This week's news of professional moves in the sector includes a tax partner appointment at Crowe, KPMG appoints an international tax director in its London office, ex-KPMG partner joins Ayming

Although there was a 26% increase in the number of accountants seeking jobs last month, there was a 7% drop in the number of vacancies with the amount of accounting jobs available decreasing 33% year-on-year, according to research from Morgan McKinley

Career news this week includes RSM appoints a restructuring director in Bury St Edmonds, a partner joins UHY Hacker Young’s turnaround and recovery team, BDO promotes 900 staff across the firm

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) has resulted in accounting firms prioritising human skills over technical knowledge when recruiting candidates, according to research from Reed Finance

Blick Rothenberg, part of Cogital Group, is expanding with the acquisition of accounting firm Hazlems Fenton LLP, which primarily deals with entrepreneurial and owner-managed businesses

At least 180,000 people that work for Living Wage employers across the country are set for a pay rise as the new Living Wage rates see an above inflationary increase

The head of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) Stephen Haddrill is to leave the audit regulator as soon as a replacement is found

The Best Employers for Race - 2018 report, carried out by charity Business in the Community, has shown that the UK’s Big Four are among the UK’s best employers for taking a pro-active approach to address racial inequalities in their organisations

In the latest career development updates, PwC revenues increase by 5% to hit £3.8bn, partner payouts increase 17% at BDO, former HMRC chief joins McKinsey as external adviser

EY achieved UK fee income growth of 2.7% in the financial year ending 30 June 2018, up from £2.35bn to £2.41bn with a five year compound annual growth rate of 7%, the firm has reported

Research shows that companies whose top executives have a background as partners or managers in audit firms are at greater risk of reporting financial misstatements, and external auditors should beware of the potential for those with accounting expertise to subvert as well as enhance reporting

As banks face new legislations, there has been a significant rise in technical and specialist accounting roles, especially in areas such as IFRS 9 and 15, explain Thomas Garbett, team leader, and James Polley, senior consultant at Morgan McKinley

Career news this week includes a partner promotion and global leader for quality and risk appointment at RSM, Saffrey Champness promotes a partner to head of the firm’s international practice group, eight partner and 29 director promotions at KPMG

PwC has launched a platform to help individuals of Chinese heritage reach the top of UK business, with founding partner Standard Chartered, saying the aim is to address an underrepresentation of individuals of Chinese heritage in senior leadership roles