I’ve worked in accountancy and finance recruitment for 21 years, and with the advancement of technology the landscape has changed drastically over that time. It’s fair to say that the job market is flooded with candidates. It’s so easy now to apply for roles online - whether direct with a business or via a recruiter - and as each month passes there are more and more CVs ‘out there’ on the CV databases and job boards. Businesses and agencies can be inundated with applications.

A shortage of talent is becoming a key concern with the financial services sector, with half (49%) of senior leaders citing finding skilled candidates as the biggest worry over the next 12 months, according to new research.

Other worries included tightened regulatory controls (cited by 42% of respondents), implementing new business processes (35%), market instability, bank recapitalisation, and training existing employees (all 32%).

Around 80% of first time home-buyers in Scotland are set to pay no tax on their purchase following the introduction of a new relief on 30 June, the Scottish government has said. 

The land and buildings transaction tax (LBTT) first time buyer relief sees the zero-rated LBTT threshold raised from £145,000 to £175,000 for first-time buyers. 

China's economy grew at an annual pace of 6.7% in the three months to June, official data showed, meeting forecasts for the period.

That marked a slight slowdown from a 6.8% expansion recorded in the previous quarter. The data comes as the government attempts to curb growing debt and as trade tensions with the US escalate.