CFOs find careers in consulting attractive

According to a recent survey of financial professionals, consulting is an attractive career option.

The survey was developed by RHI Management Resources, a consulting services firm that provides senior-level accounting and finance professionals on a project basis.

Of the chief financial officers polled, 75 percent said they see a career in consulting as attractive, according to an RHI release.

More than one-third (35 percent) of those surveyed cited variety and professional challenge as the most enticing aspects of project work.

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

CFOs were asked, "In your opinion, how attractive is a career in consulting to senior-level accounting and finance executives? Would you say it is..?"

Their responses:

Very attractive 20 percent

Somewhat attractive 55 percent

Somewhat unattractive 16 percent

Very unattractive 4 percent

Don't know/no answer 5 percent

CFOs also were asked, "Which of the following is the most attractive aspect of a career in consulting?"

Their responses:

Variety and challenge of work 35 percent

Flexible schedule 30 percent

Attractive compensation 13 percent

to make decisions more autonomously 11 percent

Active employment/secure in job 5 percent

of the above 1 percent

Don't know/no answer 5 percent

"The wide range of project work available has made consulting a viable career option for executives seeking more flexibility and greater professional challenge," said Paul McDonald, executive director of RHI Management Resources, in the release.

McDonald added that demand for senior financial talent on a project basis has accelerated.

"Companies today are bringing in project consultants for just-in-time solutions to large-scale initiatives ranging from mergers and acquisitions to business process improvement," he said.

In another survey of those already working as financial consultants, conducted in July 1999, 55 percent indicated that the greatest benefit of project work is the variety and challenge it affords them.

Flexible schedule and attractive compensation came in at a distant second and third with 24 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

The earlier study noted that the majority of financial consultants are former full-time executives who have moved away from traditional jobs in the corporate world.