# Adding value to your organisation by attracting top Gen Z finance professionals Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2020-12-30 Category: FINANCE Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/finance Meta Title: Attracting Top Talent Amidst COVID-19 Challenges Meta Description: Explore the challenges and strategies for attracting top finance talent amidst the pandemic. Learn how to adapt to the expectations of Generation Z and URL: https://financedigest.com/adding-value-to-your-organisation-by-attracting-top-gen-z-finance-professionalshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/wm2a7879-1534-scaled-1736838657553-compressed.jpg) _By **Hannah Wright,** Director, Sage People_ From a financial perspective COVID-19 has indisputably flung many businesses off course – particularly in terms of hiring new talent. Though, among the gloom, challenging times like these highlight the importance of attracting and retaining top talent. With the full effects of the coronavirus [pandemic still to be understood from a business](https://www.financedigest.com/tripling-the-size-of-my-business-in-the-pandemic-the-mistakes-made-and-lessons-learned.html "Tripling the Size of my Business in the Pandemic — The Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned") perspective, strategies to rebuild and promote resilience are in motion. Valuable [finance orientated talent that has been raised alongside the rise of today’s most innovative](https://www.financedigest.com/innovations-in-finance.html "Innovations in finance") technology, known as digital natives, can offer the skills needed to drive businesses forward. In an age where we rely heavily on technology it is shocking that [59% of employers lack workers with soft digital skills, such as project management, and 51% are experiencing a shortage of hard digital skills](https://www.capgemini.com/resources/digital-talent-gap/), for instance AI integration and application. However, grasping their attention can be challenging. To fully comprehend what Generation Z and some of the latest graduates, those born between the 1990s and 2010s, want from a workplace, businesses must consider the modernisation of their [finance function](https://www.financedigest.com/easing-the-burden-of-data-overwhelm-in-finance-functions.html "Easing the burden of data overwhelm in finance functions") and company infrastructure. **Promoting a flexible working model** Despite many people currently looking for work, attracting the [top Gen Z talent](https://www.financedigest.com/techie-turn-offs-top-7-things-that-put-talent-off-applying-for-tech-roles.html "Techie turn-offs: Top 7 things that put talent off applying for tech roles") still has its challenges. In the accountancy sector, [84% of professionals believe younger generations have progressive expectations, attitudes and talents](https://www.sage.com/en-gb/accountants/practice-of-now/) that will need to be nurtured in order to attract them. An important part of this is making sure those attitudes are already reflected in the business. Today’s bright new graduates [value support from their place of work and strong career development programmes](https://www.financedigest.com/financial-companies-delivering-better-value-for-customers-in-loyalty-programmes-compared-to-other-sectors.html "Financial companies delivering better value for customers in loyalty programmes compared to other sectors"). Even though times are tough, it’s important for [businesses to show young employees that they are invested in their future to make them feel valued](https://www.financedigest.com/three-ways-data-unlocks-business-value-for-financial-organisations.html "Three Ways Data Unlocks Business Value for Financial Organisations "). The initiative should be taken by [finance teams](https://www.financedigest.com/finance-teams-using-ai-outperform-peers-as-demand-for-skills-grows.html "Finance Teams Using AI Outperform Peers as Demand for Skills Grows") and particularly the CFO. For example, from day one, a personalised training programme could be set up to develop their core skills and interests. ![Hannah Wright](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/hannah-wright-sage-1-scaled-e1609317180343-1736838657363-compressed.jpg) Hannah Wright However, young employees are also entering the workforce during an unprecedented time, where the basics of work have been turned on their head. Even as COVID measures wax and wane, ‘Generation Remote’ will expect a more flexible working environment, with the ability to [work changeable hours](https://www.financedigest.com/madrid-street-sweepers-death-prompts-curbs-on-heatwave-working-hours.html "Madrid street-sweeper’s death prompts curbs on heatwave working hours") and from the safety and convenience of their homes. They’ll expect a supportive [working environment that puts an emphasis on mental wellbeing and allows them to ‘switch off’ at the end of the day](https://www.financedigest.com/no-more-five-working-days-how-getting-paid-immediately-can-transform-black-friday-for-merchants.html "No more ‘five working days’ – how getting paid immediately can transform Black Friday for merchants"). Despite the pandemic, not all [businesses have culturally made the move to a more flexible working model](https://www.financedigest.com/apis-open-banking-and-new-business-models.html "APIs, Open Banking and New Business Models"). While it may be difficult, [finance leaders](https://www.financedigest.com/now-is-the-time-for-finance-leaders-to-take-on-a-more-strategic-and-valuable-role.html "Now is the time for finance leaders to take on a more strategic and valuable role") should reconsider whether the traditional nine-to-five, desk-bound culture is still serving the business successfully. If not, they may be depriving themselves of valuable talent and could look to adopt a more flexible approach. For [businesses wanting to attract](https://www.financedigest.com/california-attractions-smart-entrepreneurs-use-to-attract-business.html "California Attractions Smart Entrepreneurs Use to Attract Business") the best talent, flexible working conditions are no longer a nice to have, they are an essential feature on every employee contract. **Building a tech-savvy environment** Though, Generation Z expect more than a people centric culture and a flexible [working environment](https://www.financedigest.com/the-benefits-of-creating-a-great-working-environment.html "The Benefits of Creating a Great Working Environment"). [Innovative technology](https://www.financedigest.com/cloud-professional-services-market-to-be-driven-by-technological-innovation-tmr.html "Cloud Professional Services Market to be Driven by Technological Innovation | TMR") that supports and empowers employees in their roles is equally critical. The widespread use of old, disparate systems not only stifles agility and innovation – it can scare away young talent. Many [businesses still struggle with outdated technology](https://www.financedigest.com/being-nimble-and-responsive-in-banking-and-business-has-arrived-thanks-to-accounting-automation-technologies.html "Being Nimble and Responsive in Banking and Business Has Arrived, Thanks to Accounting Automation Technologies"), divided into disconnected data silos. These can be daunting and counterproductive for new-starters, who have [developed their skills on new consumer-grade platforms and technologies](https://www.financedigest.com/nano-one-awarded-10-million-from-sustainable-development-technology-canada.html "Nano One Awarded million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada") in their personal lives. Training new workers how to use old systems is costly and hardly an attractive prospect for someone just starting their career. Fortunately, by creating an integrated, efficient and modern tech-savvy environment, [businesses offer](https://www.financedigest.com/any-business-can-now-offer-their-customers-financial-services-how-embedded-finance-is-reinventing-the-wheel-when-it-comes-to-banking.html "Any business can now offer their customers financial services: How embedded finance is reinventing the wheel when it comes to banking") young workers a welcoming hand and the tools they need to perform at their best. Cloud-based [technology provides](https://www.financedigest.com/is-your-technology-provider-holding-you-back.html "Is your technology provider holding you back?") access to the latest tools, meaning young workers don’t need to struggle with outdated technology. Instead they can access systems whenever and wherever they want, something vital for today’s [remote work](https://www.financedigest.com/helping-employees-recover-from-remote-workings-mental-health-implications.html "Helping employees recover from remote working’s mental health implications") world. In this way, the introduction of new technology has a [cyclical effect on innovation](https://www.financedigest.com/cyclic-innovation-to-drive-the-inferior-vena-cava-filters-market.html "Cyclic innovation to drive the Inferior Vena Cava Filters Market"). New [technology attracts new talent](https://www.financedigest.com/talent-acquisition-staffing-technology-and-services-market-to-reach-usd-196-1-bn-by-2028-comprehensive-research-report-by-fmi.html "Talent Acquisition & Staffing Technology and Services Market to reach USD 196.1 Bn by 2028 – Comprehensive Research Report by FMI"), which in turn brings more fresh ideas, perspectives and capabilities to a business. This is especially true of artificial intelligence: [40% of Gen Zers use AI in their working lives compared to only 28% of Baby Boomers](https://www.oneadvanced.com/trends-report/digital-natives-report-2019-2020/). Introducing young finance professionals to an organisation can help [businesses keep](https://www.financedigest.com/how-business-leaders-can-adapt-or-replace-covid-related-perks-to-the-post-pandemic-world-while-keeping-employees-on-side.html "How business leaders can adapt or replace Covid related perks to the post-pandemic world while keeping employees on-side") up with the latest tools and platforms that are appealing to their generation. With this comes the rise of the ‘intelligent organisation’ – one able to leverage [technology to understand and make optimal decisions based on data insights](https://www.financedigest.com/nutragenomics-market-overview-forthcoming-technologies-future-trends-latest-insights-by-share-outlook-till-2022-2029.html "Nutragenomics Market Overview, Forthcoming Technologies, Future Trends, Latest Insights By Share, Outlook Till 2022-2029"). This provides a detailed look into the [current state of a business](https://www.financedigest.com/global-sulfate-free-body-wash-market-business-opportunities-current-trends-growth-market-forecast-global-industry-analysis-by-2029.html "Global Sulfate Free Body Wash Market: Business Opportunities, Current Trends, Growth, Market Forecast & Global Industry Analysis By 2029"), giving employees an insight into organisational health. While giving the business insight into areas of success and avenues for development, using [data to transparently communicate important information to employees will build trust](https://www.financedigest.com/how-financial-services-can-secure-data-and-build-trust-in-todays-modern-environment.html "How financial services can secure data and build trust in today’s modern environment") and can make employees feel valued. This is key in a time where our environment is unstable, and the pace is constantly changing. Generation Z is a crucial [part of the workforce when it comes to implementing technology](https://www.financedigest.com/automotive-exterior-trim-parts-market-size-industry-report-analysis-growth-future-trends-top-manufacturers-and-technology-toyota-boshoku-corporation-plastic-omnium-cie-automotive.html "Automotive Exterior Trim Parts Market Size, Industry Report Analysis, Growth, Future Trends, Top Manufacturers And Technology| TOYOTA BOSHOKU CORPORATION, Plastic Omnium, CIE Automotive"), maximising innovation and digitising workflows to reduce admin tasks. Evaluating finance processes to attract and retain top talent not only adds value to the organisation, it also helps [businesses to meet client needs](https://www.financedigest.com/do-small-businesses-need-branding.html "Do small businesses need branding?") and keep up with the pace of today. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---