Accountants, Collectors Sought-after Workers

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According to research by Robert Half International, a temporary staffing and consulting firm with a location in Fayetteville, salaries for accounting and finance staff are expected to grow 3.4 percent in 2009.

Robert Half of Menlo Park, Calif., has specialized staffing services for the information technology, legal, accounting and finance professions.

RHI said companies are hiring staff and senior accountants to oversee core duties and that demand is strong for CPAs with three or more years of experience. Starting salaries for staff accountants at large companies is expected to be from $44,500 to $57,250.

Public accounting firms will continue to look for skilled workers and starting salaries for senior accountants in tax services at small public accounting firms are forecast to range from $54,000 to $69,250.

Credit and collection specialists will be on the front end of a new wave, the company said.

“The current credit crunch has made companies even more cognizant of the critical role of the credit and collections functions in managing credit risk and collecting from delinquent accounts,” RHI said in a recent release.

“Organizations are hiring professionals who can help reduce inefficiencies and enhance profitability.”

Credit and collections clerks at midsize companies (in the $25 million to $250 million in sales range) are expected to see starting salaries of $29,250 to $37,500.