Rebound in confidence after two quarters of decline. Next Question: What’s your best career advice? Join the survey; get the answers. A leading measure of overall confidence among U.S. finance and accounting workers, rose 5.4 points to 55.8 in 4Q 2012 — ending a two-quarter decline, according to new data reported by CPA Trendlines. The new survey finds growing confidence in job availability and in workers’ personal employment situations, despite continued tepid sentiment in the strength of the economy.
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But many CPA firms appear to be missing out on the recovery. by Rick Telberg CPA Trendlines Research The nation’s tax and accounting industry appears to have re-started expansion with new hiring in January, after a two-month pause at the end of 2012 in November and December, according to CPA Trendlines research. But the gains appear to be concentrated in non-CPA-owned offices. Analysts are attributing the 2012 year-end economic stall to two major storms which slowed economic activity: One, Hurricane Sandy, and, the other, Congress, which has been gridlocked under a bubble of hot air. CPA Trendlines PRO members: Get the instant download full report (PDF, 20 pages), here.
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Survey of college professors provides clues for successful recruiting. Internships and social networks speak loudest when new college accounting graduates weigh their first jobs offers, according to a new Public Accounting Report survey obtained by CPA Trendlines. The study ranks the relative importance of factors to students when choosing a job offer, including: Access to latest technology Compensation and benefits Desirable location or geographic base Long-term career opportunities Technical reputation The firm’s long-term business outlook The firm’s quality of life in terms of an employee-friendly environment Whether the offer is from a Big Four firm Workplace diversity And the survey reveals the companies and CPA firms soon-to-be graduates are hoping to join: A company in private industry Any Big Four [...]
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Best August ever. by Rick Telberg The U.S. accounting and bookkeeping sector of the economy added 3,500 new jobs in August bringing the full-time workforce in the industry to 955,000, a new all-time record high for the month, according to preliminary new data obtained by CPA Trendlines. RELATED INSTANT DOWNLOAD – 2013 Salary Guide JOIN THE SURVEY, GET THE RESULTS – The CPA Careers and Hiring Outlook: Job Satisfaction and Retention Benchmarks JOIN THE SURVEY, GET THE RESULTS – Top Talent Strategies: How to Identify and Develop Professionals for Management and Leadership Responsibilities In addition, the CPA Trendlines analysis shows:
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Marks 16 months annualized expansion. But CPA firms are a different story. Accounting and bookkeeping services, All employees in thousands, thru July 2012 The accounting and bookkeeping industry, which includes CPA firms and payroll agencies, added a statistically meaningless 500 jobs in July, according to new data sourced by CPA Trendlines. July ended with 953,200 FTE’s, up from June’s 952,700. But it’s in the year-over-year gains where the trend is more clear. And the story at CPA firms is much different.
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If your staff recruiting effort is overlooking social media, then some of the best candidates may be overlooking you. New college graduates are embracing social media as a job-search tool, according to a new study. Approximately 41 percent of 2012 college graduates in the market for a job are using social media to help them land one.
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Marking the fourth consecutive month of decline, the bookkeeping and accounting industry contracted in June, shedding 4,200 full-time employees from May, ending at total employment of 954,800 workers and professionals, according to new data available to CPA Trendlines. Still, June’s employment level represented a 2.5% expansion over the June 2011 level, representing the 16th consecutive month of year-over-year gains for the industry. Overall, the nation’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in June at 8.2% as the economy added about 80,000 new jobs, far short of making a dent in the 13 million jobs lost beginning five years ago with a mortgage meltdown and a financial crash.
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Hint: It’s not about how smart they are or hard they work. By Rick Telberg How do you spot the hidden rock stars on your staff? And what do up-and-coming tax, accounting and finance professionals need to know to get ahead in today’s profession? These aren’t idle questions. Many firms and individuals are struggling with these issues right now. But don’t take it from me. Just listen to the decision-makers from a dozen firms I met with in a Milwaukee hotel recently. The mission: Learn how to deal with a looming new staff shortage. Some took away solid action plans. “Our firm,” said one, “is trying to develop our rock stars and this showed me we need to be doing [...]
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Tax, accounting and bookkeeping services on a year-long hiring spree…
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2011 finishes at new high. Average hourly earnings across all employees in the accounting and bookkeeping slipped slightly in the latest month, but rang in a solid gain year to year. With more than 970,000 workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates that workers earned $27.10 per hour in December, the latest month available, down from $27.10 in November, and averaging $26.51 for the year. The $26.51 rate for 2011 represents a 35-cent advance from 2010 and $2.68 more than in 2007, the first full year in the books
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20 years of ups and downs, now up again. The number of people employed by CPA firms in the U.S. has topped 400,000 for the first time since last February, according to the latest data available to CPA Trendlines. Total payroll hit 401,500 people in December, up from 397,500 the month before and 390,700 the year before. Since 1990, the profession has grown from 320,600 people to 400,700 on average in 2011. Payrolls were slashed and rebuilt again and again through the last two decades.
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What recession? More accountants with jobs … ever. by Rick Telberg In the same jobs report that drove the NASDAQ to an 11-year peak, the accounting and bookkeeping sector recorded more people employed in the industry than ever before.
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CPA firms account for 2 in 3 new jobs. The nation’s tax, accounting, payroll and bookkeeping businesses added 3,100 employees in December, bringing the industry’s total headcount to 943,100, according to the latest government data obtained by CPA Trendlines.
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