2026 Canada Job Market Trends Impacting Finance and Accounting Jobs
2026 Finance and accounting job market trends
Are accounting managers in demand in Canada? What about financial analysts?
Yes. There continues to be a demand for skilled candidates in finance and accounting across Canada to keep business-critical projects moving forward and enable companies to adapt to changing market conditions. According to the latest Robert Half Canada Demand for Skilled Talent Report, 43 per cent of finance hiring managers plan to increase hiring in 2026 – with only 9 per cent of leaders citing they have the necessary headcount and skills already on their teams to accomplish targets this year.
Skills gaps on teams are having an impact on finance and accounting job market trends across Canada. More than half (54 per cent) of finance and accounting leaders surveyed say upskilling current employees is needed to meet their targets for the year. Teams are seeing the most evident skill gaps in the following areas:
Financial planning and analysis (25 per cent)
Technology and automation tolls (23 per cent)
Data analytics (21 per cent)
In addition to technical skills needed in the era of AI in the workplace, employers are also looking for soft skills when it comes to finance and accounting industry hiring. 60 per cent of finance leaders surveyed in the Demand for Skilled Talent Report, say adaptability and continuous learning is the top soft skill to complement AI, with 54 per cent citing critical thinking and problem solving. Other soft skills leaders noted to compliment AI were:
Creativity and innovation (50 per cent)
Communication (33 per cent)
Emotional intelligence (29 per cent)
Explore the full Demand for Skilled Talent report today
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Hiring plans for finance and accounting managers
Hiring managers in finance and accounting in Canada have indicated their hiring plans for the first half of 2026:
43 per cent are planning to increase hiring
39 per cent are planning to increase contract hiring
53 per cent say hiring skilled talent is more difficult today compared to one year ago
Strategic priorities for companies in 2026
During the first half of 2026, finance and accounting leaders in Canada will be primarily focused on the below strategic priorities:
Enhancing financial planning and forecasting capabilities
Driving profitability and cost optimization
Implementing AI and automation technologies
Driving efficiencies through process improvement
Optimizing order-to-cash workflows
Top trending skills for finance and accounting
An analysis of Robert Half research and data found these are some of the most in-demand skills for finance and accounting professionals:
Audit and financial controls
Business process improvement
Data and business analytics
Data cleansing and visualization
For the full list of skills and insights, read the full Demand for Skilled Talent report by Robert Half.
Finance and Accounting job market in Canada: FAQs
1. Are employers increasingly hiring contract and remote/hybrid finance and accounting professionals in 2026?
Yes. In the first half of 2026, 39 per cent of hiring managers in finance and accounting plan to increase contract professionals to help accelerate project delivery and maintain flexibility across their projects. Additionally, with a lower-than-national-average unemployment rate for finance and accounting professionals in Canada, many employers are offering hybrid work options, with 47% providing hybrid arrangements—key for attracting and retaining talent. This trend reflects strategic hiring to address budget constraints, technical debt, and the complexities of digital modernization.
For insights into the latest employment numbers across Canada, including the finance and accounting job market, check out our Labour Market Overview page, which is updated monthly.
2. What strategies should hiring managers use to attract finance and accounting workers in Canada?
To succeed in the evolving Canada job market, hiring managers should consider these best practices:
Offer above-average compensation and hire quickly when you find skilled talent; competition is high and 53 per cent of leaders say it’s challenging to find the talent they need today compared to a year ago.
Lean on contract staffing to cover project-based needs and specialized work, aligning capacity with campaign timelines.
Emphasize flexibility and skills development, as teams scale AI and automation while maintaining brand authenticity and human connection.
3. What are the average salaries for finance and accounting jobs in Canada?
For the latest salaries of finance and roles (like accounting manager, financial analyst, controller, payroll administrator, accountant etc.) across Canada, consult the finance and accounting section of the 2026 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half. You can also use the Salary Calculator to find salaries local to you in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, or other city.
About the Demand for Skilled Talent report
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The Demand for Skilled Talent report by Robert Half is an authoritative source providing essential insights into 2026’s employment trends. This report has offered a deep dive into Canada’s hiring landscape for over a decade, spotlighting challenges and strategies to attract and retain talent in today’s job market. It explores what employees seek in their careers, identifies common recruitment errors and suggests solutions. The report spans sectors like finance and accounting, technology, marketing, legal, administrative and customer support and human resources, proving crucial for business leaders and managers.
Data methodology
The surveys cited were developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm. Results may not total 100% due to rounding or allowing for multiple responses. Respondents included executives, hiring managers and workers from small (10-99 employees), midsize (100-999 employees) and large (1,000+ employees) businesses in private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across Canada.
Positions are categorized into 365+ job titles within Robert Half’s Salary Guide using a proprietary mapping methodology that employs state-of-the-art large language models. This dataset includes roles across the finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support and human resources professions.
