Finance and Accounting Employers Turn to Interim Workers

Uncertain Times Drive Change in Finance and Accounting Hiring

A recent industry report has highlighted growing concerns among finance and accounting employers in the UK. More than half are expressing unease over the current unstable economic climate. This uncertainty is now directly influencing hiring strategies across the sector.

Key concerns noted include:

• 80% of finance businesses remain worried about attracting and acquiring top talent quickly.
• 59% fear they may not be able to keep critical projects running on schedule.

The data, sourced from specialist recruiter Robert Half, makes it clear that flexibility in workforce planning is more crucial than ever before.

The Rise of Contingent and Interim Staff

Faced with ongoing challenges, employers are responding by relying more heavily on interim and contingent resources. For 2025, 80% of hiring managers state they plan to engage interim workers to help them navigate:
• Economic volatility
• Skills shortages
• Increased hiring costs (including rising National Insurance Contributions)

Hannah Szymanski, Market Director of Finance & Accounting at Robert Half, commented, "Our data demonstrates the considerable challenges facing finance employers. The additional hiring costs associated with higher National Insurance Contributions exacerbate these. A practical solution is to increase engagement with contingent workers."

Key Advantages of Interim Workforce Solutions:

• Agility: Ability to scale resources quickly in response to changing project and market needs.
• Expertise Transfer: Interim professionals bring broad experience and can help upskill permanent staff by sharing knowledge accumulated from diverse projects.
• Cost Efficiency: Contingent workers help manage costs, particularly vital during periods of hiring freezes or when permanent headcount increases are not viable.

"The future of work is flexible. Focusing on the contingent workforce could be the strategy that keeps projects on track and budgets under control in challenging times."

Interim Professionals: More Than a Stop-Gap

While interim workers alone cannot solve skills shortages, they are becoming an integral part of the solution for organisations seeking to remain adaptable. Their broad project exposure means they can:
• Quickly fill gaps in critical skills
• Support delivery of key projects
• Provide valuable insights from outside the core organisation

Crucially, this flexible approach enables employers to wait for more stable conditions before making permanent hires, which can be particularly important when new costs, such as the National Insurance increase, impact budgets.

Next Steps for Businesses

If your organisation is facing similar uncertainty, consider the following actions:

1. Assess Your Resource Needs: Identify essential projects and where skill gaps exist.

2. Explore Contingent Options: Evaluate how interim specialists can provide quick, flexible cover.

3. Plan for the Long Term: Develop strategies to balance interim solutions with future permanent hiring.

Businesses needing expert guidance are invited to contact our team for personalised advice about available options.

Looking Ahead

As the trend towards workforce flexibility grows, finance and accounting leaders must continually evaluate their resourcing strategies. Embracing a blend of permanent and contingent talent offers a practical way to mitigate risks, manage costs, and build resilience.