Finance skills in high demand amid talent shortage

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — The latest Business Talent Group’s (BTG) Skills Index highlighted the increasing importance of financial expertise in the workplace. 

According to the index, there is sustained demand for finance professionals—with financial controls, accounting, and audit serving as the #1 most in-demand skill, followed closely by financial planning, analysis, and modeling amid a 71% increase in requests for interim finance executives.

However, 77% of employers struggle to find skilled talent, with 50% of CEOs and CFOs predicting issues meeting customer demands due to talent shortages.

BTG EVP Sandra Pinnavaia said, “The skills landscape is evolving at a breakneck pace and can have a pronounced impact on an organization’s ability to remain competitive and profitable.”

“Organizations are currently working to keep up with the pace of technological and innovative change, all while navigating a shifting labor market and economic uncertainty. These equally important yet competing priorities call for a wide range of skill sets—and today’s business leaders will need to embrace creativity and agility in sourcing them,” she added.

The skills index also revealed that businesses seek talent skilled in technology and systems implementation, AI, machine learning, and data science—each with a 100% increase in demand. 

Further, organizations are looking to streamline their processes and boost efficiency with help from on-demand talent skilled in organizational design and workforce planning, operational excellence, supply chain, and organizational transformation.