New data from recruitment firm Robert Half suggests hiring for finance professionals is increasing across the UK.
Finance Director job postings rose by 20% between April and May, while Credit Controller vacancies increased by 19%.
Finance leadership roles saw the strongest overall growth, with job postings up 11%.
Systems and projects accounting jobs increased by 9%, while financial and management accounting roles rose by 4%.
Accounts Assistant roles were the most advertised in the sector, with around 1,300 vacancies, followed by Finance Manager (1,150) and Tax Manager (940).
Business services (24%) and manufacturing (26%) were the two strongest hiring sectors, according to the update.
Robert Half says employers are investing in finance teams to improve financial resilience, cash flow management and long-term business planning.
The need for fully qualified finance professionals across the UK is increasing with employers prioritising their level of performance, strategic oversight and financial governance. That’s according to global talent solutions and business consulting firm, Robert Half. Job advertisements and data from the firm show that hiring activity with in finance and accounting is gaining much needed momentum. The need for leadership knowledge is increasing with vacancies up 20% between April and May. Together with this, credit controller roles saw a 19%uplift.
If we look at the features of different job categories, senior leadership positions with in the finance industry recorded the strongest month on month growth due to the fact that they rose by 11%. Systems and project accounting jobs also saw a strong rise with vacancies increasing by 9%. The need for qualified financial advisors also went hand in hand with the rise in financial jobs with the number of available roles up 4%.
Core finance positions continue to underpin overall hiring volumes. Accounts Assistant positions remain the most in demand, with 1,300 jobs posted, followed by Finance Manager roles at 1,150 and Tax Manager positions at 940. This highlights continued investment in both transactional and strategic finance capabilities.
Phil Boden, Market Director at Robert Half comments:
“UK businesses are continuing to sharpen their focus on financial resilience, and that is clearly feeding through into hiring patterns. Demand is rising for finance leaders who can bring clarity, control and long-term direction in a complex market.
“We are also seeing particular growth in roles aligned to cash flow management and working capital. This reflects a pragmatic shift among employers. Firms are clearly prioritising visibility over finances and strengthening controls where it matters most.
“It’s clear that businesses are recognising just how critical finance teams are to business performance in today’s market. Employers are not just hiring to backfill roles. They are building capability that can help firms navigate change with confidence.”
During the April and May 2026 hiring cycle, the UK financial services sector prioritized roles in regulatory change, AI adoption, and risk management. While the market is highly competitive, sustained hiring trends reflect a drive toward long-term structural change across insurance, banking, and fintech.
Key Market Insights & Roles Demand Drivers: Insurers and wealth managers are actively expanding teams due to increased regulatory scrutiny, geopolitical risks, and digital transformation. Hot Roles: Notable open positions included Behavioural Risk Managers, Financial Crime Analysts, and Regulatory Change Project Managers. Regional Hubs: Major recruitment activity was concentrated in London, Edinburgh, and Manchester
Insurance hiring has begun 2026 stronger than expected, with consistent growth across technology, security and transformation roles.
The market has even seen an acceleration in investment as regulatory pressure, geopolitical risk and AI adoption increasingly converge and we’re now looking at a market preparing for change as Insurers seem to be increasingly hiring for long-term structural change rather than short-term growth.
How has this translated into the rest of financial services hiring?
