Hey, Who Would-a Known? Accounting IS a Career Your Mother Would Have Liked!

Salaries in finance are showing signs of holding strong in the face of economic adversity. But you can send your thank-you notes to Messrs. Sarbanes and Oxley.

The year is seeing sizable salary growth, according to an annual survey conducted by the Association for Financial Professionals. "New compliance requirements such as those generated by Sarbanes-Oxley pushed the responsibilities and salaries of finance and accounting professionals to new levels in 2003," according to the Association for Financial Professionals. "Pay increased by 6.3 percent across the finance function in the United States." The report contains a job-by-job breakdown, with cash managers earning 10 percent raises this year.

Other findings:
-- Treasury and finance professionals employed by publicly traded companies earn an average of 29 percent more than their peers who work for private firms.
-- Despite a weak economy, 87 percent of participating companies offer performance bonuses.
More at afponline.org