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 business analysts?
The answer is a resounding 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, 58 per cent of finance hiring managers plan to increase permanent headcount in the second half of 2026, with 47 per cent planning to increase contract or temporary hiring for the same timespan.
However, finding the candidates with the skills needed to execute these priority projects is becoming increasingly difficult.
Skills shortages on teams are having an impact on finance and accounting job market trends across Canada. As AI and automation put pressure on teams to increase efficiency and productivity, organizations are facing gaps in the skills required to deliver reliable financial outputs and improve core finance processes.
Profitability and cost optimization, talent development, and planning and forecasting are several key areas hit by this talent discrepancy, making it harder for finance and accounting teams to execute priority projects.
Top initiatives affected:
1. AI and automation technologies implementation
2. Profitability and cost optimization
3. Building team capabilities and talent pipelines
4. Building enhanced business and data analytics capabilities
5. Business process improvement
6. Data accessibility, completeness and security
To avoid project roadblocks, leaders are expanding their permanent teams while also leveraging contract talent to boost their capabilities and fill skills gaps. They’re on the lookout for capabilities in areas like AI, data and technical accounting.
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 complement AI include:
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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Learn what jobs are in demand
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Explore our latest Demand for Skilled Talent Report to see what skills and roles companies need most.
Hiring plans for finance and accounting managers
Hiring managers in finance and accounting in Canada have indicated their hiring plans for the second half of 2026:
58 per cent are planning to increase hiring 47 per cent are planning to increase contract hiring53 per cent say hiring skilled talent is more difficult today compared to one year ago
Impact of skills shortages
Critical, ongoing skills shortages have made it harder for finance and accounting teams to execute priority projects. This is prompting delays, and some initiatives are being put on hold as leaders address these shortfalls.
59 per cent of finance and accounting leaders say skills shortages have led to project delays in the past year. 52 per cent report projects have been cancelled.
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 improvementData and business analytics Data cleansing and visualization
For the complete list of skills and insights, read the full Demand for Skilled Talent Report by Robert Half.
Learn what jobs are in demand
Access report
Explore our latest Demand for Skilled Talent Report to see what skills and roles companies need most.
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 second half of 2026, 47 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—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.
