Hays Senior Finance Announces Demand for Southern Home Counties Finance Chiefs

LONDON, February 2, 2011 - Hays Senior Finance has announced that finance professionals in the
Southern Home Counties are enjoying a rise in demand for their business
management skills and commercial know-how, according to the leading
recruiting expert. Two-thirds (67 per cent) of employers say retention of
qualified accountants will be a key priority in 2011, with four in 10 (40 per
cent) worried they won't be able to hold onto their star players. The
research suggests that they may have good reason to worry, with two-thirds
(67 per cent) of senior finance professionals saying they intend to look for
a new job in the new year.

Rob Anderson, regional director for Hays Senior Finance in the Southern
Home Counties, said: "Companies of all sizes, from blue-chip multinationals
to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), have been lifting headcount freezes
to ease the burden on existing finance teams. Employers are also making more
use of interim appointments, with some companies paying interim chief
financial officers (CFOs) up to GBP880 a day."

In the Southern Home Counties, CFOs and group finance directors in large
corporate organisations can earn GBP200-500,000, with many employers paying
more to fill their most senior vacancies than they typically did prior to the
economic downturn.

Anderson continued: "Competition has already intensified to the extent
that senior finance professionals routinely receive more than one job offer.
Employers are increasingly being trumped by lucrative counter-offers, as CEOs
and board directors attempt to hang onto their finance chiefs. Talented
qualified accountants are increasingly being sought-after for financial
analysis roles, or to help mitigate operational or business risk.

"Telecoms and hi-tech employers are likely to be amongst the most active
recruiters. International finance skill sets will be in demand, as many head
offices based in the Southern Home Counties oversee finance not just for the
UK but also for Europe, Middle East and Africa, or beyond. As the global
recovery continues, senior finance professionals will increasingly be relied
upon to inform cross-border decision-making."

About Hays:

Hays plc (the "Group") is the leading global professional recruiting
group. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and
skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK and Australia and
one of the market leaders in Continental Europe. The Group operates across
the private and public sectors, offering facilities management jobs
(www.hays.co.uk/enhance-your-career/facilities-management-jobs/index.htm),
social housing jobs (
www.hays.co.uk/enhance-your-career/social-housing-jobs/index.htm) and
admin jobs (
www.hays.co.uk/enhance-your-career/office-support-jobs/administration-support-jobs/index.htm),
amongst others, in permanent positions, contract
roles and temporary assignments.

(Due to the length of these URLs, it may be necessary to copy and paste
the hyperlinks into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the
space if one exists.)

As at 30 June 2010, the Group employed 6,845 staff operating from 270
offices in 28 countries across 17 specialisms.

    For further press information please contact:

    Alexandra Tucker
    Hays
    2nd Floor
    Stockley House
    130 Wilton Road
    London
    SW1V 1LQ
    +44(0)20-7259-8821
    www.hays.co.uk

For further press information please contact: Alexandra Tucker, Hays, 2nd Floor, Stockley House, 130 Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LQ, +44(0)20-7259-8821