Firms in the City of London are preparing to battle it out for staff needed to fill a growing number of roles that have emerged as a result of impending financial regulation, with many expected to fork out large salaries to secure the top talent.

Recruitment consultants Robert Half UK has found that there is now a high demand for qualified accounting and audit and compliance professionals among London's financial firms, as they strive to ensure regulatory controls are in place to meet the requirements of new legislation, including Basel III, affecting their industry.