FINANCE/ACCOUNTING CAREERS

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The Importance of Maintaining Certifications

Financial professionals today must contend with a number of changes affecting their work, including corporate governance reforms, an increasingly globalized business world and new technologies, to name a few. But if there’s one constant in the ever-evolving world of accounting and finance, it’s this: The need for professional certifications. Indeed, the current business environment has heightened the demand for financial professionals who possess industry-recognized accreditations. 

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How to Get Ahead in Accounting and Finance

Whether you’re an internal auditor, tax specialist or financial analyst, getting ahead – and increasing your marketability – requires staying up to date with professional trends. In the quickly evolving fields of accounting and finance, this can seem like a tall order. 

Help Me Help You: Working With a Recruiter

There’s no question that looking for a job can be stressful. Finding a position that’s an excellent match with your skill set and career goals can take weeks or months, even in an employment market that remains strong for accounting and finance professionals. One way to make the whole process easier is to work with a recruiter. 

NetWork: Make the Most of Your Online Connections

For busy accounting and finance professionals, networking online is a great way to make dozens — or even hundreds — of connections. And for those less inclined to reach out and socialize with new business contacts in a traditional setting, it can be an especially attractive option. Websites like LinkedIn.com and MeetUp.com, as well as industry discussion forums and trade association chat rooms, are making it easier for people to expand their professional networks. 

Promotion? No, Thanks.

While many financial professionals are focused on making it to the top, not everyone wants to be promoted. Maybe you feel this way, too. Perhaps you want to remain in your current job because of the work/life balance it affords or you enjoy your day-to-day duties too much to alter them. 

How Having a Mentor Can Boost Your Career

While talent and personal ambition are necessary ingredients for accomplishing career goals, few finance and accounting professionals who have achieved success have done so entirely on their own. A mentor who offers guidance and advice can help you navigate the pitfalls on the road to advancement. 

Meeting Etiquette: Avoiding Gadget-Related Mistakes

You’re one hour into a meeting when your BlackBerry starts vibrating to let you know you have new e-mails. Should you check them now? According to a Robert Half International survey, the verdict is still out.

First Impressions: How to Make Them Count

While most job interviews last for about an hour, it’s the first few minutes after you shake hands that may count the most. According to a Robert Half International survey, executives form either a positive or negative opinion of job candidates in just 10 minutes of making their acquaintance.  

Resume Rules: Dos and Don’ts for Success

One of the biggest challenges for most accounting and finance professionals searching for a job is creating a compelling resume. It doesn’t help that the rules for crafting this document (e.g., Should you keep your resume to one page? Is it wise to include your hobbies?) frequently change.  

Culture Shock: How to Evaluate a Firm’s Environment

There’s a job opening at a firm you’ve dreamed of working for, and the hiring manager has asked you in for a third interview. You believe you have the perfect skill set for the position and an excellent chance at receiving an offer. The responsibilities, title and salary are all in line with your goals, but you may be overlooking the most significant factor in determining your eventual on-the-job satisfaction: the company’s corporate culture.  

The Other Certifications Financial Professionals Need

If you hold a certified public accountant (CPA) designation, you have proof of your solid understanding of broad accounting principles and financial reporting. If you hold the certified internal auditor (CIA) credential, you possess expertise in auditing records, identifying risks and enhancing internal controls. Certifications such as these prove your skills to prospective employers and assure your current company of your value and qualifications for higher-level assignments.  

Resumes That Get Interviews

In a job search, your resume plays an important role. It highlights your strengths and qualifications for prospective employers and can entice them to call you for an interview. But when you apply for an opening, your resume could be just one of dozens, or even hundreds. Lacking the time to examine every document in depth, the hiring manager or human resources recruiter may give each resume only a quick once-over. How can you ensure your resume stands out? 

Five Tips to Help You Negotiate Your First Job Offer

Finishing school and finding your first job is an exciting transition and marks the beginning of your career. Once a company decides on hiring you and makes an employment offer, you’ll undoubtedly feel a sense of accomplishment — and trepidation if the offer doesn’t meet your expectations.  

What Should I Say? Five Tough Interview Questions and How to Handle Them

Wouldn’t it be great if you submitted a resume and quickly received a call from the hiring manager, who phoned to say,
“Based on your resume alone, I can tell you’re qualified for the position. When can you start?” Of course, the reality is that all candidates go through the interview process before they are offered a job.

Hiring of Accounting and Finance Professionals Picking Up

The already-positive hiring market for accounting and finance professionals is becoming even brighter for those in in-demand specialties. Individuals looking for new positions will find more opportunities to choose from and more flexibility in compensation. 

Emerging Issues for Next Generation Accountants

The recent changes impacting accounting and finance have created new challenges for today’s professionals but also have created new opportunities. This is just one of the key findings of Robert Half International’s Next Generation Accountant: A New Outlook on a Timeless Profession, a comprehensive research initiative that examines the trends shaping the future of accounting.

In-Demand Specialties in Accounting and Finance

Multiple factors have led to increased hiring in accounting and finance during recent years. Regulatory reforms have fueled the demand for specialties such as internal audit and forensic accounting. At the same time, corporate growth initiatives are driving the need for staff and senior accountants and financial analysts. And demographic forces, such as a shortage of experienced candidates and the expected retirement of millions of baby boomers over the next decade, are anticipated to further prompt competition for top talent.

Accounting Salaries on the Rise – Are You Ready to Negotiate?

The demand for accountants remains strong in today’s marketplace, resulting in new opportunities and higher compensation for skilled professionals. According to the 2006 Salary Guide from Robert Half International, starting salaries for accounting and finance professionals are expected to rise an average of 3.1 percent this year with even larger increases in high-demand specialties like internal audit and forensic accounting.

Highlighting Your Communication Skills in the Job Interview

A recent Robert Half International survey shows job seekers make more mistakes during the interview than at any other stage of the hiring process. Whether it’s not knowing enough about the employer, appearing anxious or asking about compensation at an inappropriate time, this meeting is full of potential stumbling blocks.