Women Gain Jobs, Payroll Up and Down

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By CPA Trendlines

Women are outpacing men as new hires in the tax and accounting industry today, according to new CPA Trendlines research.

Female headcounts are advancing at annualized rates of 5.5 percent in overall employment, 7.3 percent at CPA firms, and 10.6 percent in payroll services, according to CPA Trendlines research.

At the same time, payroll is emerging as one of the most volatile sectors, with staff up 7.5 percent in the latest month, while wages dropped 8.8 percent year-on-year.

In Metairie, La., a source at a three-partner partner firm reports they are looking for a CPA with the right “mix of technical skills and communication skills.”  “It’s very important to be able to communicate issues with both management and clients,” the source tells CPA Trendlines. At the same time, work at the firm has its challenges. “Although we strive to give clients the best service possible, it is sometimes to the detriment of our work/life balance.”

At a 12-partner CPA firm with offices scattered across Colorado, CPA Trendlines hears from an insider that they are seeking to promote from within. “We are cultivating staff-level employees because we need middle managers and supervisors who already have some experience.”

In the rest of this report, CPA Trendlines delves into:

  • Current hiring trends in each of the bookkeeping, payroll, tax, and CPA segments of the industry.
  • Average hourly wages for key segments.
  • Typical hours worked per week.
  • And trends concerning women in the accounting workforce.