Two in three employers see holding on to qualified accountants as a top priority this year, according to research from Hays Senior Finance.

The research also shows 40% of employers are worried they won’t be able to retain top talent, while two-thirds of senior finance professionals are planning look for a new job this year.

Chris McCarthy, director of Hays Senior Finance, says: “Companies of all sizes, from blue-chip multinationals to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), have been lifting headcount freezes to ease the burden of existing finance teams.

“Many employers are also more willing to pay more to fill their most senior vacancies on a permanent basis than they typically did prior to the economic downturn. Competition has already intensified to the extent that senior finance professionals routinely receive more than one job offer.

“Employers are increasingly being trumped by lucrative counter-offers, as CEOs and board directors attempt to hang onto their finance chiefs. Talented qualified accountants are increasingly being sought-after for financial analysis roles, or to help mitigate operational or business risk.”