London's financial vacancies up 19% in March, survey shows

[LONDON] Job vacancies in London's financial-services industry increased by 19 per cent in March as firms sought employees to manage additional compliance and governance demands from regulators, a recruitment survey showed.

Staff vacancies in London's financial district rose to 9,135 in March from 7,695 a month ago, recruitment firm Morgan McKinley said in a statement on Monday.

"We expect this to be the start of a positive trend that will continue through to April and May," Hakan Enver, operations director of Morgan McKinley Financial Services, said in the statement. "This should make the second quarter of 2015 a particularly good environment for those seeking new opportunities." Financial firms in the City have been increasing staff in their compliance departments following probes by UK and other global regulators into the manipulation of benchmark interest rates, the alleged rigging in currency markets and money laundering.

"We continue to see strong demand for those with change management and corporate governance skills," said Mr Enver. "Professionals with the relevant experience and qualifications are in a position to demand a salary premium."

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