CFOs Report Third-Quarter Hiring Plans: Staff Levels May Remain Little Changed; Recruiting Difficulties Rise

TORONTO, June 12, 2012 /CNW/ - The number of full-time employees in accounting and finance departments could remain little changed in the third quarter, according to the latest Robert Half Financial Hiring Index. Eighty-seven per cent of chief financial officers (CFOs) interviewed expect to maintain their current staff levels in the upcoming quarter. Five per cent of respondents said they plan to add accounting and finance employees, while 3 per cent anticipate staff decreases.

Despite the conservative hiring forecast, nearly four in 10 (38 per cent) executives said they face a recruiting environment that is either somewhat or very challenging. This is up from 32 per cent last quarter.

The Robert Half Financial Hiring Index, part of the company's quarterly Professional Employment Report, is based on telephone interviews with more than 270 CFOs across Canada. It was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half International, the world's first and largest staffing services firm specialising in accounting and finance.

"Although financial hiring is expected to hold steady in the next three months, candidate shortages in high-demand areas are rising," said Kathryn Bolt, president of Robert Half Canada. "Organisations seek professionals in areas such as payroll, financial analysis and accounting, and those unable to make a full-time hire are working with temporary or project professionals to alleviate staff workloads and access specialised skills immediately."

Accounting and Finance Hiring -- By Industry

Executives in the construction industry expect to do the most hiring in the third quarter, according to the survey. Twenty-two per cent of respondents in the sector said they expect to add accounting and finance professionals, compared to 4 per cent who anticipate cutbacks.

About the Robert Half Financial Hiring Index

First published in 1992, the Robert Half Financial Hiring Index is conducted by an independent research firm and based on more than 270 telephone interviews with CFOs from a random sample of Canadian companies with 20 or more employees. For the study to be statistically representative and ensure that businesses from all segments were represented, the sample was stratified by industry and company size (by number of employees). The results were then weighted to reflect the proper proportions of company size within each industry.

Information from the study is featured in the Robert Half Professional Employment Report, which was launched in 2010 and is the first study of its kind to monitor the hiring environment for professional-level positions exclusively. Based on more than 1,000 telephone interviews with executives throughout Canada, it provides insight on employment trends to help businesses and job seekers prepare for the upcoming quarter. To see how hiring in accounting and finance has changed since last quarter and how it compares to other sectors, please visit www.roberthalf.ca/per.

About Robert Half International

Robert Half International was founded in 1948 and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Its financial staffing divisions include Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Robert Half Management Resources, for temporary, full-time and senior-level project professionals, respectively. The company has more than 350 staffing locations worldwide and offers online job search services on its divisional websites, all of which can be accessed at www.roberthalf.ca.

Nadia Santoli, [phone], [email protected]