Instead, an increasing emphasis is now placed on a potential employee's planning, consulting and communications skills. Demand will be strongest for accountants with broad computer software experience, and those who can develop new business areas for the firm. Those with a strong financial analysis background, taxation expertise, cost accounting knowledge and international experience are also in demand. Some accountants are beginning to specialize in the auditing of computer network systems such as those that automate high volume transactions between companies and their suppliers. There are also emerging requirements for specialists who can assess environmental damage, experts who can value businesses and accountants with regulatory experience.
Forensic accounting is also a growing area.
Accounting firms actively recruit at universities to fill junior job vacancies. The vast majority of new hires go directly into auditing, but firms also hire into their taxation and information technology consulting departments. Corporate accounting jobs may be advertised in the career section of newspapers in larger centres. Employment agencies are also a typical source used by employers. Most of the increase in labour requirements through 2001 in these occupations will occur in the professional services, business services and financial, insurance and real estate industries.