Before You Hire for 2027: Which Skills Will Your Team Actually Need?

Hiring is picking up and skilled talent is harder to find. Get clear on the skills before you write the job description.

74% of finance and accounting leaders plan to add permanent staff in the second half of 2026

63% expect to bring in more contract talent

61% say skilled professionals are harder to find than a year ago

Many companies are setting their 2027 budgets right now. The easy move is to refill the roles you have always had. The smarter move is to ask what the work will actually require next year, and hire for that.

Start with the work, not the title

Before you post a role, answer three questions:

• What will this team need to deliver in 2027? New reporting, a system upgrade, faster close, growth into a new market?
• What is changing? Tasks that are being automated free up time, but they also raise the bar for analysis and judgment.
• Where are the bottlenecks today? The pain points your team feels now usually point to the skills you are missing.

The skills we see employers asking for

• Forecasting and analysis that helps leaders make decisions, not just close the books.
• Systems and data fluency, including ERP platforms and reporting tools, as more companies upgrade their financial systems.
• Controls and compliance that keep reporting accurate as processes change.
• Clear communication, the ability to explain the numbers to people outside finance.
• Adaptability with AI and automation, plus the judgment to check the output.

Build, buy, or borrow

Once you know the skills, decide how to get them. Build by developing people you already have. Buy by hiring a permanent team member for long-term needs. Borrow by bringing in contract talent for projects with an end date, such as a system conversion, audit preparation, or year-end close.

FTG INSIGHT

A job description built from last year’s org chart will attract last year’s candidate. Define the skills first, and the right title usually follows.

PARTNER WITH FTG

Planning your 2027 team?

We help hiring leaders define the skills that matter, choose the right hiring model, and connect with qualified finance and accounting talent.

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