added august 1st 2010
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Job Prospects for Newly Qualified Finance Professionals in Cardiff

Recruitment specialist Reed Finance gives the low-down on job prospects for newly qualified accountants considering working in and around Cardiff.

1. What types of jobs are most commonly available for NQs in Cardiff?

Significant EU development grants and inward investment have helped Cardiff become something of a magnet for national and international employers, with the city hosting head offices and shared service centres for a number of large organisations.

Increasingly competitive economic conditions have driven these organisations to recruit strong, commercially-minded finance professionals: individuals who can add to the 'bottom line' through identifying cost reductions, efficiency improvements and margin-analysis.

The strong mix of industries in the Cardiff area ensures a varied mix of opportunities for NQs.

One of the more prevalent vacancies recently has been Financial Analyst.  There is also a constant need for NQ's to undertake Statutory Accounting roles, and we have also seen an increase in demand for NQ's to work within Risk and Compliance.

 

2. Which sectors are particularly strong for NQs in Cardiff?

In recent years, the employment market in Cardiff and the surrounding area has shifted away from heavy engineering and manufacturing to business services.

While there are still excellent opportunities within engineering and manufacturing, business services has taken the front seat, in particular Financial Services – which is a strong growth area at present.

 

3. What is the average salary for NQs in Cardiff?

A newly qualified accountant looking for a role in Cardiff could expect to be offered a salary typically between £30,000 and £35,000.

 

4. Are there many jobs currently available for NQs in Cardiff?

At Reed Finance we have seen a definite improvement in the jobs market over the last quarter and expect this to continue.

A number of leading companies - including Lloyds Banking Group, EADS, Barclaycard, Confused.com, Legal & General, Corus and General Dynamics - have large operations in the Cardiff area. Consequently, there are plenty of opportunities for ambitious accountants to get to a senior level, without having to move.

 

5. What are some of the main advantages, highlights and attractions of living and working in Cardiff?

Cardiff is a very compact city which has undergone a massive transformation over the last 10 years. The whole city has had an impressive face lift, and the opening of the new St David’s 2 shopping centre put Cardiff into the top 5 shopping destinations in the UK. The jewel in Cardiff’s crown is Cardiff Bay, with its wide range of boutique shops, a massive selection of café & restaurants and an array of waterfront apartments.

For sports lovers, the Millennium Stadium is in the centre of the city and Glamorgan cricket ground – which has been recently been appointed a test ground - is 10 minutes walk from the centre.  And finally, not far from Cardiff is the luxurious Celtic Manor golf resort, which will host the Ryder Cup this October

Being on the M4 corridor makes Cardiff very accessible. A 30 -45 minute drive in any direction will take you to a completely different  environment - the mountains of the Brecon Beacons are to the north, the sandy beaches of the Gower peninsula are to the west and Monmouthshire and the Forest of Dean are to the east. Meanwhile the centre of Bristol is only 50 minutes away by train.

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