Accounting Principals Identifies Top Cities for Finance Jobs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has revealed signs of a potential turnaround in the financial services sector.  The number of finance-related positions in the U.S. started to gain momentum in March and April after month-long declines and volatility in the sector.  On the heels of this trend, Accounting Principals, a leading accounting and finance staffing provider, has identified the top seven cities to find a job in finance today, with San Francisco taking the top spot.

Accounting Principals developed the list based on internal data from its branches around the country, taking into account the volume of job openings in the past quarter.

San Francisco came in on top due to a variety of factors including the city's proximity to Silicon Valley, its large venture capitalist community and the fact that it has one of the highest concentrations of Fortune 500 companies in the U.S.  In particular, the growth of the technology sector in Northern California has caused a hiring ripple effect in the region, allowing other sectors – such as financial services – to benefit from the growth.  Among the jobs most in-demand for full-time employment in the area are finance managers, assistant controllers, controllers, and accounting managers.

Coming in second place on the list was Denver, a city that's seen job growth in the financial sector due to the region's many booming oil and gas companies and improving manufacturing sector.  While a variety of financial services positions are available in the region, there's a strong need for certified talent in the area, including professionals with CPAs, CTPs and MBAs. The war for talent for these professionals is heating up and the most in-demand candidates will be those with experience and skill sets in the areas of tax, cost accounting, treasury, and renewable energy finance.

The full list of the Top Cities to Find a Finance Job are:

1. San Francisco
2. Denver
3. Paramus, N.J.  
4. Chicago
5. Portland, Ore.
6. Nashville, Tenn.
7. Miami

"Many of the top candidates in these cities are now seeing multiple offers from multiple employers," said Janette Marx, senior vice president, Accounting Principals.  "This presents a stark difference from the employment landscape just a year ago. Given that finance and accounting positions are not directly revenue-generating positions like sales, an uptick in demand for these professionals indicates that businesses are starting to grow again and they have increased confidence in the economy."

About Accounting Principals

Accounting Principals is a leader in the recruitment and placement of accounting and finance professionals, offering a complete range of workforce solutions in accounting, finance, mortgage and banking. Our nationwide branch network consists of experienced professionals that average five years of real-world accounting experience plus more than five years of finance and accounting recruitment experience. In addition to providing clients with a combination of temporary staffing, temp-to-hire and direct placement services, Accounting Principals also helps clients overcome their challenges through an in-depth understanding of their business needs. For more information, please visit www.accountingprincipals.com.

SOURCE Accounting Principals