2024 Finance and Accounting Salaries and Hiring Trends

Companies are experiencing an accountant shortage, causing both financial reporting issues for managers unable to find the requisite expertise and increased workloads that can lead to employee burnout. Public and corporate accounting and finance organizations are trying multiple strategies for attracting, landing and retaining talent.

Meanwhile, financial services firms continue to face regulatory challenges and, as a result, are prioritizing key areas for hiring such as consumer loss mitigation, asset liability management and financial compliance. Other focal points include reconciliation backlogs, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance.

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Hiring Trends in Finance and Accounting

FP&A roles in highest demand

Hiring remains robust in finance and accounting. Unemployment in these fields sits well below the national average, especially for accountants. Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) professionals are in very high demand, as are experts in financial reporting and general accounting. Salaries for these and other hard-to-hire positions continue to climb.

Financial reporting Financial reporting

Financial modeling Financial modeling

Management experience Management experience

Data analytics Data analytics

Managers rely more on contract professionals

Many firms are turning to contract professionals to bridge skill gaps and alleviate the workloads of their core teams. 64% of managers say their company plans to increase the use of these workers, while only 6% say they will decrease their use. 36% of job seekers in finance and accounting are open to such roles. Robert Half recruiters say contract workers are often converted to permanent hires.

Financial planning
and analysis Financial reporting Accounts payable/
receivable Tax/treasury Financial planning
and analysis Financial reporting Accounts payable/
receivable Tax/treasury

Accountant shortage hits public accounting hard

Fewer college students are graduating with accounting degrees, making it especially hard for public accounting firms to find entry-level candidates. Competition for experienced talent is also an issue, as many public accounting employees leave for corporate jobs with more manageable workloads. Audit and bookkeeping professionals at all levels are also in high demand.

Successful strategies for landing skilled accountants include offering competitive salaries and allowing staff to work from home at least a couple of days per week. Managers in public accounting are typically more open to remote and hybrid work options than those in other segments of finance and accounting. Firms that don’t allow staff to work off-site tend to struggle most with hiring.

of professionals say they're more likely to apply for jobs with remote work options. of professionals say they're more likely to apply for jobs with remote work options.

of managers want employees on-site full time. of managers want employees on-site full time.

Tight hiring market for financial services

There is increasing demand for risk and compliance professionals following the bank failures of early 2023. Stock market fluctuations are creating a greater need for fund managers who can help clients rebalance their portfolios. To compete in a tight labor market, many managers will relax experience requirements and recruit entry-level professionals who show an aptitude for learning on the job.

Hottest jobs

Accounts payable specialist

Accounts receivable specialist

Industries hiring most

Construction

Government

Healthcare

Financial services

Manufacturing

Nonprofit

Public accounting

In-demand accreditations and skills

CPA

Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

ERP software (SAP, Oracle, Hyperion)

Excel (advanced)

MBA

QuickBooks

Sage Intacct

SQL

In-demand soft skills

Collaboration

Communication

Leadership

Presentation

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How do we determine our salary figures? See our methodology.

The salaries listed in the salary tables represent starting compensation only, meaning pay for someone new to a company in the position listed. Our estimates do not include bonuses, benefits or perks. We report salaries in percentiles and ranges, recognizing that professionals join companies at varied experience levels.

Other data referenced in this Salary Guide is based on online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. Respondents included hiring managers and employees from small (less than $50 million in revenues), midsize ($50 million to $1 billion) and large ($1 billion or greater) private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across the United States.

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