added september 14th 2009

To Temp, Or Not To Temp, Is That The Question?

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Finding a new job is a tougher challenge now than it has been for a few years.

With fewer permanent vacancies currently available and a larger pool of accountancy professionals looking, many jobseekers are now thinking about putting themselves forward for temporary work or interim assignments – at least until the permanent jobs market improves.

To find out more about what is involved in being a temp, and whether it might suit you, read on …..

Why do employers want temps for some accountancy roles?

The current economic uncertainties have lead many companies to look at more flexible ways of solving their resourcing needs, and bringing in temporary workers is one such option.

There are also many positive reasons why employers bring in temps. For instance: to provide important cover for maternity leave or long-term sickness, to meet short-term workload peaks such as Year End, to fill stand-alone project positions, as cover for internal secondments, to give added flexibility when introducing a new product or service, and even as more immediate, but flexible, replacements for leavers.

What are the most common accountancy temp roles?

Pretty much all types and levels of role come up for temps, but the more frequently available vacancies are:

·         Analysts

·         Management Accountants

·         Year End Accountants

·         Assistant Accountants

·         Part-Qualified Accountants and Trainee Accountants.

·         Bookkeepers

·         Credit Controllers

Why temp?

In accountancy there are currently lots of excellent opportunities for interim and contract positions. Temping offers a great opportunity to earn some decent money and increase your employability and worth - without losing the flexibility to pursue permanent opportunities when they arise.

As a temp you can gain valuable experience, keep your skills up to date and potentially even learn and develop valuable new ones. Also, you have the flexibility to work within different companies and sectors, building a good level and breadth of accounting systems skills – which is ideal for PQ's who are looking to enhance their CV's.

Temporary roles can evolve into permanent positions for exceptional candidates, so if you are doing a very good job temping and a similar permanent role is created within the organization, then you will be in a strong position to secure that role.

How do pay and benefits levels compare between temporary and permanent roles?

Broadly they are the same, although ttemporary roles can occasionally offer higher rates of pay than an equivalent permanent position – depending upon the complexity of the work, the depth of suitable talent in the market and the duration of the project.

It used to be the case that temps didn’t get the same holiday pay benefits as permanent salaried staff, but the good news for temps is that is not now the case.

Why are candidates with experience in a number of temporary positions attractive to clients?

Temps, or former temps, are likely to have broader systems experience and so be more adaptable to new people and processes.

Also, temps can bring experiences from previous posts and suggest improvements to processes and procedures.

Where can a temporary role lead me?

In bigger organisations (e.g. Banks), if you successfully complete a temporary position assignment, this can often lead you into another position within the same organisation as a result of line manager referrals and relationships.

If you have the capacity, then it can be very beneficial to ask your line manager for suitable additional work. This will enable you to gain additional experience in areas you've not yet worked on/in.  By doing this, candidates can build their experience and develop a skill base that is better suited to the particular role and sector they want to work in permanently, and may also increase their market value.

What specific skills are required as an accountancy temp?

A broad range of skills and experience will make your CV stand out from the crowd and commercial knowledge is always and asset to any finance department.

All accounting temporary workers should have good MS Excel skills, plus a good knowledge of a well known accountancy package (e.g. SAP or Sage).

In a competitive market, how do I make myself more employable than the other candidates?

First of all make sure your CV is always up to date and reflects any new skills and experience you have acquired. If some of your positions have been temporary or contract roles, then make that clear on your CV and detail what was achieved with that organisation in terms of achievements.

Also, have a flexible approach on availability and location.

Finally, register with a recruitment agency that specialises in the accountancy marketplace and gives realistic advice, as they will be best placed to source the most suitable roles for you. Then make sure you keep in regular contact with your recruitment consultant and make sure you always keep your phone on, so that you won’t miss an opportunity.

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