In 2025, automation and sustainability will further reshape the financial sector. The demand for financial talent will remain strong, but professionals will need to transition into true business partners, focusing on ESG compliance and strategic insight.  Companies, on the other hand, must go beyond experience if they want to meet the challenges of 2025, focusing on leadership potential and investing in talent from within.

Marie Parmentier, manager at recruitment specialist Robert Walters, provides insights into what lies ahead for the Belgian financial job market.

Most in-demand finance & accounting professionals in 2025

• Senior Accountant
• Financial & Business Controller
• Finance Manager
   

Key skills for finance and accounting professionals in 2025

• Analytical mindset
• Strong business acumen
• Technical proficiency
• Project management abilities
   

What finance & accounting professionals value most in their employer

• Flexible working arrangements  
• Inspiring colleagues and a motivating company culture
• Excellent compensation & benefits
   

Temporary recruitment

Temporary recruitment will play a more prominent role in 2025 as companies seek agile staffing solutions for project-based needs. Marie: “Sectors like financial services, engineering, HR services, IT, manufacturing & packaging and construction often experience fluctuations in the market and face project-intensive periods, so they benefit from flexible, temporary reinforcement within their finance departments. Temporary finance professionals, such as accountants and financial controllers, not only help companies meet deadlines, but also contribute to the continuity and accuracy of their financial processes."

Agile hiring

"Agile hiring and strong investment in personal development will be essential to attract and keep top finance talent in 2025," says Marie. " The agile hiring approach is about adapting the hiring process continuously rather than sticking to a rigid, one-size-fits-all method. This way, companies can make their hiring process faster and more efficient while creating a better experience for candidates. This includes using data to understand trends in what candidates want, helping companies shape their hiring strategies to match.

While agile hiring promotes collaboration between departments—bringing in insights from teams like HR, the hiring department, and even marketing—companies must balance this with the need for a fast-paced process, as today’s candidates expect quick, responsive hiring experiences.”

This adaptable approach allows companies to quickly adjust to market changes, whether by updating job descriptions to meet candidate expectations or trying new recruitment methods to reach more people.

Influence of AI

The impact of AI on the accounting and finance job market is expected to be significant in 2025. While AI has the potential to automate many routine tasks and processes, it is unlikely to completely replace human accountants and finance professionals. Instead, AI will augment their roles and reshape the nature of their work. 

AI technologies can automate repetitive and manual tasks such as data entry, data analysis, and transaction processing. “This automation will lead to increased efficiency and accuracy, allowing professionals to focus on more complex and strategic activities. As a result, strong analytical and strategic skills will become top requirements when hiring accountants and finance professionals,” says Marie.

Short tenures in finance roles

In Belgium, finance professionals stay in their roles for an average of 1.9 years, creating a dynamic yet challenging landscape for employers. This relatively high turnover places constant pressure on businesses to fill critical positions. “In a market where qualified talent is scarce, responding swiftly to candidate expectations - such as offering flexible work options and clear growth paths will be essential to recruiting and onboarding skilled professionals as roles become available”, Marie concludes.

To benchmark salaries, use Robert Walters' free digital salary survey tool.