Solid fourth-quarter financial hiring predicted

Chief financial officers project a net 8 percent increase in the hiring of accounting and finance professionals in the fourth quarter of 2000, according to the recently released Robert Half International Financial Hiring Index. Eleven percent of CFOs surveyed said their companies plan to add accounting and finance staff in the next three months and only 3 percent expect personnel reductions. Of the CFOs surveyed, 85 percent of executives anticipate no change in hiring activity, up from 81 percent in the third quarter.

The national poll includes responses from 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies with 20 or more employees. It was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half International Inc., the world's largest staffing services firm specializing in the accounting, finance and information technology fields.

"Hiring expectations have remained positive throughout 2000 as companies continue to add accounting staff to help define and oversee their financial strategies," said Max Messmer, chairman and chief executive officer of Robert Half International.

"At the same time, many firms are focusing on employee retention practices in order to keep valued personnel in a competitive market, including offering profit-sharing plans, flexible work schedules and enhanced benefit packages," he said.

Financial executives in the mountain states, which include Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming, are most optimistic about hiring activity through the end of 2000. Of the CFOs surveyed in that region 20 percent plan to expand their accounting and finance departments and 2 percent foresee staff reductions, for a net hiring increase of 18 percent.

"Businesses are relocating to the mountain region due to its attractive cost of living," Messmer said.

"As these firms start up or expand operations, they require accounting support at all levels, from entry-level staff to experienced financial managers," he said.