Top Markets for Accounting Jobs

According to the workforce experts at ManpowerGroup, accounting jobs are among the hardest for companies to fill. Experienced accountants with well-rounded skills may find the market rife with opportunity, but there are some places where accounting jobs are especially plentiful.

Statistics compiled by MyAccountingLife.com indicate that San Francisco may be the mecca for finance professionals. With a diversified professional makeup and the biggest concentration of Fortune 500 businesses in the country, San Francisco offers both entry-level and management-level accounting jobs. MyAccountingLife.com also lists Denver, Chicago, Portland, Nashville, Miami, and Paramus, NJ, as top markets for accounting work. Growing infrastructure, increased investing, strategic visions, and development of specific industries are some elements that create above-average opportunities for accounting professionals in these cities.  

No matter where you live, Clarity Recruitment estimates it could take between three and eighteen months to land an accounting job. Intermediate, senior, and management accounting professionals average up to six months on the job hunt, while those seeking a director or CFO position may need to be more patient. A willingness to relocate to areas that top the list for accounting opportunities may reduce the time it takes to get a job.

A new location isn't the only way to increase your chance of employment. According to Jeff Thomson, president of the Institute of Management Accountants, companies are looking to hire finance professionals who bring both technical and soft skills to the job. Thomson encourages accounting students to develop leadership skills. He also cites information from the American Institute of CPAs about the growing need for accounting professionals with expertise in auditing and compliance; compliance accounting is a good way to gain entry to the industry, but the AICPA claims that about 75 percent of accounting grads who begin with an audit job end up in leadership within five years.

To find the highest number of available accounting jobs, you'll need to look toward the big cities. Professionals who prefer to make homes in medium-sized cities or rural communities may still be able to find finance-related jobs but should expect to spend more time on the job hunt before landing an appropriate position.

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