Fewer candidates are entering the accounting profession. That reprices every controller and technical accounting search.
The supply of new accounting graduates and CPA candidates has been declining, while demand for technical accounting and reporting expertise has not. The result is straightforward: experienced accountants have more options and shorter consideration windows.
Employers who keep hiring on old assumptions lose finalists at offer stage. The fixes are unglamorous but effective — move faster, be specific about systems and close ownership, and be realistic that a CPA with public-accounting depth commands a premium your last hire may not have.
There is also a design question worth asking. Not every requirement labelled CPA-required actually needs one. Separating genuine technical accounting needs from habit widens the pool considerably without lowering the bar where it matters.
For roles that genuinely require depth — technical accounting, SEC reporting, complex revenue recognition — accept that you are recruiting from competitors and price the search accordingly.
Key takeaways
- Shorter candidate consideration windows
- Be specific on systems and close ownership
- Audit which roles truly need a CPA
- Price technical accounting searches realistically
Hiring for this yourself?
Send us the role and we’ll come back with a search plan and a realistic timeline.