In another sign that the torrid couple of years for junior accountants in Ireland is beginning to subside, banks are recruiting Big Four escapees.

Let’s not forget that it was only last year that hundreds of newly-qualified accountants were released by Big Four firms in Ireland as firms were forced to cut their cloth.

Since then there have been few opportunities for those without a decent amount of experience under their belt, and (as we pointed out previously), many juniors were forced to leave Ireland to pursue other opportunities.

However, now they’re finding work in unlikely places – Irish banks.

“ACA qualified professionals from the Big Four accountancy firms are in high demand in the financial services sector,” says Andrea Clarkson, manager – financial services at recruiters. Premier. “With Irish banks focusing on internal controls and regulations – internal audit, compliance and regulatory accountants are much sought after, as they are in the UK.”

Financial services firms in Ireland are recruiting teams of accountants at all levels for these regulatory projects suggests Ken Harbourne, director of recruiters Wallace Myers International, and are also beginning to hire for more generic financial accounting positions.

“18 months ago, if a firm had asked me to find a Big Four qualified audit manager I would have had hundreds available to them,” he adds. “Now, they’re being snapped up.”

The Big Four themselves are also adding to their ranks. As well as the 200 roles announced at Deloitte (in technology consulting and at a graduate level), the likes of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton and BDO are all currently hiring, according to recruitment sources.