Individuals in accountancy jobs in the UK are increasingly seeking new positions as a result of poor career development at their firms.

This is the claim made in a new study that suggests such individuals should be provided with greater support to ensure they remain in their current positions.

According to the research by CareersinAudit.com, managers in the field are "burying their heads in the sand" when it comes to nurturing members of staff and could lose valuable employees as a result.

Of those accountants polled, 40 per cent were found to be searching for a new job, 18 per cent planned to do so within six months and an additional 13 per cent within six months to a year, with widespread discontent regarding career development and encouragement.

The report indicates many such finance workers within both accountancy firms and in-house departments are now looking overseas for roles and director of the website Max Williamson advised: "Nearly half the respondents of this year's research said a pay rise, promotion and better benefits could make them stay."

In related news, a recent survey by Reed.co.uk discovered that almost half of engineering graduates in the UK would select a different course if they had the choice again, with health and medicine students feeling their qualifications are most useful for the workplace.

Posted by Alex Donnell