Who’s hiring in Victoria? Big banks, according to recruiters.

Sadly, the spokeswomen for both Melbourne-based ANZ Bank and National Australia Bank were unwilling to comment on their organisation’s hiring needs for 2008, but recruiters assure us both banks are staffing up in Melbourne during the first quarter of this year.

“We have seen a big increase in demand for business development and relationship management staff due to new sales budgets that have been set, and have continued to see a demand for back office and banking operations staff,” says Tracey Adams, Hays Banking manager in the city.

“The need for financial planners and specialists within the superannuation industry is also still on the up. The market is buoyant and is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.”

According to a Hays report, banking recruitment will continue at a speedy pace in the first quarter of 2008, with demand high for everyone from M&A bankers to credit analysts, business development managers and relationship managers across corporate, commercial, property and finance sectors.

Charles Linton, manager banking and financial services for Robert Walters in Melbourne, says demand for qualified banking and finance personnel is continuing to outstrip supply, but notes there is still considerable uncertainty surrounding financial markets due to the problems associated with the sub-prime crisis in the United States

“Banks' movements will be dictated by the state of markets,” Linton says. “Where the money’s at they will go. They can’t afford to stick their necks out at the moment.”