Offshoring of accountants' jobs 'an absurd claim'

News Article - 14 June 2007
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Accounting jobs are unlikely to be offshored completely, a recruitment expert has claimed.

Responding to a prediction by US economist Professor Alan Blinder that up to 40 million jobs in roles such as accountants could be offshored to China and India, recruitment adviser Neil Owen, head of Robert Half's City office, has dismissed the claim as "absurd".

Mr Owen stated that processing positions were most likely to be moved offshore while jobs requiring face-to-face contact would remain onshore, Accountancy magazine reports.

He added that the accountancy sector had advanced in "leaps and bounds", leading to professional finance workers becoming more visible and commercial in management roles.

"Accountants are hired not just on technical skills but on their communication skills, their emotional intelligence and their values," he stated.

Alex Hawkes, writing for Accountancy Age, said that Mr Blinder's predictions failed to take into account that jobs such as being an accountant require much personal contact.

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