Workloads Driving Accounting Hires

June 14, 2007

Accounting financial executives expect to continue hiring accounting and finance professionals in the third quarter, according to the Robert Half Financial Hiring Index, although at a more moderate rate than during the second quarter.

Twelve per cent of CFOs surveyed anticipate adding employees and eight per cent forecast personnel cutbacks; 78 per cent of those polled foresee no change in staff levels. Respondents cited rising workloads as the primary driver of hiring. The poll includes responses from more than 270 CFOs from a stratified random sample of Canadian companies with 20 or more employees.

"Companies are hiring more strategically and placing an increased emphasis on hiring candidates with solid technical backgrounds and exemplary communication skills," said David King, executive vice-president with Robert Half International.