Skip to main content

What are the best cities for accounting pros?

September 3, 2014
Read Time: 0 min

Are you considering expanding your firm to a new location, or perhaps looking at recruiting outside of your immediate geographic location? Maybe an accountant looking to change jobs? Accounting Today recently highlighted 10 cities that are growing for CPAs and accountants, according to a list from Accounting Principals, a nationwide financial staffing company. Each year, the company touts the best cities for accounting and financial professionals.

The third annual list accounts for position demand in the accounting field, the outlook of the regional job market, average salary and a number of other local factors including quality of life. So, which locales are hot spots in the industry? Check out the full list of top cities for accountants (in alphabetical order):

    Chicago, Illinois

    Houston, Texas

    Los Angeles, California

    Newport Beach, California

    Paramus, New Jersey

    Portland, Oregon

    Raleigh, North Carolina

    Richmond, Virginia

    San Francisco, California

    San Mateo, California

While the list includes both big and small cities, the 2014 lineup is largely dominated by the west coast (with four of those five cities in the Golden State). The lone location from the Lone Star State is Houston, a city that was also named by Forbes.com as number 10 on a list for growing cities.

Sageworks’ own home base, Raleigh, North Carolina, also made the top 10 list for 2014. Sageworks is headquartered in The City of Oaks, and since our founding we continue serve many accountants and CPAs in the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill areas. The list calls out Raleigh as a job-seeker driven market professionally, along with the favorable climate (we like that, too!) and nearby universities contributing to the city’s bustle of culture and diversity. Raleigh was also recently named by the same Forbes.com list of America’s fastest growing cities, as number two.

Raleigh skyline

Photo courtesy of GRCVB/visitRaleigh.com

If you’re a sole proprietor in your own accountancy business and are considering relocating to a more profitable area for your business, each of these cities is worth a look. Or perhaps your small or mid-sized firm is looking to expand your client base? A geographic shift could make the difference, and help you win new clients.

Winning new clients may mean staffing up to meet those customer needs. Consider recruiting young talent for your firm from each of these top 10 cities. While we may be partial to some of the campuses like University of North Carolina, Duke, or North Carolina State that are in Raleigh’s backyard, University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business is ranked as a top program for an accounting degree. As is New York University’s Stern School of Business program, which is just across the river from Paramus, New Jersey. No matter your firm’s location, don’t forget to make the most of technology to aid in your recruitment efforts, particularly when targeting recent graduates as potential new hires. LinkedIn can be an invaluable tool for identifying good applications, for both the candidate and the recruiter.

Did your city make the list?

About Abrigo

Abrigo enables U.S. financial institutions to support their communities through technology that fights financial crime, grows loans and deposits, and optimizes risk. Abrigo's platform centralizes the institution's data, creates a digital user experience, ensures compliance, and delivers efficiency for scale and profitable growth.

Make Big Things Happen.

 

Looking for Banker’s Toolbox? You are in the Right Place!

Banker’s Toolbox is now Abrigo, giving you a single source for all your enterprise risk management needs. Use the login button here, or the link in the top navigation, to log in to Banker’s Toolbox Community Online.

Make yourself at home!

Looking for MainStreet Technologies? You are in the Right Place!

MainStreet Technologies is now Abrigo, giving you a single source for all your enterprise risk management needs. Use the contact us button here, or the link in the top navigation, to reach product support for your MST products.

Make yourself at home!

Looking for Sageworks? You are in the Right Place!

Sageworks is now Abrigo, giving you a single source for all your enterprise risk management needs. Use the login button here, or the link in the top navigation, to log in to your Sageworks products.

Make yourself at home!

Looking for Farin? You are in the Right Place!

Farin is now Abrigo, giving you a single source for all your enterprise risk management needs. Use the login button here, or the link in the top navigation, to log in to your Farin client portal.

Make yourself at home!

Abrigo acquires construction loan management solutions

Coupled with our lending suite, Construct and +Pay from BankLabs enable end-to-end automated residential/commercial construction loans.

Read the press announcement

BankLabs Logo Abrigo Logo

Valuant is now part of Abrigo

Together, our portfolio risk solutions and services are more robust than ever. No matter the credit risk, CECL challenge, or uncertainty ahead – you can face it head on.

Read the press announcement

Valuant Logo Abrigo Logo

DiCOM is now part of Abrigo

Best-in-class solutions to manage the life of a loan and protect asset quality in the face of growing pressure on borrowers. Read the press release.

Valuant is now part of Abrigo

Our portfolio risk solutions and services are more robust than ever. No matter the challenge, we help you face it head on. Read the press release.