Accountants are far more concerned over the health of the jobs market than HR departments, according to accountancy recruiter Marks Sattin.

On a scale of 10 (very optimistic) to -10 (very pessimistic) with 0 representing indifference, accountants scored -6.0, compared with HR professionals who scored 2.4.

Dave Way, managing director of Marks Sattin says: “Accountants are far less confident about the future than those who are in charge of recruiting them. This is for a number of reasons.

“First, accountants have been bruised by a punishing recession. The credit crisis hit banks and decimated the M&A activity on which accountancy and finance workers thrive.  

“Since 2007, accountants’ salaries have dropped 2.2% while national headcount has fallen 6.8%. While some departments have seen rapid increases in remuneration and hiring, the industry as a whole still has some way to go to make up the lost ground since the bubble burst.”