Headhunter Ryan Milne gets right to the point for those seeking a high-paying job in accounting.
The managing director at the Newport Beach office of Beacon Resources posted the following job openings at the top of his LinkedIn page:
• Corporate Controller for $500 million Organization in North OC—Compensation: $200K + Bonus
• Assistant Corporate Controller for Private Equity-Owned Company—$140K + 10%
• Corporate Controller for Pharmaceutical Company in LA—$175K + RSUs
• Various Consulting Positions from VP Level to Manager Level ($50/hr-$85/hr range)
“There is so much demand out there” for accountants, he said. “Every industry seems to be doing well.”
Beacon Resources is part of the DLC Group, a private Woodland Hills-based financial consulting firm owned by San Francisco private equity firm Gryphon Investors.
The number of Beacon management consultants rose by seven to 68 in the year ended May 31, for an eighth-place ranking on this week’s Business Journal list of management consultants. A year earlier, its number rose 33% to 61.
Beacon is hired by a company for one of three areas: to search for employees; to find consultants for 12 to 24 months to work on a project a company is implementing; and to provide consultants a company may decide to hire.
It recruits for positions that include chief financial officers, chief administrative officers, and managers of financial reporting and senior financial analysts. Competitors include well-known recruiting firms, such as McDermott & Bull Inc. and Robert Half International Inc., plus OC competitors, such as Resources Global Professionals in Irvine. Milne said one-person recruiting shops are an emerging trend.
“The permanent placement world is so hot right now,” he said, pointing out that the second quarter was probably the company’s best ever.
“We’re seeing a lot of positive signs in all aspects. I haven’t seen a pullback in any sector in the economy.”
Canaries Sing
The recruitment industry is like the proverbial canary in the coal mine, a leading indicator of companies’ plans.
“In 2009, you couldn’t get people to tell you anything optimistic. Now it’s the complete opposite. People are having organic growth, and M&A is going out of control right now.”
Milne said the hottest industries in Orange County for accountants are hospital and doctor groups, construction services and restaurants. Since Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. announced it’s moving its headquarters from Denver to Newport Beach, he’s been getting calls from his certified public accountants in the restaurant industry seeking details.
He’s also looking for a “technical accounting CPA” who can do work that includes consolidating financing statements.
“That person is in such short supply. Every CFO, every corporate controller wants one.”
Salaries Rise
Another trend is more and more companies being willing to go over their budgeted range for salaries to attract talented accountants. Bonuses can range from 25% to 100% of a CFO’s annual salary, while a director on the vice president level may get 20% to 30%.
“All senior financial analysts and accountants are seeing bonus opportunities,” he said. “It’s harder to get talent into areas without bonuses.”
With new regulations coming into force, “There’s not enough talent out there.”
Another trend Milne has noticed are top executives leaving without another job lined up.
“This is the sign of a really strong economy, when you’re so confident that your $150,000 to $250,000 job can be replaced. I’m seeing that left and right.”
