Hungry for a new challenge? Looking for a role in a cutting edge industry? We asked a number of established recruiters for their views on emerging Finance roles and the growth areas in today's Financial and Accountancy job market. Here's what they told us:

Trevor Dimmock, Regional Director - East Midlands, sf group

Emerging roles and growth sectors are often localised. Very often it comes down to company relocations that determine the growth areas of a local market place. For example, a recent group merger can create demand for high numbers of Financial and Analysis people.

I also think there is a trend towards value-added Finance roles where the challenge is for Finance staff to come out and be part of the business as opposed to simply "being an Auditor". There are more and more roles where clients want their Finance team to engage with the business as a whole and have a higher profile.

Mark Woolford, UK Head of Finance Recruitment, Jonathan Wren

Property Finance is a rapidly growing area at the moment and Sarbanes-Oxley skills are still sought after for both permanent and contract roles. We are seeing a change in requirements in particular locations where a number of businesses are creating UK or European Shared Service Centres. This has meant that Transaction Services, particularly in the Financial Services industry have had an affect on the local workforce.

Andrew Barnes, Senior Consultant, FSS Financial

The consensus from the Financial Services industry is that Sarbanes-Oxley candidates will move into other lucrative contract roles such as Basel II, IFRS, Operational Risk and Business Analysis/Project Management. The implementation of the European Commission's Market in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFiD) over the next five years will create additional demand for skilled Contractors. In this age of candidate shortages, there is definitely life after Sarbanes-Oxley.

Originally quoted in City AM 29th March 2006

David Chancellor, Managing Director - Commerce & Industry, Robert Walters

When an economy picks up, growth will always occur in areas like Business Analysis. For anyone trying to grow a business, Business Analysts will always be in demand. Another area of demand is for Auditors. Growth areas include Hedge Funds, the Derivatives market. The Oil and Gas sector has been very busy and Investment Banks continue to hire people. With regard to emerging roles, the demand for Sarbanes-Oxley and IFRS has lessened now that most companies are compliant.

If you're looking to land a Finance Director role, exemplary accounting ability will be expected. We asked several national and regional Financial recruiters to identify the essential abilities required for a candidate to be a success in Senior Finance.

Mark Woolford, UK Head of Finance Recruitment, Jonathan Wren

Gaining a professional qualification is only the first stage in progressing your career. Candidates need to prove that they can "think outside the box" and add value to an organisation. They will obviously need to be good communicators, ambitious, and able to show cost awareness and a willingness to learn. For senior roles there is more of an expectation that the number crunching skills are in place already as the candidate will have significant experience. The client will be more interested in what a candidate can bring to the company as a person.

Stuart Endacott, Managing Consultant - FSS Financial

A lot of people are now taking the MBA qualification. The MBA is becoming more and more recognised and it's a great way of progressing, showing your commitment and demonstrating a higher level of understanding. In Senior FC and FD roles, candidates are moving into much broader Management roles. They'll have additional responsibility in areas like PR and Human Resources. To be successful, they must be able to demonstrate a range of skills including management ability, business strategy and a commercial outlook.

David Chancellor, Managing Director - Commerce & Industry, Robert Walters

The jump from mid to senior level will always be about the ability to communicate - both verbally and through the written word - and the ability to manage staff. At senior level, you will always have a team beneath you - the ability to manage them is key. The more senior you become the more people will take your technical skills as an Accountant as a given. The softer skills are the ones I'd advise a candidate to concentrate on.

Trevor Dimmock, Regional Director - East Midlands, sf group

For someone making the leap from FC to FD, it is absolutely key for the candidate to have the necessary gravitas. When they walk into the room for the first time, they've got to be able to communicate effectively, play their part in a cross-functional team and have the interpersonal and commercial acumen to operate outside of Finance and work well as part of a Management team. They must be commercially aware and have credibility and influence at all levels in a business.