiring is rising too, with 43% planning to bring in interim professionals, compared with 39% previously.

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The reason is clear: finance teams are modernising fast, and organisations urgently need deeper technical capability. Data analytics is now the most in‑demand skill (49%), followed closely by generative AI (48%), budgeting and forecasting (47%), financial reporting (46%) and financial analysis (45%).

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Competition is intensifying, and both permanent and contingent hiring are becoming essential as companies race to modernise their finance functions and stay ahead of demand.

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Want the full picture behind these trends? Read the complete SIA coverage of the Robert Half findings for deeper insight here.