We've long written that interpersonal skills are vital to both getting hired and being a strong performer in one's job. But a recent survey suggests that for finance department job-seekers at least, the importance hiring managers attach to people skills has soared in the past five years. Thirty-one percent of U.S. chief financial officers polled by Accountemps said they'd use "personality or people skills" as a tie-breaker between similarly qualified candidates.... Read more

A law signed by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week will make it easier for CPAs in the state to serve a wider range of clients. Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 819, which will align California's education standards for accountants with those used by all but one other state. As a result, starting in 2014, CPA candidates in California must complete 150 hours of undergraduate coursework, including 48 hours of business... Read more

Evidence is mounting that more corporate financial executives plan to resume hiring in coming quarters than to cut headcounts still further. A survey of 846 U.S. CFOs and senior comptrollers by Grant Thornton LLP finds 24 percent expect their company to increase staff in the next six months, 22 percent expect declines and 54 percent look for no change. While hardly indicative of a hiring rebound, that steady-as-she-goes outlook nevertheless represent... Read more

Economic confidence among corporate CFOs rebounded last quarter to a point where they're gearing up to spend more on staffing and capital investment, a new survey indicates. The third-quarter "CFO Outlook Survey" conducted by Financial Executives International (FEI) and Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business shows many of the 262 executives surveyed during early September held a heightened sense of confidence toward the U.S. economy and their own companies. "Over the next... Read more

As the final quarter of 2009 looms, a Massachusetts-based recruiting firm put out a to-do list for finance and accounting professionals who want – or need – to move into a better job next year. Following are eight items from that 10-point list issued by Winter, Wyman, the largest staffing firm in New England. - Be on permanent alert for external and internal forces that might threaten your present job. Or in... Read more

Chief financial officers think their accounting staffers will be spending more time than ever on strategy and IT projects five years from now, according to a survey from Robert Half Management Resources. On average, the CFOs expect accountants will spend 40 percent of their time working on issues beyond the traditional accounting functions five years from now. The average time spent on those tasks now? An estimated 36 percent. The survey of... Read more

Even if it's been years since you graduated, it's always fun to find out how your alma mater did in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges 2010" ranking. For accounting, this year's top-ranked undergraduate schools are: 1. University of Texas-Austin 2. University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign 3. Brigham Young University-Provo 4. University of Pennsylvania 5. University of Southern California 6. Indiana University-Bloomington 7. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 8. University of Notre Dame 9. New York University 10. University of North Carolina-Chapel... Read more

The nation's Top 100 accounting firms posted 7.13 percent revenue growth this year, but had flat net income growth, according to Inside Public Accounting's Top 100 Accounting Firms 2009 report. The results posted by firms with fiscal year-ends falling in mid-2009 reflect the economic downturn, says Michael Platt, consultant and publisher of IPA. "In fact, average net income growth for firms with a 2008 year-end was 7 percent, while net income... Read more

Chief financial officers’ compensation is influenced by both the complexity of the job and the CFO’s performance, according to a study by Steve Balsam, professor of accounting at the Fox School of Business at Temple University. CFO salaries increase with the intricacy of a firm’s operating, investing and financing activities, he says. Bonuses correlate with a CFO’s ability to deal with analysts and meet earnings forecasts, particularly when they do so... Read more

The biggest headaches facing chief financial officers of alternative investment firms are regulations, transparency, complexity, investor timidity and efficiency, according to a new survey from New York-based TKS Solutions, which produces accounting software solutions. If you aspire to moving up, tackle even one of these challenges and you’ll set yourself up for the next rung. After all, anyone with a headache automatically loves the co-worker who’s got a bottle of aspirin... Read more

Accounting firms are beginning to tweet in force, using Twitter to reach job seekers and educate junior employees, making them aware of job development groups and activities. They believe that in the near future Twitter will begin to play more of role in recruiting at other levels, too. Among the early converts, Ernst & Young started a Twitter initiative last month while KPMG plans to launch a program in August. The... Read more

Chinese economic expansion is sparking demand for various finance professionals for work within the U.S., says private equity consultant Song Jin. As privately owned Chinese firms move to invest in U.S. businesses and raise capital here, they'll need experienced U.S.-based investment bankers, lawyers, accountants and investor relations professionals, among others. That incipient trend, a by-product of the U.S. financial crisis and recession, marks the flip side of Western bankers' longstanding... Read more

Reshaping financial oversight in line with the White House plan released Wednesday would likely create still more jobs within the Federal Reserve and its 12 district banks, and within a proposed new federal agency that would seek to protect consumers in their dealings with financial institutions. The Securities and Exchange Commission might need more heads to implement proposed new authority over hedge funds and other private investment vehicles, while the SEC... Read more

Is Bank of America's turnover of top talent a reflection of its chief executive's leadership skill, or simply par for a course that's included two major acquisitions during a financial crisis? The Charlotte Observer notes BofA has lost 52 of its top 100 execs since 2005, the most recent being Chief Risk Officer Amy Brinkley. That's a turnover rate of about 13 percent a year. "The level of leadership turnover we've... Read more

Ten months ago, Ron Durkin and his son-in-law, Dan Dehner, saw an opportunity. The result, Durkin Forensic, has succeeded beyond expectation. The San Diego-based firm has already recouped Durkin’s $500,000 in seed money and is well into the black. To be sure, Durkin Forensic had the advantages of Ron Durkin's deep pockets. It also benefited from the former FBI agent's longstanding reputation in forensic accounting, which combines accounting and investigative... Read more

Companies are reluctant to hire new accounting and finance professionals, but only a scant 8 percent plan third-quarter layoffs, according to the Robert Half International Financial Hiring Index. Five percent of the 1,400 chief financial officers surveyed by RHI expect to hire full-time employees during the third quarter. The majority, 85 percent, plan to stick with their current staffing levels. Despite the survey’s lukewarm results, CFOs say they continue to have a... Read more

Even as the finance industry writhes amid recession and restructuring, some jobless professionals are having trouble adjusting their expectations to the new reality. A column in Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer details the saga of one Byron Wilson, a former investment advisor, insurance company vice president and Big Four CPA. In 2007, Wilson left a steady job to build his own investment advisory business at Smith Barney, leaving little time to build a... Read more

As we enter the recession's 18th month, some staffing companies have begun urging clients to develop HR and recruiting plans to use as the economy begins clawing its way back . Because knowing what recruiters recommend can help give job-seekers an edge, we noticed a press release from Robert Half Management Resources, which included Executive Director Paul McDonald's suggestion companies analyze their business to make sure they’re recovery-ready. Here’s his... Read more

The Technology Council of Southern California has formed a new trade group for financial executives in the technology industry. The Financial Executives Society will offer networking and continuing education to tech industry chief financial officers, controllers and business executives. Programming will include round table discussions, guest speaker events and educational workshops covering topics such as tax, finance, accounting and more. "Placing an increased emphasis on peer-to-peer connections provides an excellent opportunity for... Read more

Whether you're looking to get promoted, are worried about losing your job, or are currently in transition, here's one thing you should do if you haven't already: get out there and connect with the local chapter of a professional association. Professional associations offer the chance to network with peers in the industry as well as stay on top of trends in your field. And if you don't have a job, they... Read more