Employers across Ontario want to know what finance and admin talent want 2026 from hybrid, office, and remote roles so they can design offers that actually land.
Hybrid, office, or remote work is now a key question for every Finance and Admin hire. In 2026, most professionals still prefer some form of hybrid work, but they also want clear rules and a model they can trust. At the same time, culture and growth still matter, as outlined in How to Build a Workplace Culture Top Candidates Want.
What Finance and Admin Talent Want 2026 from Hybrid, Office, and Remote Work
Most Finance and Admin candidates fit into three simple groups. Some are hybrid‑first and want one to three days in the office for meetings, collaboration, and learning, with the rest at home. Others are office‑first and like a clear routine, face‑to‑face contact, and a clean separation between work and home. A third group is remote‑first and looks for no commute, more flexibility, or access to roles outside their local city.
No matter which group they are in, people want the same basics. They want flexibility that still respects business needs. They want clarity on expectations. And they want trust: they prefer to be judged on the quality of their work, not just on how often they sit at a desk. When those three pieces are missing, even a “good” salary is not enough to keep them.
When you understand what finance and admin talent want 2026, you can set clear expectations, choose the right work model, and reduce early turnover.
How Location Shapes Preferences
Location still changes how Finance and Admin professionals think about work models. In the GTA, long commutes and traffic make hybrid and remote roles very attractive, especially for experienced Finance talent. Many candidates are willing to travel into the office, but not five days a week.
In regions like Kitchener–Waterloo, Halton, and Hamilton, more people are open to office‑first roles—if the setup makes sense. They look for easy access, parking, and days on site that feel useful instead of “just another day on video calls.” Articles like From Office Admin to Executive Assistant: Career Paths in Kitchener–Waterloo and Hamilton show how local candidates think about career paths and what they value in their work environment.
How to Communicate Your Work Model
The biggest red flag for candidates is a vague or shifting work model. In your job posts and interviews, say clearly whether a role is office‑based, hybrid, or remote. For hybrid roles, spell out how many days people come in, which days matter most, and how often the plan changes. You can look at how roles are presented on jobs.elby.ca for examples of clear location and model details.
Also explain what happens on office days. Candidates want to know if they will come in for team meetings, cross‑functional projects, and training, or if they will just do the same work they could do at home. Make sure hybrid and remote team members have the same access to projects, information, and promotions as those in the office. If meetings and tools do not support people who dial in, they notice.
How Elby Can Help You Get It Right
Getting your work model right can help you hire and keep stronger Finance and Admin teams. Elby talks every day with candidates who share what they expect from hybrid, office, and remote roles. You can use that insight to shape your policies, your postings, and your interviews.
If you want to test or refine your current work model, you can partner with Elby through Find Talent. Their team also provides dedicated Accounting & Finance recruitment services across Ontario, so you can hire people whose preferences match how your business actually operates.