In a bit of good news despite a still-uncertain economy, compensation for accounting professionals is expected to rise some 3.5 percent overall in 2012, continuing its upward momentum from the prior year.

According to this year's edition of financial staffing concern Robert Half International's annual guide to compensation in accounting and finance, experienced staffers, particularly those at the manager and senior levels, will be the beneficiaries of higher sector demand.

"Overall, the salary trend is that we are seeing the development of two different job markets," explained Brett Good, senior district president at Robert Half. "A job market for highly skilled professional employees and another segment for those that don't fall into that bucket. In the accounting and financial world, demand is higher in that area, and unemployment rates [in the profession] are usually 50 to 60 percent lower than general unemployment numbers. The result is that we are seeing a higher demand and salaries beginning to go up."

On a top-down basis within accounting firms, the bell-shaped distribution for salary increases from 2011 will remain - tax service managers, senior tax accountants and senior auditors should anticipate the biggest paycheck bumps, while not surprisingly, entry-level staff will see the lowest increase, lagging slightly behind those with a one-to-three-year level of experience. Salaries for senior managers/directors in both tax and audit/assurance services are typically slightly behind the increase at the senior and management level, but slightly higher than those levels in management services.

Large firms generating more than $250 million in revenues are on track to provide the largest 2012 salary increases in the categories of tax services, as well as audit, assurance, and management services.

Small firms (those with up to $25 million in revenue) are also projected to offer larger percentage increases in all categories, and especially in tax services. In a shift from last year, midsized firms (those with between $25 million to $250 million in revenue) no longer lead the pack in pay bumps, with increases just behind the other firm sizes. Like small firms, the midsized category's biggest percentage changes come in tax services, and especially in the manager and one-to-three-year experience roles.

SKILLS AND PERKS

The outlook is slightly brighter for skilled employees, who are in greater demand in a tightening market.

Financial analysts, for example, should see a 4.2 percent salary increase next year, while compensation for senior staff accountants is projected to increase 3.9 percent.

"People with those types of skill sets are finding a volume of job offers," said Good. "For people seriously looking for a new opportunity, they are reaching into the market and it's not uncommon for a candidate to receive high counter-offers to stay at their current employment or the opportunity to receive multiple job offers."

This is a break from the trend of even two years ago, Good explained. "Someone gainfully employed in a tough market, even with other opportunities to consider, typically didn't. They had their bird in the hand worth two in the bush and they were going to hunker down. Now, candidates are more open and responsive to hearing about and seeking new opportunities."

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