Accounting Principals Identifies Top Cities for Finance Professionals

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The financial sector is just one of many that felt the effects of the recession, but as the economy ticks upward, the industry is seeing a great deal of continued improvement. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment in the finance industry hit 7.7% at the height of the recession and has now come down to 4.7% as of June 2013 – quite a measurable improvement! For the third year in a row, Accounting Principals, a leading accounting and finance staffing provider, has identified the top 10 cities to find a job in finance. The list was determined by the overall economic environment in cities across the United States as well as internal data from Accounting Principals branches, taking into account the volume of job openings in the past six months.

Although some of the cities have been featured on the list in previous years, it is simply indicative of constant opportunities in certain areas of the region. Chicago and New York (including Long Island), for example, are extremely large cities offering a great deal of jobs. From small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, opportunities are booming in similar industries in both areas, including the non-profit, healthcare, financial services and insurance sectors. Dallas boasts a broad business climate, with opportunities in technology and a host of Fortune 500 companies, while Houston sees opportunity in the energy sector, including oil and gas, and real estate. Both cities are extremely livable, with many attractions and a fair cost of living.

Many opportunities come with great West Coast weather in cities like Irvine, San Francisco and Phoenix with a range of positions in successful start-ups, large organizations and small companies alike. Seattle offers opportunities in the tech and aerospace sectors, and those finance professionals with experience in both private and public accounting are especially sought after by employers. Richmond and Atlanta offer the presence of many large companies, educated university graduates and opportunities in manufacturing, healthcare and banking.

"It is encouraging to see the nation is filled with opportunities that can suit to any jobseeker's tastes," said Jodi Chavez, senior vice president, Accounting Principals. "As the economy improves and most sectors are seeing improvement, finance professionals' options are also growing."

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

• Dallas, TX
• Houston, TX
• San Francisco, CA
• Irvine, CA
• NYC & Long Island
• Atlanta, GA
• Seattle, WA
• Richmond, VA
• Chicago, IL
• Phoenix 

"By doing this list annually, we are able to see that there are a variety of opportunities for job seekers outside of the typical 'finance hubs', which is great news for finance and accounting professionals who don't want to be limited to certain geographic regions," continued Chavez. "As employers become more confident in hiring, we hope to see continued success across varying industries and states as the economy improves."

About Accounting Principals Accounting Principals is a leader in the recruitment and placement of accounting and finance professionals, offering a complete range of workforce solutions in accounting, finance, mortgage and banking. Our nationwide branch network consists of experienced professionals that average five years of real-world accounting experience plus more than five years of finance and accounting recruitment experience. In addition to providing clients with a combination of temporary staffing, temp-to-hire and direct placement services, Accounting Principals also helps clients overcome their challenges through an in-depth understanding of their business needs. For more information, please visit www.accountingprincipals.com.

SOURCE Accounting Principals