Industry Insights

The key to success is creating a positive first impression, communicating expectations clearly, providing engaging learning experiences, and offering ongoing support through regular check-ins. A successful induction doesn't end after the first day. It's an ongoing process that helps new employees feel confident, connected, and prepared to succeed in their roles.

Accounting firms invest heavily in cybersecurity, but recruitment assessments may introduce an overlooked threat. Recent reports highlight scams in which job seekers are tricked into downloading fake assessment software containing malware, sometimes resulting in significant financial losses.

Getting a candidate to accept a job offer doesn't guarantee they'll actually start. With candidates often pursuing multiple opportunities, accounting firms need to stay engaged between offer acceptance and the first day. Inspired by an Unseen Group webinar, the article highlights four ways to reduce the risk of candidates backing out.

Self-doubt is common in accounting, but it isn't always caused by an unsupportive workplace or Imposter Syndrome. Sometimes, it stems from a personality trait known as Apprehension, which can lead individuals to question their abilities, dwell on past mistakes, and avoid opportunities for career growth.

Pre-employment testing doesn't necessarily drive good candidates away. When used appropriately, it can help firms focus on stronger applicants, save time, and make more informed hiring decisions.

The blog looks at the “loyalty tax”, where firms pay external hires more than existing employees doing the same job. Big 4 Transparency’s 2026 data suggests the gap becomes more pronounced at senior levels, with external managers earning around $15,000 more and senior managers around $22,600 more than internally promoted employees.

The article explains why graduate recruitment requires a different approach from hiring experienced accountants. Graduates may have strong academic qualifications but often lack relevant work experience, making it harder to assess how they will perform in an accounting role.

The article highlights what more than 800 students, graduates, and early-career professionals find helpful and frustrating about today’s recruitment processes. The biggest theme is uncertainty. Candidates often don’t understand what employers are assessing, how decisions are made, what good performance looks like, or what to expect once they start work.

The blog emphasizes that pre-employment tests must comply with anti-discrimination laws to avoid legal and reputational risks. Following the EEOC’s best practice guidelines helps ensure that testing processes are defensible against any claims of bias.

The article argues that listening is one of the most important and often overlooked skills in accounting. While technical expertise is essential, strong listening helps accountants build trust with clients, become better managers and leaders, retain talented employees, and have more valuable advisory conversations.

The article compares AI’s impact on accounting to Spotify’s impact on the music industry. Spotify didn’t replace musicians, but it changed how they succeed: producing good music was no longer enough. Artists had to stand out, build an audience and develop stronger relationships with fans.

AI is changing how accountants work, but not the core skills that make them effective. Critical thinking, curiosity, professional scepticism, judgement and communication remain essential, with accountants still responsible for verifying information and deciding whether they are comfortable putting their name to the work—regardless of whether it was produced by a colleague or AI.