Richmond ranked a top city for finding a job in accounting or finance

Published August 20, 2014 by Paula C. Squires

Where is one of the best places to find a job in finance? Richmond ranks among the country’s top 10 cities for finding a job in finance or accounting, according to Accounting Principals, a company that helps recruit and place finance professionals.

Richmond makes the list because it has a diversity of major industries – technology, bio-pharma, government/nonprofit, health care and education.

The most in demand positions fall within the mid-level range. Plus, there is high demand for tax and audit professionals with knowledge of SEC practices, particularly among larger companies.

Jen Dodge, managing director of Accounting Principals’ Richmond office, says she has seen an increase in controller positions at small- to mid-size companies during the past couple of years. “I think that comes from Richmond being such an entrepreneurial market. We have a lot of startup companies that realize they’re to the point where they need a strong controller. They’ve outgrown the bookkeeper, and they need a controller to help them grow their business.”

In larger companies, such as Fortune 1000 firms, Dodge is seeing growth from within so there is a demand for mid-level, CPAs, accountants, and auditors.

As companies grow through acquisitions, she also sees “a huge increase in the need for financial consultants, CFOs, controllers – the need for strong project financial implementation and acquisition integration work.’’

Richmond has made the list several times. The area is viewed as a good place to work, Dodge says, because many companies offer a work-life balance “so finance professionals can have their career and not give up their personal lives. “

The list of 10 Best Cities to Find a Finance Job in 2014 was compiled based on internal data from Accounting Principals’ regional branch network across the U.S. It’s based on year-over-year job placement growth as well as general assessment of the overall economic environment in each market. Accounting Principals is a subsidiary of Adecco Group North America, a leader in professional staffing, and has 72 branch offices across the country.

Besides Richmond, four California cities made the 2014 list. They are: San Francisco, San Mateo/Walnut Creek, Los Angeles and Newport Beach. The other cities are Raleigh, N.C.; Paramus, N.J.; Chicago; Portland, Ore.; and Houston.