The future looks good for accounting and finance professionals! The Accountants Inc. 2007 Compensation, Benefits and Workplace Trends Guide reports that starting salaries for qualified accounting and finance professionals will be holding steady in 2007.

Scheduled to reach the marketplace at the beginning of February, this year’s Guide is the culmination of 4,700 in-person surveys of accounting and finance and human resource executives across the country, conducted by Accountants Inc. and their sister company Acsys, Inc. It examines the latest accounting and finance salary trends for executive to support-level positions in over 40 major markets across the country.

While the past couple of years saw moderate starting salary increases for higher-level professionals with specialized skills, pay scales for the support and staff-level candidates had been holding steady, with last year showing an increase for the first time in many years. The improving economy had organizations setting their sights on growth initiatives, creating the need for more people with solid accounting skills to accommodate the expected increase in volume. This year is expected to be much of the same, since 22% of those surveyed feel highly optimistic that the economy will improve with growth being the number one business challenge for 2007. With growth comes a rise in demand for talented professionals and this year hiring managers are leaning towards a better overall compensation and benefits package, than in years past, to recruit these professionals.

In addition to reporting on salary information, the Guide also explores issues at the forefront for hiring managers everywhere. This year, it looks at how much companies have grown over the last year, what they are doing to recruit, retain and engage the qualified accounting and finance professionals needed to help drive their success and even some fun facts on how hiring managers get through their day-to-day routines. Additionally, it delves into the continuing challenge presented by rising health care costs and their impact on the 20 benefits most commonly offered to employees.

As accounting and finance recruitment specialists, Accountants Inc. works to provide their clients with the latest trends in accounting, finance, recruiting and retention. This year’s Guide is certain to be a valuable resource for all who read it. For a complimentary copy of the 2007 Compensation, Benefits and Workplace Trends Guide, or for additional information on staffing related hiring trends and best practices relating to workplace issues, consult with your local Accountants Inc. representative today by calling 1.800.430.3111.