The net 5 percent increase is up two points from the first-quarter forecast. Fifty-five percent of CFOs who will be hiring said business growth is the driver.

"Companies are eager to take advantage of new business opportunities," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. "Corporate growth, combined with the ongoing need to address regulatory and governance mandates, is resulting in demand for accounting and finance staff."

Messmer added, "Talent shortages are affecting a growing number of specialty areas within accounting and finance. Reflecting the competitive market for these professionals, candidates often receive counteroffers when they announce plans to leave their current firms."

Hiring is projected to be strongest in the South Atlantic(1) states. A net 9 percent of CFOs in this region expect to add accounting and finance employees in the coming quarter. Ten percent of respondents said they plan to bring in staff and 1 percent anticipate reductions.

"Fueled by growth in the professional services, finance and construction sectors, hiring in the South Atlantic is accelerating," said Messmer. "Internal auditors are sought for compliance projects, and tax accountants are in demand as companies bring more tax work in-house."

Hiring in the Mountain(2) and Middle Atlantic(3) states also is forecast to exceed the national average. Respectively, a net 8 percent and net 7 percent of financial executives in these regions plan to add staff in the second quarter.

Robert Half has conducted additional CFO interviews in major metropolitan areas to provide more detailed analyses of financial hiring trends in these markets. The local results are available at www.roberthalf.com/PressRoom.

Among industries, executives in the wholesale sector are most optimistic about hiring.
Twelve percent of CFOs in this industry anticipate bringing in full-time accounting and finance employees in the second quarter and none expect to reduce personnel levels.

Hiring activity in manufacturing is expected to outpace national projections as well; a net 8 percent of respondents from this sector plan to expand their teams. Construction also is forecast to see above-average hiring activity, with a net 7 percent of executives anticipating staff additions during the second quarter.

The national poll includes responses from more than 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.

[1] Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
[2] Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming
[3] New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania