Northern Ireland’s finance hiring market in 2026 is competitive, candidate-led and increasingly specialised.
While demand remains steady across most qualified finance roles, several positions have become significantly harder to fill due to a combination of skills shortages, commercial expectations and regional talent constraints.
Here’s what we’re seeing at HireIQ.
Why they’re difficult:
Finance transformation is no longer a “nice to have”. Mid-sized businesses across Belfast and wider NI are investing in:
The problem? Northern Ireland historically had fewer transformation-heavy roles compared to larger UK markets.
That means:
Many of these professionals are currently secure, well-paid and selective about their next move.
Hiring timeline expectation: 8-12 weeks.
Belfast’s financial services sector continues to grow, increasing demand for:
Professional bodies such as Chartered Accountants Ireland have highlighted the evolving governance and regulatory landscape across the profession, and we’re seeing that reflected directly in hiring activity across NI.
The difficulty lies in the niche skillset:
These candidates are often passive and heavily retained through counteroffers.
The modern Finance Manager is no longer purely reporting-focused.
Business want:
In Northern Ireland, the pipeline narrows significantly at 5-8 years post-qualified experience.
Newly qualified accountants move into industry successfully. But by the time they reach mid-level seniority, retention improves, and mobility reduces.
This creates a genuine bottleneck in the NI market,
(For current salary benchmarks, see our 2026 Northern Ireland Salary Guide.)
Arguably, the most competitive role in 2026.
These professionals sit between:
Employers want
But many SMEs in NI are still benchmarking salaries against 2023 levels.
Current market expectations in Belfast:
£50k-£65k depending on sector and complexity.
If flexibility and progression aren’t clear, candidates simply won’t engage.
There are structural reasons behind this.
Once candidates reach £60k, movement becomes relationship-led rather than job-board-led.
That’s where strategic hiring matters.
If you’re hiring for one of these roles, expect:
Speed and clarity are critical.
Delayed second interviews, unclear reporting lines or vague pathways are costing employers top talent.
If you’re currently hiring for one of these roles, you can register your vacancy here.
If you’re in one of these specialist areas, the 2026 market offers:
Particularly in:
If you’re considering your next move, upload your CV here, and we’ll provide market insight tailored to your level.
Northern Ireland remains a strong finance market, but specialist skills, commercial acumen and systems exposure are now separating average candidates from high-demand professionals.
And the businesses that adapt fastest will hire the best.