Interim Manager / Consultant Market place and Rates

My final update prior to Christmas on UK market rates.BITE’s updates have now covered IT & Telecoms,Banking and Finance, Accountancy and Interim Professionals-The sectors we concentrate on and are availble to collect significant data and info for.

The London Market place has a varied demand for different interim managers and consultants to act as specialists for specific projects, to replace long term absentees or to work in a management consultancy capacity. Roles arise in Large enterprises, small to medium sized companies and demand exist in both the private and public sector. Requirements often arise where there is a need for organisational change or rapid development.

Current roles and rates in common professional fields are: 

ROLE                                          RATE / RENUMERATION 

Accounting, Finance and IT interim managers – see the specialist sector page.

Project Management / Change management

Interim project manager             £350- 450 per day

Interim program manager           £550- 600 per day

Service Delivery Management    

Service Delivery manager          £350-400 per day

 Procurement and Logistics

Interim procurement manager   £350-400 per day

H.R. / Reward and re-numeration

Policy review consultant             £180 per day

Reward consultant                     £250 per day

Interim H.R. Adviser                  £250 per day

Interim recruitment Consultant   £200 per day plus commission

Marketing and Communications 

Interim Sales and Marketing Director £550 per day

Interim head of corporate sales          £400 per day plus commission

General Management /Department Head

Operational management Consultant oil and Gas £300 per day

Engineering

Interim civil engineer rail projects   £250-300 per day

Building Surveyor                         £200-250 per day

Interim Manager / Consultant Opportunities and Qualifications

Management consultancy is “The service provided to business, public and other undertakings by an independent person…in identifying and investigating problems concerned with policy, organisation, procedures and methods, recommending appropriate action and helping to implement those recommended.” This may be provided through a management consultancy company or often through independent freelance professionals working directly with their client.

Management consultants may advise on: organisational structure and development; production management; marketing, sales and distribution; personnel management and selection; systems analysis and design, and economic and environmental studies.

Interim Managers  are “ Experts in their specialist field who can provide  managerial services to organisations in the Large enterprise private sector, to SME’s, in the public sector (where the need to manage change has never been greater) and the not for profit sector.

It is not easy to get into this field as you need established specialist skills highlighted as part of your “personal brand” which you can offer to client organisations. You will need a strong academic background; good numeracy, analytical and communication skills, confidence, determination and a strong interest in business. Above all you need sound proven commercial experience demonstrating both specialist and general management or consulting skills. Normally a professional qualification in your field is needed with evidence of being both a team player and that of adopting a flexible approach to your work and working practices.

Employment opportunities 

include specialist consultancy firms, management consultancy divisions of chartered accountancy firms (see above) and IT consultancies such as Logica and Accenture. However many opportunities exist working directly with organisations, small or large, private or public, as an Independent Freelance Interim manager or Interim Consultant.

Generally the most common professional fields are:

Accounting, Finance and IT interim managers – BITE’s specialist area of professional engagement.

Project Management / Change management – where a specific project or task needs completing.

Service Delivery Management – where a defined Customer relationship management experience (CRM) needs defining and delivering.

Procurement and Logistics – Describes the purchasing, supply and distribution industry both internationally and within the UK. This involves all aspects of the supply chain from raw materials to the end product.

H.R. / Reward and re-numeration – Organisations need HR/Personnel professionals for one off projects for recruitment, reward, re-numeration and contractual employment  packages.

Marketing and Communications – Requirements range from brands management, department company marketing, market research, to advertising and P.R.  Also needed are specialist in the retail and sales industry.

General Management /Department Head – Interim roles are regularly needed where outsiders can step in and meet an immediate organisational management need.

Engineering – Design engineers with CAD skills, civil engineers, mechanical engineers and surveyors are all needed in the Building, Transport, Aerospace and Oil and Gas industries for their specialist skills.

Administrative and Organisational – A wide range of requirements exist from medical and legal administrators, Senior PA’s, Project co-ordinators and skilled technical administration specialists.

Public sector- Never has the need with public sector cuts been greater for Interim Managers / Consultants to work in this sector to help manage the change that is needed. This includes Central government, government advisory bodies, Local government and the N.H.S. and associated services. Pressure on head count will mean the right freelancers will desperately be needed.

Continuing this weeks theme i’m adding to the Accounting and IT rates published with our small but significant poll on Telco rates.Opportunities always exist for IT people in the industry as the two sectors blurr.. together those that do best however have specific Telco industry experience and can command rates in the top quartile. (Banking and finance rates to follow).

Telecommunications Market Place and Rates

The UK Market place has a healthy demand for flexible candidates with the right skills and attitude towards contract work. Most Telco contract roles are very similar to roles in the general IT market and it is often difficult to differentiate them. There are however a range of roles similar to IT roles but Telco specific.

Again starting  in the contract market does offer opportunities for rate rises as the market improves whereas permanent work is less likely to provide flexibility and rate improvements.

Current rates are illustrated below:

ROLE                                                                                          CONTRACT RATE

Telecoms Consultant                                                                    £375-400 per day

Installation Engineer                                                                     £130-160 per day

Telecoms Engineer                                                                       £260-300 per day

Telecoms Business Analyst                                                          £388-400 per day

Telecoms Developer                                                                     £375-400 per day

Telecoms Software Developer                                                      £375-410 per day

Telecoms Planner                                                                         £375-400 per day

Telecoms Project Manager                                                           £388-450 per day

ERP  Implementer Telco CRM                                                      £230-300 per day

eTom  SKILLS                                                                               £375-400 per day

UMTS (Universal mobile Telecommunications system                  £295-375 per day

Source BITE contract stats Dec.2010

With the contract market looking  so positive i thought i would add to yesterdays blog on Accountancy rates by including our experience of IT market rates.Everyone averages them and they can be very average as a result so with our smaller but significant sample size based on BITE Stats people may find these figures helpful.

The UK IT Contracting Market Place

Contracting in the UK is unique and on the increase in the because of the recession. More contracts less perm opportunities.

Only the “best”contract in the UK. If you’ve got the skills you should be earning the better rates. Contract jobs on average pay 30% more then their equivalent permanent jobs. With the right CV and the right approach to the UK market you can be part of the “Crem del la crème” – as a professional UK contractor.

Market Info

Current Contracting Market Size

50% of the job market is contracting! Its normally around 30%, but due to the current economic environment there are more contract jobs available in place of permanent jobs.

Average Earnings of a Contractor

30% higher rates then the equivalent permanent positions

Most sought after IT contractors

Finding Contracts and jobs

From Agencies

Most contractors will find their contracting positions through a recruitment agency. There are 1000′s of agencies in the UK . Some specialise in only IT contracts and others are more general, covering all sectors of employment. Agencies are not only for contractors, most agencies will have jobs for: permanent, contract, temporary and part-time employment. The contracting market in the UK makes up 50% of the total IT job market, substantially more then in most other countries. The agency will put you in touch with the client but to get paid you need to have a limited company – either an Umbrella Company or your own limited company of your own. Is the agency you are going through credit worthy? If they cannot pay you how will you recover your earnings?

Market share

No recruitment agency or software house in the UK has more then 3% market share. It’s therefore important to work with several agencies. The size of the recruitment agency is not important, often a smaller one will work in a specialised sector within IT and will have clients that other agencies do not. But with so many agencies its vital to ensure they are credit checked before contracting with them. If working through BITE, we’ll gaurantee you are paid even if the agency is late or unable to pay.

From clients directly

Not all contract jobs are advertised through agencies, although the majority are. In some cases the company will advertise positions themselves and will employ you directly. You will still need to have a limited company (Umbrella Company or your own limited company) to operate through, the client cannot pay you directly, if they are then its not contracting

Well the IT market is doing well.The Accountancy and Finance market has also picked up and i enclose some information on current rates  for those that would find it interesting.I,ve also sourced a range of information on accountancy opportunities to help people understand how their skills might or might not fit into the UK market place.This is particularly relevant if you are thinking about coming to the UK or not.

Accountancy and Finance Market Place and Rates

The London Market place has a healthy demand for flexible candidates with the right skills and attitude towards contract work. The Large enterprise environment within the private sector is the most lucrative but candidates can do well in the less popular area of SME’s where there may be less competition for vacancies.

Getting started in the contract market does offer opportunities for rate rises as the market improves whereas permanent work is less likely to provide flexibility and rate improvements.

Current rates are illustrated below:

ROLE                                          PERMANENT SALARY                              CONTRACT RATE

Clerical (purchase ledger, sales ledger and credit controllers          £9.00-16 per hour

Part Qualified

Foundation  Stage                   £24-28K                                                      £13-15 per hour

Intermediate Stage                 £28-35K                                                      £15-18 per hour

Professional stage                   £35-40K                                                      £19-22per hour

Passed Finalist                         £40-45k                                                      £25+ per hour

Newly qualified 1-2 PQE

Financial Accountant             £40-45K                                                      £22+per hour

Credit Analyst                         £45-48K                                                      £23-25 per hour

Systems Accountant              £45-50K                                                     £23-28 per hour

Risk Analyst                            £45-48K                                                      £25-50 per hour

Internal Audit                         £45-55K                                                      £25-30 per hour

Management accountant   £45k+                                                           £28+ per hour

Product controller               £50-55K                                                        £28-35 per hour

Financial Controller            £55-65K                                                        £35-40 per hour

Accountancy and Finance Opportunities and Qualifications

Accountancy is a career which offers a graduate environment, variety, people contact, a professional qualification, high salaries and opportunities to work internationally. (Who said accountancy was boring?). Many accountants use their qualification to move into general management or to set up their own business

Accountants work in all areas of business, plus the public and voluntary sector. Many work in firms of chartered or certified accountants (this is referred to as working in “private practice” or, confusingly, as “public practice”). Others are employed by banks, manufacturing companies, local authorities, charities, publishers, film companies, hospital trusts, insurance companies, universities – you name it!

With clients as part of an audit team and reviewing their business operations and financial records to establish the validity of the company’s accounts. Auditing gives you a chance to visit 10 or 20 companies a year, examine their finances and strategies and and ask questions about the way they work. You see what makes some profitable, some fail, some good places to work and others bad: after 3 years training you have a unique insight into what makes a business successful.

Other work includes tax consultancy, business advice and insolvency work. This gives a broad insight into many different businesses and areas of business, which is why many accountants choose to qualify in private practice before moving into industry and other areas. If you train in private practice you will qualify with one of the chartered accountancy institutes or with the Association of Chartered Certifed Accountants (ACCA)

Accountants in industry and commerce use their financial expertise to inform management decision-making, to advise other departments within their organisation and to maximise its profitability and effectiveness. In the public sector they perform a similar role but with the emphasis on ensuring value for money.

There are several different professional bodies which regulate the training and work of accountants in the UK (see below) but, as a general rule, qualifying as an accountant will involve three years of study, exams and relevant employment. Training for professional exams is provided by employers. Early responsibility and fast promotion is available if your work and exam results are satisfactory

Professional Accountancy Bodies and Qualifications

Employers in accountancy place great value on professional qualifications either with candidates who have achieved them or who are demonstrating their willingness to study and achieve them.

Qualifications can be grouped into 2 categories:

Specialists:

Specialist areas of expertise include non chartered financial accountants, accounting technicians, bookkeepers, taxation, practioners and payroll professionals. The majority of students study 3 courses offered by the following professional bodies.

• Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
• Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT)
• Institute OF Credit Managers (ICM)
• Institute of Payroll Professionals(IPP)
• Institute of Financial Accountants(IFA)
• International Association of bookkeepers (IAB)
• Association of International Accountants (AIA)

Achieving specialist status allows people to look at job roles in four principle catergories:

Taxation experts – who advise clients on tax matters and assess tax liabilities

Financial and accounting technicians – who work alongside accountants and other financial professionals in managing the financial affairs of an organisation

Financial accountants who are not chartered

Accounts, wages and other financial professionals and bookkeepers

Chartered:

Chartered and International equivalent

Chartered Accountancy

• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) includes training vacancies www.icaew.com/careers
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland www.icas.org.uk you can obtain a Scottish qualification with employers throughout the UK
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland www.icai.ie covers the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

Certified Accountancy

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) www.acca.co.uk includes the ACCA Graduate Guide and jobs database

Management Accountancy

• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) www.cimaglobal.com includes “Directory of Opportunities”

Public Finance Accountancy

• The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy www.cipfa.org.uk/eandtincludes training vacancies; an ‘Ask the Tutor’ service and an interactive map of the colleges that teach CIPFA

Tax Work

• Chartered Institute of Taxation www.tax.org.uk the ATII examination provides an alternative, or an additional, qualification to accountancy for tax specialists
• TaxWorking www.TaxWorking.org job opportunities in the tax profession

Achieving Chartered Status allows people to look at job roles in two separate categories:

Financial managers and Chartered Secretaries – who plan and organise, direct and co-ordinate financial information and advise on company financial policy. While Chartered Secretaries organise the work associated with meetings of directors and shareholders

Chartered, certified and management accountants – who provide accounting and auditing services, advise clients on financial matters and collect and analyse financial information to perform other accounting duties required by management to plan and control an organisations income and expenditure.

Accountancy Training in the Public Sector

• National Audit Office www.nao.org.uk train as a chartered accountant with the independent “financial watchdog” monitoring government spending.
• NHS Financial Management Training Scheme www.futureleaders.nhs.uk  Leads to a choice of professional qualifications – CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA or  ICAEW
• London Treasurers Local Government finance graduate schemewww.financethefuture.com/home.asp

Contract and Interim opportunities exist across the industry for candidates with good Numerical skills, communication skills and a flexible approach to the work place.