Accountants devoting more time to nonaccounting tasks

More meetings on business strategy and information technology initiatives are in the cards for senior accountants, according to a new study released by Robert Half International Inc.

In a nationwide poll of chief financial officers, respondents said they expect issues outside of traditional accounting functions to occupy more than a third (37 percent) of a senior accountant's time five years from now, according to a press release from Robert Half.

The survey, developed by Robert Half International, was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies with more than 20 employees.

CFOs were asked, "Five years from now, what percentage of a senior-level accountant's time do you expect will be focused on performing less traditional accounting functions, such as offering strategic advice or providing input on information technology projects?" The mean response was 37 percent.

"No longer valued solely for their ability to gather and report data, accounting professionals are applying their skills in a broader context," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International and author of the just-released "Human Resources Kit For Dummies" (IDG Books Worldwide, 1999).

"Increasingly, accountants are helping senior management pursue revenue enhancement opportunities, such as global expansion and the introduction of new business lines, among many other strategic initiatives," Messmer said.

"As more companies undertake sophisticated financial systems conversions and upgrades, accounting staff will also be spending more of their time managing this process," he added.

Robert Half International Inc. is the an international staffing service specializing in the accounting, finance and information technology fields with more than 240 locations in North America, Europe and Australia.