Accounting and finance recruitment across Asia Pacific is set to remain active in 2026, but with a sharper focus on value, capability and impact. Employers are still hiring, yet recruitment strategies are becoming more selective as organisations prioritise finance professionals who can support transformation, manage regulatory complexity and deliver commercial insight. Transactional work continues to be automated or centralised, while demand grows for roles closer to strategy and decision-making.
Across much of Asia Pacific, recruiters describe a market that is resilient rather than buoyant. Growth is slower than in 2025, but skills shortages persist, particularly for mid to senior professionals who combine technical expertise with digital capability and strong business partnering skills.
Relevance will be defined by the ability to translate numbers into action
Strategic finance
One of the defining trends for 2026 in the region is the continued shift away from traditional, process-driven finance roles towards more strategic positions. Recruiters consistently point to rising demand for FP&A, finance business partners, controllers, transformation specialists and ESG-focused roles.
In Hong Kong SAR of China, robust capital markets, policy enhancements for offshore yuan, and accelerating digital transformation will drive growth, explains Lorraine Shan at Hays Hong Kong. ‘However, challenges such as high operating costs and shortages of specialist talent persist. Demand will be strongest in technology and transformation functions, spanning both emerging and traditional sectors, including tech/media/telecoms, real estate and retail.’
In Malaysia, this shift is closely linked to business expansion and the need to modernise finance functions. ‘There is strong interest in hiring candidates who bring best-practice finance experience and are motivated to take on the challenge of improving and transforming finance functions,’ says Melvin Yong at Robert Walters Malaysia.
Manufacturing, infrastructure and tech continue to underpin demand, while Malaysia’s role as a regional business services hub is sustaining appetite for experienced professionals.
There is a similar recalibration in Thailand. ‘Businesses are still hiring, yet they’re prioritising roles that contribute directly to commercial performance, governance strength and ongoing transformation initiatives,’ says Kanruthai Somchitrmool at Robert Walters Thailand. Transactional positions are being streamlined, while CFOs, FDs and FP&A specialists remain in demand.
Finance transformation and regulatory change drive demand in Singapore
In Singapore, this evolution is particularly pronounced due to regulatory change and large-scale transformation programmes. ‘Ongoing finance transformation, SAP S/4Hana cloud migrations and regulatory change are driving demand across FP&A, controllership, treasury, tax and internal audit,’ says Andrew Brushfield at Robert Half. He adds that competition is especially intense for mid-level professionals who can combine technical foundations with commercial and data-driven insight.
Modest raises
Salary growth across Asia Pacific is expected to be moderate rather than dramatic. In Australia and New Zealand, junior salaries are forecast to rise broadly in line with inflation, while mid-level and senior professionals in areas such as FP&A, technical accounting, ESG and treasury continue to command premiums.
Meanwhile there are strong uplifts at senior levels in Vietnam, and in Malaysia and Thailand the most meaningful salary movement is at mid-level, where professionals must balance technical depth with leadership and commercial responsibility.
Salary expectations continue to rise for versatile talent in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong SAR, salary expectations continue to rise for versatile talent. ‘The strongest upward pressure is coming from mid-level and transformation-focused professionals whose roles have expanded beyond traditional job descriptions,’ says Timothy Cheng at Robert Walters Hong Kong.
The Chinese mainland presents a more conservative hiring environment. ‘Most senior finance professionals from foreign enterprises are taking a prudent stance in job hunting, where the stability of the role and the hiring company’s business ranks first among their considerations,’ says Sophia Zhang at Robert Walters.
From Robert Half’s perspective, demand in the Chinese mainland remains firm for the right profiles, such as FP&A leaders, auditors and risk specialists, as governance and real-time decision support become priorities. ‘We expect steady to strong demand as organisations continue to elevate finance into a strategic function,’ Brushfield says.
Sector focus
Indonesia’s outlook reflects the same blend of resilience and selectivity. ‘Accounting and finance hiring in Indonesia is expected to remain resilient in 2026, but the focus is shifting further towards strategic and data-driven roles,’ says Aureen Na at Robert Walters Indonesia. Sectors tied to manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure and mining are generating demand for FP&A, cost control and project finance skills.
Demand is also rebalancing in South Korea. ‘Companies are increasingly adopting shared service centres, resulting in declining demand for routine accounting roles such as accounts payable and accounts receivable,’ says MiLim Cho at Robert Walters Korea. She adds that demand remains strong for FP&A, tax, treasury and investor relations roles.
Retail, construction and traditional manufacturing remain weaker in several markets. ‘Cost pressures leading to cautious spending and selective hiring’ will remain a key headwind in 2026, according to Stuart Martin at Hays Australia and New Zealand.
Digital and analytical capability is now a baseline expectation
Star skills
Across Asia Pacific, technical accounting knowledge remains essential, but digital and analytical capability is also now a baseline expectation for many mid-level and senior roles. Proficiency in BI tools, ERP systems, automation platforms and data visualisation is repeatedly cited as a differentiator.
In the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong SAR, the convergence of finance and business skills is particularly pronounced, with employers seeking ‘finance professionals who can act as transformation partners, leverage data and support digital change’, according to Cheng. Zhang says that the ability to balance commercial objectives with compliance remains critical, especially for senior leaders navigating M&A, IPO readiness and global financial management.
Human skills are also rising in importance. Recruiters emphasise communication, adaptability and judgment, with finance teams expected to influence decisions rather than simply report outcomes. Relevance in 2026 will be defined by the ability to translate numbers into action.
Cross-border mobility
Regional hubs in Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia and increasingly Vietnam are drawing talent from across Asia and beyond. Employers are more open to regional hiring as cloud systems, shared services and hybrid working reduce the importance of physical location. For finance professionals, this creates opportunities to build genuinely regional careers.
Taken together, the outlook for accounting and finance recruitment in Asia Pacific is one of cautious confidence. Finance professionals who combine strong technical foundations with digital capability, regulatory awareness and commercial insight will thrive best in what is now a more selective, strategically focused market.
