Staffing provider Accounting Principals has identified the top 10 cities to find a job in finance and accounting.
The list was determined by the overall economic environment in cities across the U.S., along with internal data from Accounting Principals branches, taking into account the volume of job openings in the past six months. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment in the finance industry hit 7.7 percent at the height of the recession, but has now declined to 4.7 percent as of June 2013.
Several cities have been featured on Accounting Principals’ list in previous years, indicating constant opportunities in certain regions of the country. Chicago and New York (including Long Island), for example, typically offer a great many finance jobs. From small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, opportunities are booming in other industries as well, including the nonprofit, health care, financial services and insurance. 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 startups, large organizations and small companies alike.
Seattle offers opportunities in the tech and aerospace sectors, and finance professionals with experience in both private and public accounting are especially sought after by employers those industries. Richmond and Atlanta offer the presence of many large companies, educated university graduates and opportunities in manufacturing, health care and banking.
“It is encouraging to see the nation is filled with opportunities that can suit to any job seeker’s tastes,” said Accounting Principals senior vice president Jodi Chavez in a statement. “As the economy improves and most sectors are seeing improvement, finance professionals' options are also growing.”
The complete list of the Top 10 Cities to Find a Finance Job is below:
• Dallas
• Houston
• San Francisco
• Irvine, Calif.
• New York City and Long Island
• Atlanta
• Seattle
• Richmond, Va.
• Chicago
• 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,” said Chavez. “As employers become more confident in hiring, we hope to see continued success across varying industries and states as the economy improves.”
