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Finance & Accounting

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Sector trends 2027

Employers continue to favour stable professionals with a proven track record, strong tenure, and business partnering capabilities.
Hiring remains highly selective, with preference given to immediately available candidates, as limited business visibility continues to reduce long-term workforce planning.

Finance organisations are expected to do more with less, using AI and automation to enhance productivity, as companies increasingly compare operating costs across Europe and may favor lower-cost countries for finance operations.

Demand is concentrated on high-value finance roles, while transactional and routine activities continue to be streamlined.
Interim finance professionals are increasingly engaged to redesign processes, strengthen operating models, and prepare leaner finance organizations enabled by AI and automation.

Salary results for Small & Mid Sized Enterprises (SME)
Small & Mid Sized Enterprises (SME) Low MittelHighLowMittelHigh

Finance & Accounting Insights

    • Additional information

      Please note: Salary data presented in this table primarily reflects roles within core Finance functions. For compensation data relating to positions in our Commodities and Banking/Financial Services divisions, please refer to the dedicated tables for those business areas, where salary levels may differ.

    • Most in-demand skills & experience

      1. Business accumen
      2. Assertiveness & strong communication skills
      3. Emotional intelligence
      4. Process automation
      5. Programming

    • Most wanted positions

      1. Allrounder Finance Managers with experience in HR/IT/Legal/etc
      2. Qualified Accountants in SME's & Fiduciaries, with multilingual capabilities considered a strong asset
      3. Controllers with full P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow overview
      4. Consolidation Specialists with IFRS/USGaap/SWISSGaap
      5. Treasury & Cash planning experts

    • Top sectors which pay the most

      1. Pharmaceutical
      2. Tobacco
      3. Chemical
      4. Consulting
      5. Insurance companies


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