The Drama Continues

Colleges think the need for accountants is going to continue for some time:

Investment banking is still very popular with students and companies, but accounting, one of the most in-demand fields, doesn't have a glamorous image. "We can't get enough students to major in it," (Maria Stein, director of career services at Northeastern University in Boston) said. "It's a great career with a lot of opportunities. It's much more dynamic than students think."

In accounting, "Good quality candidates are very hard to find. Companies definitely want talented people," said Bill Driscoll, New England district president for the staffing firm Robert Half International.

Salaries and demand are rising in accounting and finance, Driscoll said. The 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley legislation mandating greater financial accountability from public companies continues to drive demand for accountants.

Jobs await prospective accountants, engineers [Boston Globe]