ROBERT HALF RELEASES 2011 GUIDE TO ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE SALARIES

Annual Study Projects Compensation to Remain in Line With 2010 Levels; In-Demand Positions to See Larger Gains

EDITOR'S NOTE: Readers can download the 2011 Salary Guide from Robert Half or order a free print copy at the Robert Half Salary Centre (http://www.roberthalf.com/salarycentre). Copies also can be requested by calling [phone].

TORONTO, Oct. 26 /CNW/ - With some signs pointing to a slight uptick in financial hiring, base compensation for accounting and finance professionals is expected to remain similar to 2010 levels. According to the recently released 2011 Salary Guide from Robert Half, starting salaries in these fields are expected to rise an average of 1.2 per cent in the coming year. Performance analysts, controllers, and business analysts are among the professionals projected to see notable increases.

Robert Half International has been publishing its annual Salary Guide since 1950 and is the world's first and largest staffing services firm specializing in accounting and finance. The data in the 2011 Salary Guide are national average starting salaries and based on an analysis of the thousands of job placements managed by the company's Canadian offices. The 2011 Salary Guide is accompanied by the Robert Half Salary Centre (http://www.roberthalf.com/salarycentre), featuring additional analysis on hiring and compensation trends, as well as the Robert Half Salary Calculator, which allows users to quickly determine the starting salary range for their specific position and location.

"While many companies are taking a cautious approach to hiring, accounting and finance professionals who combine functional expertise with outstanding soft skills and technology proficiency, are always highly sought," said Kathryn Bolt, president of Robert Half Canada. "To attract top performers in high-demand specialties, some employers are enhancing their salary offers."

Other key findings from the 2011 Salary Guide from Robert Half include:

    
    -   Average starting salaries for controllers at midsize companies ($50
        million to $100 million in sales) are expected to climb 4.9 per cent,
        to the range of $85,500 to $113,750.
    -   Projected base pay for internal auditors at large companies (more
        than $250 million in sales) is $74,500 to $95,250, up 2.3 per cent.
    -   Starting salaries for analysis managers at both large and
        midsize/small companies are predicted to climb 2.1 per cent; senior
        analysts at large companies are predicted to see their base
        compensation rise to $64,750 to $84,000, a 1.9 per cent increase.
    -   Public accountants in midsize/small firms, can anticipate a 2.2 per
        cent gain in base pay, to a range of $65,500 to $84,250.
    -   Performance analysts are expected to see the largest boost in base
        pay in 2011, with their average starting salary rising 5.1 per cent
        to the range of $56,250 to $86,750.
    -   Average starting salaries for business analysts at financial services
        firms are expected to climb 3 per cent in the year ahead.
    

About the Salary Guide from Robert Half

All salaries listed in the 2011 Salary Guide are national averages. Because compensation varies significantly by geographic market, the guide includes information to customize the data for select Canadian cities.

For decades, companies have consulted the Salary Guide to determine appropriate compensation for accounting and finance professionals at all levels. In addition, educational institutions and research entities have referenced the guide for the most comprehensive information on compensation and hiring.

About Robert Half International

Robert Half International was founded in 1948, and 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.com.

For further information: Nadia Santoli, [phone], [email protected]