Jump Back
The bad news? The part qualified market changes frequently and nothing is straight forward! The good news? Barden are experts in this field and are here to support you through your journey.
The part qualified market operates differently to the long-established pattern of hiring activity (demand) around newly qualified accountants which typically peaks in April/May and Sept/Oct each year, coinciding with the end of training contracts (supply). The part qualified or trainee accountant jobs market is far more varied and has no defined peaks and troughs.
The Hiring Cycle…
However, there are some similarities and in a perfect world the cycle looks something like this: Company A goes to market, hires a part qualified accountant and, 12-18 months later, as they 1) move to a new company, 2) move internally, so on… a gap is created again, and Company A goes back to the market to hire another part qualified accountant. Make sense?
This pattern has driven hiring activity for many years but was disrupted over 2020 and 2021 because of…the obvious. Now that things have normalised socially, we are seeing this pattern re-emerge since the beginning of 2022.
Options
However, there are many different stages of being a part qualified accountant, and so options emerge more sporadically. Generally, these can be grouped in three ways…
1) trainee accountants who are embarking on their first experiences in the accounting world,
2) mid-level part qualified accountants who are circa 2 years into their journey and are halfway through their exams and,
3) finalists, those who are coming up to 3.5 years’ experience and are focusing on the final professional papers.
Most larger companies need people at all levels, and hence, as people progress with exams, and take on more responsibility, they create demand for more junior people in their team.
Focusing on What You Can Control
Given the varied nature of the market at any one time, what you should focus on are things that you can control. This starts with getting well-informed advice on what your next career decisions should look like – don’t make these decisions lightly, they will directly impact your future as a fully qualified accountant.
The best advice we can provide right now is to evaluate your own situation before making any decisions surrounding your career. If you are in a stable position but slightly unhappy with some aspects of your role, this might be a good time to sit down with your manager and discuss new areas to explore or discuss your future in the business (the path of least resistance is what we recommend – look internally first!).
If you have decided to move externally, reach out to those who know the market and careers, ask for their advice and guidance. Recruitment consultants are closest to what’s happening out there right now and can be your eyes and ears on the ground.
Want to know more?
If You’re a PQ or Trainee Accountant You Cannot Miss This Event…
On 22/11/2022 Trainee Accountants are gathering in Dublin for something unique…
- What? In-person event for Part Qualified/Trainee accountants (the biggest one this year!).
- Where? The Indeed HQ Offices at Capital Dock (one of the coolest offices in town).
- When? Tuesday 22nd November | 6pm – 7.30pm.
- Why go? A chance to meet other trainee. accountants, get advice on training/studying and hear from our keynote speakers (there will also be nice refreshments and some goodies to take away).
For more info and to book your place click here.
Thinking of making a move in 2023? Do you want to make sure you make a well-informed decision at this key time in your career? Do you want access to the top finance teams in Ireland? Do you want to work with the top recruitment consultants in the Irish market? No problem. Just drop us a line today on hello@barden.ie and we will take it from there. We’re not only here to help you find a new job, but we’re also here to offer support and guidance – we love to talk, so reach out for a confidential chat and we’ll do our best to look after you out there.