18 June 2004
Nearly 75% of finance professionals rate a 'valuable' pension scheme as one of the main benefits of working in the public sector, a survey revealed this week.
The poll of respondents working in 130 finance departments across the public sector found that 'contributing to public life' rated just as highly as a pension. Conducted by Hays Accountancy Personnel Public Sector in association with Public Finance, the survey found that finance staff also ranked 'generous holidays' and flexitime among their main benefits.
Significantly, the survey also depicted a more transient workforce, with 50% of respondents reporting the average length of service in their department as under five years. Just 17% said the average length of service was ten years. Nearly 90% said there had been a distinct move away from the traditional 'job for life' culture in the past three years.
Finance departments also appear more willing to recruit from a range of backgrounds than in previous years, when professionals tended to stick to specific areas such as health or local government. This trend was more pronounced in Whitehall, where 50% of new recruits came from the private sector. Overall, 30% of departments said they recruited from a broad range of sectors.
PFjun2004
