After two years of tight cost control and cautious hiring, accounting and finance recruitment across Africa is moving into a more constructive – if still selective – phase. The outlook for 2026 is not one of blanket expansion, but of targeted growth, with employers increasingly focused on finance professionals who can support transformation, compliance and resilience in uncertain operating environments.
South Africa remains a bellwether for the continent’s white-collar market, and it is here that early signs of renewed confidence are most visible.
Employers in South Africa are prioritising quality over volume
Strategy over scale
‘The outlook for 2026 is cautiously optimistic,’ says Michael Ellett, manager for commerce and industry at Robert Walters South Africa. ‘Hiring is expected to pick up from the cost-control environment of 2024 and 2025, but companies will remain selective.’
That selectivity shapes the market. Routine transactional roles continue to face pressure from automation and outsourcing, while demand is consolidating around roles that deliver insight, control and strategic value.
Macroeconomic conditions are helping. ‘Lower inflation and easier monetary conditions are improving confidence, particularly following the central bank’s rate cut to 6.75% in late 2025,’ Ellett says. ‘More stable electricity supply is also having a positive impact – operational risk has reduced, especially for manufacturing, shared services and data-heavy organisations.’
Despite these positives, economic growth remains modest and unemployment high, he adds, reinforcing why employers are prioritising quality over volume in their hiring decisions.
‘In 2026, hiring will feel more strategic than last year’
‘Hiring in 2026 will feel more strategic than last year,’ Ellett says, with the strongest demand being for financial controllers, FP&A and commercial finance professionals, tax and transfer pricing specialists, internal audit, treasury, compliance and finance transformation roles. ESG and sustainability reporting skills are also becoming more valuable as reporting expectations tighten.
Salary growth reflects demand. Robert Walters data suggests increases of around 4%–6% at junior level, rising to 6%–9% for mid-level professionals, and uplifts of 7%–12% or more for senior specialists and leaders whose skills are scarce.
Growth and volatility
Nigeria and Ghana continue to present a mix of opportunity and complexity.
Nigeria’s accounting and finance labour market is being shaped by currency reform, inflation management and regulatory change, alongside continued IFRS implementation and heightened regulatory scrutiny.
Demand remains strong for financial controllers, tax specialists, internal audit and risk professionals, particularly in banking, fintech, FMCG and telecoms. IMF and World Bank assessments point to services-led growth as a key driver of white-collar employment, even as inflation and FX volatility continue to weigh on real wages.
Demand in Ghana is for strong compliance experience
In Ghana, IMF-backed fiscal consolidation and public financial management reforms are supporting demand for finance professionals with strong compliance, reporting and controls experience. Hiring is also being driven by donor-funded projects, infrastructure development and energy sector restructuring, with employers favouring candidates who can operate in highly regulated and resource-constrained environments.
Salary growth across both Nigeria and Ghana remains uneven. While headline increases are constrained by inflation and currency pressures, candidates with scarce skills – particularly in IFRS, tax, treasury and systems – continue to command premiums, often supported by additional benefits or allowances.
Nearshoring
In North Africa, recruitment trends are increasingly influenced by industrial policy, trade integration and nearshoring strategies. In Egypt, for example, ongoing economic reform, high inflation and currency adjustment have increased demand for finance professionals with treasury, cashflow management and restructuring experience.
Regulatory compliance, indirect tax and financial controls remain key hiring priorities, particularly among large corporates, banks and state-linked enterprises. Employers are cautious, but skilled finance leaders remain in demand as organisations navigate volatility.
Kenya finance hub
Kenya continues to stand out as a regional hub for financial services, technology and professional services. According to the World Bank and African Development Bank, services-led growth in the country remains resilient, supporting demand for finance professionals across banking, fintech, telecoms and infrastructure.
Salary in Kenya is competitive for exposure to regulated environments
Hiring in 2026 is expected to focus on financial controllers, FP&A professionals, risk and compliance specialists, and systems-literate accountants who can support ERP upgrades and digital finance initiatives. ESG and sustainability reporting skills are also gaining traction, driven by investor expectations and increased regional focus on climate-related disclosures.
Salary growth in Kenya is moderate but competitive for professionals with international reporting experience, strong systems skills and exposure to regulated environments.
Tech skills
Across all regions, technology remains the defining skills driver. ‘Skills linked to modern finance technology will carry the most weight in 2026,’ Ellett says. ERP platforms, Power BI, automation and data analytics are now baseline expectations, while adaptability and commercial awareness increasingly differentiate candidates.
For Africa’s accounting and finance professionals, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of opportunity for those who can combine technical depth with flexibility and insight. Growth may be selective, but for the right skills, demand remains resilient across the continent.
