Hays Senior Finance Reveals Rise in Demand for Finance Chiefs in Greater London

LONDON, February 1, 2011 - Hays Senior Finance has revealed that finance professionals in Greater
London are enjoying a rise in demand for their business management skills and
commercial know-how, according to research from the leading recruiting
expert. Two-thirds 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 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.

Paul Thomas, regional director of Hays Senior Finance in London, said,
"Companies of all sizes, from blue-chip multinationals to small and medium
enterprises (SMEs), have been lifting headcount freezes to ease the burden of
existing finance teams. Employers are also making more use of interim
appointments, with some companies paying interim chief financial officers
(CFOs) up to GBP1,200 a day."

In London, chief financial officers (CFOs) and group finance directors in
large corporate organisations can expect to earn GBP200,000-GBP500,000, with
many employers paying more to fill their most senior finance jobs
(www.hays.co.uk/enhance-your-career/senior-finance-qualified-jobs/index.htm)
than they typically did prior to the economic downturn. Competition
has already intensified to the extent that senior finance professionals
routinely receive more than one job offer.

Thomas continued: "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.

"Accountants played key roles for most organisations during the
recession. They implemented painful but necessary cost-saving drives, and
identified areas of business with the greatest revenue-earning potential.
Today, as companies look to safeguard rising revenues and find new markets in
a fragile economic climate, those same senior finance professionals are now
helping them plot and steer a path to sustained growth and financial
strength."

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 interior design jobs (
www.hays.co.uk/enhance-your-career/architecture-jobs/interior-design-jobs/index.htm)
and construction jobs, (
www.hays.co.uk/enhance-your-career/construction-jobs/index.htm)
amongst others, in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary
assignments.

(Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste
this hyperlink 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