Qualified Finance Market Update Q4 – 2026
Scotland’s qualified finance market continues to show strong demand, with organisations across a variety of industries seeking experienced professionals who can deliver both technical expertise and strategic insight. As businesses navigate ongoing economic pressures, regulatory change, and digital transformation, the need for high-calibre finance talent across all levels – from newly qualified accountants through to seasoned leaders – remains a key priority.
In this edition, we share the latest hiring trends across Scotland and provide insight into what candidates and employers should expect in the months ahead. Whether you are considering your next move or looking to strengthen your finance team, we hope these updates offer useful perspective on an evolving market.
What’s going on in the market?
There has been an increase in activity across the senior finance market, particularly at Controller and Director level with commercial and strategically minded candidates being hot commodities.
At Iconic Resourcing we’ve recently appointed two Head of FP&A positions as well as a highly commercial Finance Business Partner position – clearly commercially focused roles however we are also seeing a desire for strategically minded individuals for more traditional Financial Controller and Financial Reporting roles. This reflects a wider shift in the finance function, where businesses expect qualified accountants to add commercial value rather than focus solely on statutory reporting.
Cameron highlighted this in a recent LinkedIn post:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7438187353137049601/
The interim market remains buoyant with employers opting for a ‘try-before-you-buy’ method in appointing across all levels. Expectations of candidates remain high, though the appeal of these roles is typically lower particularly for those already in permanent roles, making them trickier to fill. Many organisations are using these appointments to manage change projects, cover maternity leave, or assess long-term hiring needs.
What’s around the corner?
The beginning of 2026 has sadly seen an uptick in redundancies across the profession, with businesses in FMCG particularly impacted, traditionally a highly valued industry by candidates and a cornerstone in the Scottish economy.
Fortunately for these candidates, markets including professional services and tech remain buoyant, alongside the access to interim positions means candidates who are available are being snapped up quickly. If you are an employer and your process is taking more than a few weeks, be prepared that your top candidate might get snapped up before you have a chance to offer.
As highlighted in a previous newsletter, AI and digital transformation remain high on the agenda of business and finance teams are evolving rapidly as automation and AI reduce manual work. As a result, data literacy, systems implementation experience, and tools like Power BI or analytics platforms are increasingly sought after in qualified candidates.
Professionals who combine technical accounting expertise with technology and analytical capability are commanding a premium in the market.
Transactional Market Update
As we approach the financial year end, it’s a natural point to reflect on the trends we’ve seen over the last quarter, while also looking ahead to what’s on the horizon.
Within the transactional finance market, activity has noticeably increased this quarter. In particular, we’ve seen a rise in opportunities across Payroll and Accounts Payable. The temp and FTC market has remained steady, with many of these roles offering strong potential to convert into permanent positions. This is being driven by a combination of factors, including acquisitions, delayed budget approvals now coming through, team expansion, and internal restructuring.
While this creates excellent opportunities for immediately available candidates, it also raises an important question, how attractive are these roles to individuals currently in secure permanent positions?
One consistent theme is that candidates continue to prioritise long-term development and career progression. Opportunities that offer structured training or clear progression pathways are proving significantly more attractive, particularly when engaging passive talent.
Within practice, demand remains high, especially at the junior to mid-senior level where the competition for quality candidates continues to be strong.
AI also remains a key topic across the market. This month, I attended the CIMA AI for Finance conference to gain further insight into how this is impacting both clients and candidates. While we’re already seeing changes in day-to-day processes, it’s clear we’ve only just begun to explore the full potential of AI within finance.
Much of the discussion centred around how AI will enhance efficiency, allowing professionals to focus more on analysis and strategic responsibilities. Looking ahead, this is also expected to influence how students are assessed within professional qualifications, shifting from task completion to the evaluation and interpretation of AI-generated outputs.
Ultimately, while technology will continue to evolve, the importance of strong financial knowledge and professional judgement remains unchanged.
Accountancy & Finance Team
Cameron Brown – Senior A&F Consultant | cameron.brown@iconicresourcing.com
Claire McNally – Transactional A&F Consultant | claire.mcnally@iconicresourcing.com
Jeff McCaskill – Executive Search – Advisory & Consulting | jeff.mccaskill@iconicresourcing.com
Hannah Green – Co-founder & Recruitment Specialist | hannah.green@iconicresourcing.com