The Big Four accountancy firms are by far the largest recruiters of cyber security experts in the UK, with KPMG and PwC way out in the lead
In fact, one out of every 17 new recruits to KPMG is for a cyber security role (5.95% of job postings), research from Indeed, the world’s largest job site. The equivalent figures for PwC are one in 20.
EY and Deloitte follow with 1.99% and 1.47% respectively. Vodafone comes in fifth place with 1.46%.
Most of the top 20 cyber security recruiters are from the financial sector and include the likes of Barclays, Aviva and JP Morgan Chase. Only one retailer – Sainsbury’s – make it on to the list.
As the incidence of cyber security breaches increases, so the battle to recruit cyber employees is hotting up. Indeed reports that there was a hike in cyber postings per million vacancies in 2018 of 14.58%.
This is all good news for cyber security specialists who are seeing pay grow strongly, especially if they work for the top five. The Big Four plus Vodafone pay a combined average of £45,851 a year compared to the national average of £27,600.
Commenting on the findings, Indeed’s UK managing director Bill Richards said, Every aspect of a modern company relies on its IT, and the growing threat of cyber attack and tightening of privacy laws means demand is rising fast for professionals who are able to protect companies’ most precious information.
“By definition, accountancy firms need to store lots of sensitive financial information, and they therefore require robust cyber defences. Nevertheless it’s striking that the ‘Big Four’ dominate all four top spots in our league table of the UK’s most prolific cyber hires.
“Another telling observation is how the list comprises entirely of private sector companies as the corporate world builds digital defence lines.”
He added that cyber security was proving to be “both a hot topic and a lucrative profession” at the moment.
Sourced from ICAEW