By Ellie Moore-Giles, published 8 January 2026
From my perspective, recent high-profile audit quality failures have had a noticeable impact on how UK organisations approach finance and audit hiring. When accounting errors come to light, the focus quickly shifts to governance, controls and accountability, and this inevitably filters down into recruitment strategies. Employers are no longer hiring purely to fill vacancies; they are hiring to reduce risk, restore confidence and strengthen oversight within their finance functions.
In practical terms, this means hiring managers are seeking audit and finance professionals who can demonstrate more than technical knowledge alone. Candidates are increasingly assessed on their ability to apply professional scepticism, challenge assumptions and communicate clearly with senior stakeholders. We are also seeing greater demand for individuals with experience in remediation projects, internal audit, control improvement and regulatory engagement, particularly at manager and senior manager level.
Our conclusion as recruitment consultants is that audit quality concerns are reshaping the UK finance job market in a lasting way. For candidates, those who can evidence strong judgement, attention to detail and a commitment to high standards will continue to stand out. For employers, partnering with a specialist recruiter who understands these evolving expectations can make a critical difference in securing professionals who not only meet technical requirements, but also add long-term value in an increasingly scrutinised environment.
