Seventy-one percent of CFOs said international experience will be either somewhat or very necessary for accounting and finance professionals five years from now, according to a new survey of 1,400 U.S CFOs.
Recruiting company Robert Half Management Resources noted that the 71 percent was an increase from the 56 percent who answered the question the same way in 2002. In 2008, 24 percent of CFOs said international experience was very necessary and 47 percent said it was somewhat necessary. In 2002, 20 percent said it was very necessary and 36 percent said international experience was somewhat necessary.
"The accelerating pace of globalization and the impending U.S. adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards will continue to drive demand for accounting and finance professionals with international business experience," said Robert Half Management Resources executive director Paul McDonald. "Professionals who are bilingual and have had exposure to other countries' tax, compliance, legal and regulatory issues have a competitive advantage in the job market, particularly among the largest firms."
