As just under half of the businesses believe digital transformation will have the biggest impact on their company over the next 12 months, one of the most in demand positions for 2020 is an HR advisor.
This is according to Robert Half, who in their 2020 Salary Guide found that 49 per cent of companies hold the opinion that digital transformation will have the biggest impact on their business during 2020.
As well as 71 per cent saying they are struggling to find candidates with the right digital capabilities. The ‘war for talent’ is set to continue through 2020.
The top 10 positions sought after in 2020 are:
1) Payments Manager (£40,000 – £69,000)
“With consumer payment habits shifting, companies are required to continually evolve their finance systems. Payments managers who effectively oversee settlements, confirmation, reconciliations and investigations with strong commercial awareness and effective communications skills will be highly sought after in 2020.”
2) Compliance Analyst (£36,000 – £65,000)
“As ongoing regulatory developments look set to become an everyday element of business life, a cultural shift is needed to ensure compliance operates as a core ‘always on’ function of the team. Whether it is navigating the complexities of GDPR or adapting the EU regulations as they are adopted to UK law, compliance will be a key competency going forward.”
3) Infrastructure Architect (£65,000 – £82,000)
“As cloud computing grows in popularity, so too does the need for the accompanying infrastructure to support it. Infrastructure architects with the technical skills needed to design and implement such information systems are hugely in demand as more and more businesses make the transition to the cloud.”
4) Digital Marketing Manager (£42,000 – £68,000)
“Companies focused on improving return on investment are increasingly looking at alternative revenue sources, such as developing an online sales strategy. For some firms, they are aware that without a strategic e-commerce solution they will lose their competitive edge, making the development of one a key priority for many and consequently fuelling the war for talent.”
5) Company Accountant (£31,000 – £52,000)
“Whether a business grows organically or via M&A, company accountants with the right expertise are becoming increasingly invaluable as they perform the accounting tasks for their organisation and provide general financial advice to their managing director, shareholders and managers. What’s more, as some business leaders consider the possibility of restructuring as a result of Brexit, the value of such accountants will only increase as they look to consolidate their accounts.”
6) IT Project Manager (£44,500 – £80,000)
“As IT becomes an increasingly integrated element of business, IT project managers play a pivotal role in supporting wider tech change across companies and are now often viewed as key business partners. IT project managers who can deliver projects on time, within budget and give consideration to the short- and long-term strategic goals of the business with both expert technical knowledge and heightened commercial awareness are finding themselves more attractive across a range of departments.”
7) Assistant Management Accountant (£28,750 – £40,000)
“While many of the most sought-after roles are more senior positions with significant experience behind them, it is also important that firms attract talent early on in their careers. The offer of study packages is an enticement for junior talent and enables companies to coach and develop promising employees in order to nurture and secure later success for the business. Research shows firms who hire talent and provide on-the-job training are rewarded with increased business productivity and employee loyalty.”
8) Application Support Engineer (£29,000 -£49,000)
“Companies are looking for employees with the digital capabilities needed to implement, test and support web-based applications in order to maintain a technological edge over their peers. Like those occupying e-commerce and IT roles, this is another area becoming increasingly integral to forward-looking businesses who understand that such teams should be made up of employees that possess proven soft skills not solely technological expertise.”
9) Procurement Manager (£47,750 – £105,000)
“Responsible for the selection of key business partners and vendors, as well as assessing any potential risks from these relationships, procurement managers seek to reduce, and control company spends. Where businesses find themselves in unfavourable economic positions wanting to protect their bottom line from sales erosion, procurement plays a key role. Diligent procurement managers will be highly sought after throughout 2020 in order to ensure the efficiency of companies.”
10) HR Advisor (£25,000 – £42,000)
“While digital and tech-related skills remain the top priority for many businesses over the coming year, do not underestimate the importance of the right senior HR advisor to oversee the overall success of a company. Charged with ensuring adherence to employment legislation and regulations, defining workplace culture and creating a positive environment for staff, they are key to ensuring employee engagement and improving retention rates. This will be crucial to surviving the on-going talent dilemma.”
Matt Weston, UK managing director at Robert Half, said:
As the UK is propelled into the fourth industrial revolution, businesses are focused on attracting top professionals that can help drive technological advancement and maintain their competitive edge. With the rapid implementation of new technologies, such as automation, AI and machine learning, the skills needed to ensure a company’s digital evolution are in short supply – making the war for talent all the more competitive.
Companies must attract highly-skilled professionals to bolster existing teams, while simultaneously identifying opportunities to upskill existing employees. Evaluating current remuneration packages, as well as offering wider incentives such as training and flexible working practices, are core to attracting the right talent to help secure your business for the future of work.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
- Darius McQuaid
- Darius McQuaid
- Darius McQuaid
- Darius McQuaid
