What Employers Seek
Positions in Demand
Long-Term Implications of the Recession
Public Accounting Outlook
Banking and Financial Services Trends
Regional Trends

A tight focus on cost control continues to shape the hiring landscape in accounting and finance. Given the uncertainty about when business conditions will improve, companies remain cautious about adding staff. At the same time, firms recognize that carefully chosen accounting and finance professionals are critical to their efforts to navigate the current economic climate.

Organizations need professionals who can develop and implement financial strategies in sync with today's market conditions. In particular, this entails the ability to identify cost-savings opportunities, adapt to a changing business environment and pursue a path to greater profitability. Prudent yet forward-looking companies are judiciously adding staff when they identify a specific need and addressing workload fluctuations with flexible staffing strategies.

Following are key trends affecting the employment environment:

• Targeted searches: While many firms have adopted a wait-and-see approach to hiring, others are finding they can no longer hold off filling essential financial positions. Organizations are looking for individuals who meet all of their hiring requirements and are willing to invest more time to find just the right person.
• Talent upgrades: Some companies are taking advantage of the larger pool of experienced candidates available and hiring to bring in a broader array of skill sets and expertise. This strategy leaves them better positioned for when business conditions improve.
• Lingering competition: Skills shortages persist in some specialties. Even in the midst of the economic downturn, roughly one-third of U.S. finance and human resource managers surveyed for the Robert Half Global Financial Employment Monitor reported difficulty finding skilled accounting and finance applicants.
• Salary slowdown: Budget limitations have forced managers to moderate job offers. Growth in base compensation for most accounting and finance positions is relatively flat, according to the Salary Guide from Robert Half.