IT jobs in accounting and consulting were up 39% year on year reflecting the most striking trend across the sector with a surge in IT professional vacancies, now projected to exceed 2,200 in 2025. These IT specialist roles accounted for 28.4% of all accounting and consulting roles, showed the latest data from Morgan McKinley and Vacancysoft.

This reflects the sector’s rapid move towards digital transformation and increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) driven tools to improve productivity at firms.

The data also showed that flexible working was now viewed as standard across the sector, and an essential for successful recruitment, with candidates not interested in roles where there was no remote working.

Hiring across accounting and consulting firms stabilised in 2025, Morgan McKinley noted, with Q1 activity up 19% on the previous quarter and H1 volumes 18% higher year-on-year.

In contrast, vacancies for traditional accountancy roles dipped 4%, while consulting remained flat. Expected changes to fiscal policy and tax regulation could drive further demand in advisory functions later this year, Morgan McKinley warned.

However, the continued complexity around tax, ESG compliance, and sustainability reporting has kept demand high, especially for specialist accountants able to navigate both regulatory change and technological transformation.

But although the largest accountancy firms have some of the most vacancies advertised there has a been a sharp drop in the number of jobs available at some of the big hirers.

The most active recruiters across the accountancy sector were Deloitte, with 522 vacancies estimated for 2025, up 24% on last year, followed by EY with 420 vacancies, down 17%, PwC with 258 jobs, down sharply by 26%, then BDO with 220 jobs advertised, down a significant 44% on 2024. Although Morgan McKinley cautioned that the 2025 figures are obviously based on estimates and only four accountancy firms make the top 20 companies for professional vacancies.

David Neal, Managing Director, Morgan McKinley said: ‘The UK financial services sector is evolving fast, with hiring trends shaped by rapid tech adoption, regulatory change and shifting workforce expectations.

‘Roles in fintech, data, AI and cybersecurity are now central to operations, while regulation is driving demand in risk and audit functions.

June was the standout month, with 772 vacancies posted across accounting and consulting, highlighting buoyancy in the sectors. And while there has been a slight dip in job vacancies over the last six months compared with a booming 2023, firms are still facing ongoing difficulties in the search for qualified staff at manager and senior manager level. At this level, employers say they are struggling to find accountants and tax professionals to fill vacancies.

Neil added: ‘Vacancysoft’s latest data shows a 10% rise in London finance vacancies year-on-year, signalling renewed momentum.

‘But this isn’t a return to old patterns - flexible working is now standard, competition for specialist talent is fierce and firms are widening their search beyond London to secure the skills they need.’

UK-wide finance vacancies are forecast to rise 11% YoY, with London maintaining its dominance at nearly half the national share. Between January and June, finance hiring in the capital grew 10%, supported by a sharp 24% quarterly increase, signalling renewed confidence after a period of uncertainty.

Morgan McKinley Vacancysoft, UK Finance Labour Market Trends report, London