Shortage of Accountants Expected to Get Worse

Source: Accounting Today

This tax season is expected to bring more demand and fewer candidates, according to many recruiters. The situation is aggravated by the transfer of many compliance personnel to SOX work, and by more competition from entities such as state revenue departments.

Firms are dealing with the problem by:

• Hiring interns (at lower grade levels) and providing them with the same training they provide regular staff.
• Increasing use of technology (e.g., using scanning equipment for sending files to people offsite).
• Recruiting retired baby boomers.
• Emulating H&R Block by teaching tax-preparation courses.

FIN 48, SOX, and SEC oversight are making tax preparation more difficult. In the past, the source of data was not as critical as it is now. This is causing many people to look for other kinds of jobs.

From Accounting Today, November 6, 2006, SourceMedia Inc., One State Street Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10004, 800-221-1809. For the complete article, click on the following link: http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=22408&;pg=acctoday.