Accounting and Finance Job Seekers Take Note: Houston Named Best City for Corporate Finance Roles

The great thing about having a career in accounting and finance is that you can work just about anywhere. A new survey from the staffing agency Accounting Principals named Houston as the best city for finding a role in corporate finance.

Houston led the list because of its “low unemployment rate, high concentration of Fortune 500 companies and booming energy industry.” Hiring there is also strong in the tech, manufacturing and service sectors.

According to the survey, payroll/compensation analysts, as well as those with experience in AP cash posting, vendor audit/AP, internal audit, financial reporting, tax, senior accounting and fixed assets were in hot demand. Employers in Houston were also on the lookout for finance professionals with an energy specialty, especially as it relates to joint interest billing, revenue, mid-office, risk and E&P.

As for the rest of the top 10:

2. Richmond, Virginia

Courtesy of hiring in financial services, distribution and health care, employers there are on the lookout for senior analysts, senior accountants, controllers, audit/compliance personnel and payroll professionals, as well as mortgage underwriters and reviewers.

3. New York 

Corporate finance roles are hot at non-profit organizations, as well as retail and media/advertising firms in the Big Apple. Companies in New York City are focused on general accounting staff, staff accountants and senior accountants, as well as tax accountants and those handling external reporting (SEC).

4. San Francisco

With digital/social media, software, professional services, retail, non-profit and financial services firms actively hiring CPAs, senior accounts personnel, corporate controllers, accounts payable staff and staff accountants.

5. Atlanta

Real estate, hospitality and consumer products/manufacturing firms in the city are heavily recruiting staff accountants, senior accountants, accounts payable clerks, accounts receivable clerks and analysts.

6. Dallas

With corporate finance roles the strongest at companies in the construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, health care, non-profit, commercial real estate, retail, technology and hospitality sectors. Firms in the city are specifically looking for accounts payable/receivable and payroll tax staff. Sales tax accountants, bookkeepers, staff and senior accountants, and bilingual finance professionals are also needed.

7. Tulsa, OK

Brisk hiring at energy, banking, manufacturing and health care companies put this city at number seven. Payroll accountants, staff accountants, senior accountants, accounting managers, audit and tax accountants, and accounts payable clerks are in demand. Those with buyers/purchasing/inventory experience, as well as financial reporting and a credit/collection background are needed.

8. Overland Park/Kansas City, KS

The region is experiencing strong hiring for corporate finance roles from businesses within the mortgage industry, as well as engineering, transportation and manufacturing/consumer product space. Employers are looking for mortgage closers, loan processors, mortgage underwriters, project accountants, contract and financial analysts, accounts payable staff, staff accountants and financial analysts.

9. Raleigh, NC

Biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, technology, health care service and education/universities hiring for corporate finance roles. Skills in demand include those with a CPA or pursuing a CPA, as well as those with strong communication skills, a corporate tax background, internal audit experience, financial analysis expertise and a revenue recognition background.

10. Chicago

Financial services, manufacturing, real estate and legal firms gear up hiring for financial analysts, senior financial analysts, property accountants, hedge fund accountants, staff accountants, accounts receivable/collections personnel and cost accountants. The top skills in demand are those with a CPA, as well as experience in advanced Excel analysis, collections (both consumer and business-to-business), hedge fund accounting, property accounting and cost accounting.

Corporate Finance and Accounting

According to the survey, corporate finance and accounting jobs are picking up, with “over 90,000 accounting jobs added in the past year.” The list was tallied based on internal data from Accounting Principals’ U.S. regional branches. The list looks at projected finance and accounting jobs based on the volume of job openings during the past six months, as well as an assessment of the overall economic environment in each market.