By Melissa Front
Have you tried to fill an accounting role lately? Startling statistics show there aren’t enough accountants to fill open positions. Yes, you read that correctly! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bloomberg, there are 340,000 less accountants now than in 2019. This is definitely a problem because businesses and individuals will always need accountants. Think about it, accountants are involved in many aspects of our lives including our paychecks, banking, bills, and retirement. We need to ensure that we are developing the next generation of accountants. While AI can help with a lot of tasks — and there may be a place for it in the accounting world — it cannot replace the knowledge, experience, and expertise of seasoned accountants who understand the various complexities and nuances. Most of us have heard people refer to accounting as boring but that’s not the case. While it may not be for everyone, it is a great industry for people who like to find the story in the numbers and look at the big picture. Yes, there’s actually a story in the numbers!
So how do you combat this challenge and build an internal pipeline? Well, folks, it’s time to turn things on their head and try some non-traditional ways. Here are four approaches:
Incorporate Humor
Break the perception of boring by adding humor to your job postings. Read how to incorporate humor here to make your postings fun and memorable. You’ll catch a candidate’s attention and stand out as a company that is unique and different.
Personalize Your Efforts
With such great demand for accountants, it’s hard to get a potential candidate’s attention. Identify what makes your organization different from your competitors and highlight the differences in your job postings. Determine a creative way to attract candidates to your company aside from the usual job posting and figure out how to make it fun and engaging.
Start Early
Most accounting firms target students in their sophomore and junior years of college. Well, it might be time to start focusing on high school students and changing the perception of the accounting industry. Consider partnering with a high school program and/or STEM academy and offering a two-week mini boot camp in accounting. Engage with high school students and show them how the numbers can tell a story. Build excitement at an earlier age and this might encourage more students to study accounting in college.
Target Neurodivergent Candidates
Neurodivergent candidates bring a lot of valuable skills to companies. Read more about this candidate pool here and here. Many of these individuals have exceptional memories and strong attention to detail skills. These skills are crucial in an accounting role. In addition, neurodiverse individuals are often loyal, enthusiastic, and have good longevity.
Between the existing shortage of accountants and the Bureau of Labor Statistics' prediction that employment for accountants is expected to grow by 6% over the next 10 years, it is even more important to start building your internal pipeline. Through creativity and strong partnerships, you will start changing the perception of the accounting field, attracting individuals to the accounting industry, and building your internal pipeline.
We know finding accountants is harder than finding a needle in a haystack! Consider partnering with TalentRemedy. Our industry experts are innovative and creative. We also cultivate personal connections with candidates to help you fill those open roles. Contact us at info@talentremedy.com or 703-362-0175 to set up a time to learn more about how our team can support your hiring needs.
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