Staffing levels in accounting and finance are projected to remain steady in the fourth quarter, according to chief financial officers (CFOs) interviewed for the Robert Half Financial Hiring Index. Five percent of executives plan to add full-time staff during the last three months of the year, while 6 percent anticipate personnel cutbacks. The large majority, 89 percent, expect no changes.

The Robert Half Financial Hiring Index, part of the company's quarterly Professional Employment Report, is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CFOs across the United States. It was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half International, the world's first and largest staffing services firm specializing in accounting and finance. Robert Half has been tracking financial hiring activity inthe United States since 1992.

"Many companies may be waiting for a more decisive recovery before adding to their accounting and finance teams," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. "In the meantime, organizations frequently are working with temporary and project professionals to alleviate the workloads of their full-time teams and bridge skill gaps within their departments."

Despite the relatively static hiring outlook, CFOs expressed optimism regarding their businesses. Nearly six out of 10 (59 percent) executives said they are somewhat confident about their growth prospects for the fourth quarter; 36 percent are very confident.

View the research highlights.

Accounting and Finance Hiring -- By Region

Hiring activity is expected to be greatest in the Middle Atlantic region during the fourth quarter, with a net 3 percent of CFOs predicting their full-time finance teams will grow. Eight percent project staff additions and 5 percent forecast cutbacks.

"Businesses in the Middle Atlantic are hiring finance staff to support rising business volume and growth objectives, as well as to fill roles vacated by employee turnover," Messmer said. "In greatest demand are professionals at the staff and senior levels who can fill core positions such as accountant and financial analyst."

Hiring in the Mountain states also is projected to be more active than other parts of the country. A net 2 percent of CFOs in the region reported plans to add staff during the fourth quarter.

Accounting and Finance Hiring -- By Industry

Among industries, CFOs in wholesale expect the most active fourth-quarter hiring. A net 4 percent of financial executives plan to add staff. Six percent of respondents said they anticipate hiring, while 2 percent foresee personnel reductions.

Above-average hiring is expected within retail as well. A net 3 percent of CFOs in the sector anticipate adding accounting and finance employees in the fourth quarter.

CIO Report:

Chief information officers (CIOs) plan a modest increase in IT staffing activity in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report. In the latest quarterly survey, 9 percent of CIOs said they expect to expand their IT departments, and 6 percent anticipate cutbacks, for a net 3 percent projected increase in hiring activity. Eighty-three percent of those surveyed plan no change in personnel levels.

In the same study, nearly all of the technology executives interviewed (91 percent) said they are at least somewhat optimistic about their companies' growth prospects in the next three months; 30 percent are very optimistic. Forty-four percent rated the likelihood that their companies would be investing in IT projects a four or higher on a five-point scale, with five being the most confident.

The IT Hiring Index and Skills Report is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the United States with 100 or more employees. Executives are asked whether their companies plan to increase or decrease the number of full-time IT personnel on their staff during the coming quarter. The survey is conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis. Robert Half Technology has been tracking IT hiring activity in the United States since 1995.

Key Findings

• The net 3 percent increase in anticipated IT hiring activity is up two points from last quarter's projection.
• Eighty-three percent of CIOs plan to maintain their current staffing levels.
• Network administration, database management and technical support professionals are in greatest demand, according to survey respondents.
• Fifty-four percent of CIOs said it's challenging to find skilled professionals today.
• Ninety-one percent of technology executives surveyed are at least somewhat confident in their companies' growth prospects in the next three months: Sixty-one percent of CIOs are somewhat confident, and 30 percent are very confident. The total compares to 76 percent of CIOs who expressed confidence in their firms' growth prospects in the third quarter.
• Forty-four percent of survey respondents expressed confidence that their firms would be making investments in IT projects in the fourth quarter, rating their confidence a four or higher on a five-point scale, with five being the most confident.

"While CIOs project a modest hiring increase in the fourth quarter, IT professionals in certain specialties, such as network administration and database management, will continue to be in strong demand," said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology. "The vast majority of CIOs are confident in their firms' growth prospects for the next quarter."

Confidence in Business Growth and IT Investments

Ninety-one percent of CIOs reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 15 points from the third-quarter survey. Sixty-one percent of CIOs are somewhat confident, and 30 percent are very confident.  

Forty-four percent of technology executives rated the likelihood that their companies would be investing in IT projects a four or higher on a five-point scale, with five being most confident.

Skills in Demand

Technology executives surveyed said it is most challenging to find IT professionals in the functional areas of security (22 percent), networking (21 percent) and applications development (12 percent).

Network administration is the skill set in greatest demand, cited by 72 percent of CIOs. Database management and desktop support followed, with 67 percent and 65 percent of the response, respectively.

Regional Outlook

CIOs in the East South Central[1] and West South Central[2] regions plan the most IT hiring in the fourth quarter. A net 8 percent of executives in both regions expect to add staff.

Industries Hiring

Executives in the transportation industry anticipate the most active IT hiring in the fourth quarter. A net 15 percent of CIOs in this sector plan to expand their IT departments, followed by a net 7 percent of technology leaders in the wholesale industry who anticipate adding staff.