best pay raises going to senior staffers

but where are the jobs? companies await economic restart.

starting salaries for accounting and finance professionals could eke out 1% to 3% gains next year over 2010 levels, according to the new annual salary guide from robert half, the job agency.

the hottest jobs in an albeit frozen economy are business analysts, tax accountants and financial analysts — which can expect starting salary advances of more than 3% over 2010.

here are some highlights in an otherwise bleak jobs outlook:

• average starting salaries for tax services senior managers and directors as well as senior tax accountants at midsize public accounting firms ($25 million to $250 million in sales) are expected to climb 3.9% in the year ahead.
• base pay for senior auditors at midsize public accounting firms is expected to range between $62,000 and $81,750, up 3.8% over 2010 levels.
• senior business analysts are expected to see the largest boost in base pay in 2011, with their average starting salary rising 5% to the range of $66,500 to $85,500.
• projected base pay for tax accounting managers at midsize companies ($25 million to $250 million in sales) is $69,500 to $92,500, up 4.9%.
• starting salaries for financial analysis managers at both large (more than $250 million in sales) and midsize companies are predicted to climb 4.8%; senior financial analysts at midsize companies are predicted to see their base compensation rise to $60,000 to $78,000, a 4.7% increase.
• senior compliance analysts at small companies (up to $25 million in sales) are anticipated to receive starting salary offers between $58,750 and $75,250, a 4.1% increase.
• within financial services, compliance managers can anticipate a 4.4% gain in base pay, to a range of $64,500 to $89,000.

the company doesn’t go so far to say that hiring is actually picking up, or that there are even any real signs of it. and even though some jobs are open for experienced (yet inexpensive) people, the company, like others in the field, is urging employers and job-hunters alike to at least try hiring temps.

in the report, robert half says:

many firms cut their staff levels deeply during the economic downturn, which has resulted in the need to bring in additional resources at the first sign of improving business demand. some companies are hiring selectively to help staff keep pace with rising workloads and take advantage of the availability of experienced workers currently in the job market.

however, employers remain cautious. many are bringing in potential hires on a temporary basis with the intent of evaluating them for full-time roles.

in public accounting, senior sstaffers are getting the best raises.

details:

footnotes:

these numbers are only national averages. local starting salaries could range from 41% higher in new york to 28% lower in macon, ga.

posted on october 14, 2010