Accounting Principals Identifies Top 10 Cities for Finance Jobs »

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — With signs that the U.S. economy continues to recover, demonstrated by monthly net job gains of more than 200,000 for the past three consecutive months, some areas of the economy are seeing a more positive uptick in hiring than others. The finance field, in particular, is among the industries gaining momentum. Since January 2011, jobs in the accounting field have grown fairly consistently, with just over 90,000 jobs being added. In response to this trend, Accounting Principals, a leading accounting and finance staffing provider, has identified the top 10 cities to find a job in finance, with Houston taking the number one spot.

Accounting Principals developed the list based on internal data from its branches around the country, taking into account the volume of job openings in the past six months as well as a general assessment of the overall economic environment in each market.

Houston topped this year’s list because of the large concentration of Fortune 500 companies, across a diverse set of industries that are headquartered in the city. Houston is also home to many energy and technology companies – industries that are poised for growth and in need of back office accounting and finance talent to keep their operations running smoothly. Among the jobs most in demand in Houston are senior accountants, internal auditors, and vendor auditors.

Another new addition to this year’s list is New York, perhaps not a surprise as it is considered the financial capital of the world. However, what is unexpected is that the majority of opportunities for finance professionals in New York are not coming from the finance sector, but rather non-profit, media/advertising, and retail. Jobs in demand in the city include staff accountants, tax accountants, and external reporting (SEC) professionals.

“As the economy improves we’ll see more cities follow New York’s lead, with finance jobs becoming increasingly available in nonfinancial firms,” said Jodi Chavez, senior vice president, Accounting Principals. “Accounting and finance is an essential function to operate and grow every business. As markets improve, finance professionals will be needed to advise business leaders on where and when to expand.”

San Francisco and Chicago continue to offer career opportunities in the accounting and finance field, appearing for the second consecutive year on Accounting Principals’ list of cities to find a finance job. Both cities’ status as a hotbed for startups and small to medium sized businesses create a demand for talent across the board, especially in the financial services sector. Senior accountants, corporate controllers, and CPAs are among the in-demand jobs.

The full list of the Top 10 Cities to Find a Finance Job is below:

Houston

Richmond, Va.

New York

San Francisco

Atlanta

Dallas

Tulsa, Okla.

Overland Park/Kansas City, Kan.

Raleigh, N.C.

Chicago

“These cities represent some of the best opportunities for candidates in the finance field. It is yet another sign that employers are increasingly confident in their own business and the economy, and are looking for qualified professionals to help them grow their business,” said Chavez. “As entry level accounting and finance professionals enter the field this May, these cities are great places to consider during their job search.”

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