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The Northern Ireland accountancy recruitment market has become more measured in 2026.
We’re seeing fewer candidates actively looking to move roles, while competition for experienced and specialist accountancy professionals remains high. For employers, that can make recruitment feel more challenging, particularly when hiring into areas where strong candidates are already in demand, but a slower candidate market doesn’t mean good people aren’t available. It means employers need to be more targeted in how they approach recruitment, and more aware of what motivates candidates to make a move.
At VANRATH, we’re seeing these conversations first-hand every day. From counteroffers and career progression to flexibility and culture, there are several factors influencing candidate decisions across Northern Ireland’s accountancy market.
Here’s what employers should be considering.
Counteroffers are becoming increasingly common
One of the biggest changes we’ve seen is the rise in counteroffers.
When an experienced finance professional hands in their resignation, their current employer may respond with a salary increase, promotion, greater flexibility or additional benefits in an attempt to retain them. For businesses looking to hire, this can add another layer to the recruitment process.
However, counteroffers also provide an important insight into what candidates value.
A candidate may initially be motivated by salary, but that doesn’t necessarily mean salary is the reason they’re looking to leave. Their decision could be driven by a lack of progression, limited development opportunities, workload, flexibility, culture or simply wanting a different direction in their career.
Understanding the real reason someone is considering a move is therefore just as important as understanding their salary expectations.
This is where having the right recruitment conversation early on can make a difference. By understanding a candidate’s motivations, employers can position their opportunity around what genuinely matters to that individual, rather than relying solely on salary to compete.
Specialist accountancy talent is still available
While the active candidate pool may be smaller, there is still strong talent across the Northern Ireland market.
We continue to see demand for experienced professionals across areas including:
Tax and R&D Tax
Audit
Payroll
Corporate Finance
Advisory
Qualified and senior finance positions
The challenge is that many of these professionals aren’t actively applying for jobs. They may be happy where they are, but open to hearing about the right opportunity if it offers something that genuinely improves their career. That means simply advertising a vacancy and waiting for applications may not be enough.
A proactive recruitment strategy gives employers access to candidates who may never have seen, or responded to, a job advert.
Our specialist Accountancy & Finance team has an established network across Northern Ireland, allowing us to engage with both active and passive candidates and introduce opportunities that align with their experience, ambitions and motivations.
For employers, that means a wider talent pool and a greater opportunity to find the right person, rather than simply the first person available.
What are accountancy candidates looking for?
Salary will always play a role in a candidate’s decision, but it is increasingly only one part of the conversation.
When discussing a potential move, candidates are also considering:
Progression | Flexibility | Culture | Development | Work-life balance
For employers, this creates an opportunity. A compelling role isn’t necessarily the one offering the highest salary. It’s the one that gives a candidate a clear reason to leave their current position and take the next step.
That could mean a defined route to partnership, exposure to more complex work, greater flexibility, stronger development opportunities or the chance to join a team and culture that better suits them. The more clearly an employer can communicate what makes their opportunity different, the easier it becomes to attract the right candidates.
This is particularly important when competing for experienced professionals who already have a good role and aren’t under pressure to move.
Recruitment needs to start earlier
If you’re considering hiring over the coming months, our advice is simple: start the conversation early.
The strongest candidates may not be actively looking, and those who are considering a move may take time to weigh up their options.
Starting the process early gives you more opportunity to:
Understand current salary and candidate expectations
Refine the role and employer proposition
Identify potential candidates
Engage with passive talent
Manage counteroffer conversations
Make a strong offer when the right person is identified
It also gives you the opportunity to make informed decisions rather than rushing to fill a vacancy because the recruitment process hasn’t delivered the candidates you initially expected.
The market hasn’t stopped moving. Good candidates have simply become harder to move.
That’s an important distinction. There are still excellent accountancy professionals across Northern Ireland. The challenge is reaching them, understanding what would motivate them to move and presenting an opportunity that gives them a genuine reason to consider it.
For employers, that means recruitment needs to be about more than simply putting a job on the market. You need to know where the talent is, understand what candidates want and have the right conversations with them.
At VANRATH, our Accountancy & Finance team combines specialist market knowledge with an established network of active and passive candidates across Northern Ireland. We work with employers to understand their requirements, identify suitable talent and support the process from the initial approach through to offer.
If you’re planning your next hire, speaking to the market early can give you a real advantage.
Whether you’re recruiting for a specialist accountancy position, adding to your practice team or looking for senior finance talent, the VANRATH Accountancy & Finance team can help you understand what’s happening in the market and where the right candidates are.
Get in touch VANRATH today:
Email: hello@vanrath.com
Phone: 028 9033 0250