A new report and 2014 Salary Guide by Robert Half shows that the market for experienced accounting and finance professionals has tightened dramatically in many areas with hiring managers often operating under the misperception there is a large, highly qualified candidate pool to draw from.
According to the report, though general unemployment levels remain high, unemployment rates for a number of accounting and finance occupations are below the national average. Degreed financial professionals with specialized skills frequently receive multiple offers and counteroffers.
The report also shows that the average starting salary for a newly hired accounting and finance professional in the United States is forecast to rise 3.4 percent next year. Financial and business systems analysts are in demand. The market for internal auditors and entry-level accountants also has strengthened.
“We’re seeing accounting positions grow here in the Upstate,” said Eddie Payne, Greenville branch manager for Robert Half, “and there’s a demand to keep people in their seats.”
Payne said that there is currently a high demand in the Greenville area for senior accountants and financial analysts. “These are people that can really make a difference in company’s bottom line,” he said. “They can manage costs, manage profits and make strategic decisions.”
Senior positions in the accounting field typically pay around $70,000-$80,000 here in the Upstate, says Payne, with bookkeeping and mid-level positions paying less.
Payne says that temporary and consulting positions are still in high demand but companies are “moving a lot faster in the placement process because the Upstate is doing so well. Otherwise they know they will lose candidates” for permanent roles that need to be filled.
