Hiring in Accounting and Finance: Guide and Trends in 2026

Growing number of quality candidates in Vietnam’s Commerce Finance talent pool

In 2025, Vietnamese employers raised the bar for their Commerce Finance functions. They made fewer hires, but expected more from each candidate, selecting those that were strategic and tech-savvy.

The talent pool worked doubly hard to reach these high hopes. Many professionals were actively engaged in upskilling, gaining competencies in data analytics, automation and business partnering to stay competitive in the labour market.

On top of candidates learning new skills, the market also saw an influx of quality candidates returning from abroad. 

As the local market matures and the cost of living gap narrows, more Vietnamese finance leaders have returned from regional hubs in Singapore, Japan, Thailand and Europe. This reverse migration is enriching the local senior talent pool with global experience and perspective.

These trends are expected to prevail in 2026, alongside a growing focus on AI integration, compliance and regulatory excellence.

Read on to find out more about the labour market and hiring trends for Vietnam’s Commerce Finance professionals in 2026.

Employers expect more from professionals

In 2026, industry professionals will need to showcase the tangible contributions they can deliver in a role. Employers are now less convinced by traditional credentials alone when hiring. Instead, they look more for proven capabilities in areas like data literacy, automation proficiency and leadership agility. They also want professionals who can toggle between various job scopes, performing well across strategic analysis, digital transformation and operational execution.

Expectations have also grown for country finance heads. Traditionally, these leaders are valued for their corporate finance expertise, which rests on strong understanding of accounting, tax and regulatory knowledge. Now, they also need to bring keen business acumen to provide more strategic support to the organisation’s general manager. 

Top roles and skills in demand

The finance function has evolved, and professionals are now expected to go beyond number crunching to collaborate with other business units and provide strategic, data-driven insight.

Business partnering, communication and data storytelling skills now sit among the top of soft skills that employers are looking for. Deepening integration of technologies like AI make critical thinking, change management and agility extremely valuable as professionals now need to validate AI output and lead transformation projects. As always, regulatory awareness is also key as it is essential for governance and compliance amidst evolving accounting standards, tax reforms and regulatory frameworks in Vietnam.

In 2026, the roles that will see high demand in the hiring market are financial planning and analysis (FP&A) director, finance business partner director, corporate finance manager and regional finance controller.

Strengthening careers against AI

Jobs that predominantly involve repetitive or simple tasks face the biggest threat from automation and AI. Within Commerce Finance, this includes transactional accounting roles – like accounts payable and accounts receivable, data entry, general ledger processing – and basic consolidation and reporting positions with limited analytical input.

“Getting ahead of AI will mean moving up the value chain, and becoming an expert at what the technology cannot offer,” states Linh. Instead of routine reporting, professionals can stand out by focusing on business partnering, performance analysis and strategic advisory.

Now that digital technology has become more embedded in work flows, candidates should learn how to use tools such as Power BI, SQL and Python for finance applications. This tech fluency should be paired with strong interpretation skills, as businesses increasingly rely on the finance function to translate data into business insight. 

Finally, professionals are advised to deepen their expertise. Areas like tax, internal control and regulatory compliance are fine options to consider as they are less prone to automation.

Keep talent looking ahead

The waves of restructuring across industries have unsettled industry professionals. Many are now more cautious about switching jobs, and would rather have job stability and clear career progression instead of short-term gains in compensation.

Given these concerns, companies that offer a strong platform for their employees to grow stand a better chance at attracting and retaining talent. Linh recommends beginning from defining progression pathways, as candidates may be unsure of how they can grow their careers now that finance teams are leaner. They will also appreciate opportunities to pick up new digital and analytical skills, so companies should look to invest in upskilling to future-proof their finance teams.

Clear reporting structures are also essential now that there is more cross-border collaboration. Therefore, Linh advises laying out detailed reporting lines at the regional and group management level.

Salary growth dependent on role

Job seekers eligible for in-demand specialist roles in areas like FP&A, finance business partnering, credit control and tax, may see increments between 10 – 25%, especially if they have secured a role with a multinational company or fast-scaling organisation.

Pay will remain competitive for bilingual professionals with overseas work experience. Candidates may also find more companies offering sign-on bonuses as they vie for top talent. 

On the other hand, salary growth is expected to be modest or flat for routine accounting roles due to automation and abundant junior-level talent.

Find out more 

Request access to our 2026 Salary Survey to benchmark salaries and to find out more about key hiring trends in Vietnam.