Recruiting

Professor Frank K. Ross retired in December 2003 from KPMG after over 38 years of service. He now runs the Howard University School of Business' Center for Accounting Education, and serves as a visiting professor of accounting at the university.

Despite the downturn in the economy, salaries for internal auditors are rising an average of 5 percent, according to a salary guide from Robert Half International.The report also identified internal auditing as one of five jobs positioned for growth in 2008.

The American Institute of CPAs has ramped up its mobility efforts to allow CPAs to practice in other states, with mobility bills enacted now in 12 states and legislation pending in 22 other states.

Entry-level job Web site CollegeGrad.com named KPMG as the top-ranked employer among the Big Four accounting firms in a poll of the site's users.

The Institute of Internal Auditors has donated a collection of nearly 200 books on auditing to the University of Texas Dallas School of Management.

There is growing diversity within CPA firms, and it is taking many forms. For example, the male domination is beginning to wane. This is especially seen at the entry level and is working its way up. There are four distinct generations in the profession, with sharply different views of work and possessing unique skill sets. Then there is the greater influence of marketers, firm administrators, and technologists in firm operations. And don’t forget the more traditional diversity with regard to different cultures and races.

Camico Mutual Insurance, a CPA-owned professional liability insurer, has begun offering an employment practices liability insurance program to provide CPA firms with defense and indemnity coverage against allegations such as harassment, discrimination and retaliation.

PricewaterhouseCoopers plans to lay off part of the consulting staff in its advisory services business.

Becker Professional Review has introduced a scholarship program that will award Becker CPA Review scholarships valued at $2,690 each to 50 students who need financial assistance to prepare for the CPA Exam.

The many Boomers partners of firms who are planning to retire or slow down is being viewed as generating firm succession and staffing issues. Similarly, another expressed concern is the declining number of Ph.Ds. in accounting, which hurts the pipeline of incoming accounting graduates to the profession. A partner in a national firm also commented that he was alarmed by the many college professors teaching accounting who don’t have a familiarity with U.S. businesses.

Strategy and the Fat Smoker: Doing What’s Obvious But Not Easy by David Maister was given to me at the recent Winning Is Everything Conference, where he was a keynote speaker. This is the same David Maister who wrote the critically acclaimed Managing the Professional Firm (1993). I read that book twice and have heard him speak a number of times, and was always impressed by what he said, but always thought it was a bit theoretical.

KPMG is holding a five-week competition among auditing students from more than 27 colleges and universities around the country.

Benefits such as health insurance are nearly as popular as salary in convincing accounting professionals to join a company, according to a new survey.

The Foundation for Financial Planning has awarded nine new grants totaling $565,272. The grants went to:

Intuit has introduced an online resource for small business owners, “The Guide to Hiring and Paying Employees.”

Staffing service provider AccountAbilities has introduced AccountingEmployees.com, an online job board.

CFOs remain concerned about their companies' ability to recruit skilled professionals, according to a new survey.

Private employment added some 130,000 jobs from December 2007 to January of 2008, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report. Employment within the service sector grew 141,000, while employment in the goods-producing sector declined 11,000, the 14th consecutive monthly decline in that area. Small and midsized businesses, defined as those employing fewer than 500 workers, added 122,000 jobs, while employment among larger companies with 500 workers or more added 8,000. Manufacturing employment in January was flat, thereby halting 18 consecutive months of declines. In January, construction employment fell 13,000, the 14th consecutive monthly decline. The February ADP report will be available March 5.

Billy Beane, vice president and general manager of the Oakland A’s, the keynote speaker at the recent Winning Is Everything Conference, explained how mathematics is transforming America’s pastime. Yes, I said mathematics.

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul will continue to face a competitive job market for finance and accounting professionals this year, according to a new study.