Market Momentum in Finance and Accounting Recruitment: Q3 Wins and What to Expect in Q4

Q3 Recap: Confidence Returns to the Market

Q3 brought a welcome lift in hiring activity across the Finance and Accounting sectors. After a cautious start to the year, the slight reduction in interest rates played a key role in shifting sentiment. Businesses began to feel more confident about medium-term stability, which led to more decisive hiring behaviours and fewer delays in job briefs and approvals.
 
We saw consultants across the board experience one of their strongest quarters in recent memory. Temporary staffing saw particular growth as organisations looked for flexibility and speed, while permanent hiring regained traction in sectors like professional services, government, and infrastructure. There was a noticeable shift from “wait and see” to “let’s move now,” driven by greater clarity around inflation and business planning.
 
Candidate confidence also improved, with more professionals open to making career moves. This meant better quality shortlists, faster placements, and more positive outcomes for both clients and job seekers.
 

Q4 Outlook: A Short but Strategic Quarter

Q4, however, presents a different rhythm. April typically slows with school holidays, Easter, Anzac Day, and in 2025, the added complexity of a federal election. These factors can delay decision-making as teams pause for public holidays and political uncertainty.
 
That said, May and June are expected to be very active months, with end of financial year (EOFY) looming, many departments and businesses will be racing to finalise hires, onboard new team members, or complete project staffing before budgets reset. This creates a condensed but intense window of opportunity.
 
Our advice to clients is to act early. If you're planning to make hires before EOFY, now is the time to brief your recruitment partners and start shortlisting. Delaying until late May could mean missing out on the best talent or facing capacity constraints.