Job openings adding up in accounting, finance

MENLO PARK
June 14, 2006 8:02am

More accounting and finance jobs are expected to be filled in the third quarter, especially in California and other Pacific states, according to a quarterly survey of chief financial officers by Robert Half International.

The Menlo Park-based company says 7 percent of CFOs polled plan to bring in full-time employees and 3 percent anticipate reductions in personnel. The net 4 percent increase is up three points from the second-quarter forecast.

Forty-three percent of CFOs who expect to add to their accounting and finance teams said business growth is the primary factor driving the demand; 24 percent of respondents attributed the need for more staff to rising workloads.

"Companies are expanding and moving forward with new projects," says Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. "As a result, firms are seeking accounting personnel -- in particular, staff and senior accountants -- to support growth initiatives."

Hiring is projected to be the strongest in the Pacific states and West South Central states, according to the survey. A net 7 percent of CFOs in each of these regions expect to add accounting and finance staff in the coming quarter.

"As hiring picks up in the Pacific states, there is a premium on experienced accounting and finance personnel," said Messmer. "For many financial executives, corporate governance compliance is driving the need for additional employees. Demand is especially high for individuals who possess U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission-reporting experience.

The national poll includes responses from more than 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 20 or more employees. It was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI), a staffing services firm specializing in accounting, finance and information technology. Robert Half International has been tracking financial hiring activity in the United States since 1992.