1. 2011 CFO HIRING TRENDS SURVEY
Executive Summary
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636

2. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTACT .............................................................................................. 3
OVERVIEW............................................................................................. 4
SURVEY RESULTS
Trends ......................................................................................... 5
Factors......................................................................................... 9
Organization/Business Outlook ........................................... 13
Financials.................................................................................. 15
CONCLUSION ..................................................................................... 18
METHODOLOGY ................................................................................ 19
ABOUT THE RESPONDENTS........................................................... 20
ABOUT THE INTERSECT GROUP................................................... 23
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 2

3. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
CONTACT
MEDIA CONTACT: Kayla Payne
OrgPR LLC
kayla@orgprllc.com
404.989.0785
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 3

4. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
OVERVIEW
Over the past few years our country has experienced a deep recession during
which 7.9 million jobs were lost. In Atlanta alone, 24,400 financial sector jobs
were lost from April 2008 to April 2011 according to the U.S Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Atlanta was outpaced in number of jobs lost in this sector by only the
financial powerhouses of New York, Los Angeles’ and Chicago. However, as our
economy gradually recovers jobs are being created and made available, many of
these within the finance and accounting function as indicated by the results of
this survey.
This survey explores whether the finance and accounting functions of Atlanta
companies are increasing finance and accounting employees, the types of
positions being created and the characteristics of employees filling those
positions. In addition, the survey looks into the finances of respondent
companies. For example, whether or not respondent’s companies saw an increase
in revenues or profits compared to 2009, or whether the finance and accounting
function will increase spending and staffing in comparison with 2010.
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 4

5. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
SURVEY RESULTS
TRENDS
By the end of Q4 2008 it was obvious that the financial services crisis had
transferred into a jobs crisis leaving many unemployed. Today, while the
economy is improving, there are still many left without jobs. The National
Employment Situation for June 2011 indicated a national unemployment rate of
9.2% while the June unemployment numbers for the state of Georgia stand at
9.9%, higher than the national average. Throughout the job crisis, companies cut
back in all areas and one of the hardest hit was the finance and accounting
function. This cut back was primarily due to the flow of deals, IPOs and other
equity-based transactions that slowed to a near stop throughout the recession.
Research conducted during Q2 2010 indicated that the number of IPOs filed by
companies in the U.S. tripled when compared with the same period in 2009.
During June 2010 the number of IPOs filed increased from 12 in June 2009 to 39
with a value of $5.1B.
Today the macro-economic trends are shifting and we are seeing more
transactions and equity-based events occur. For example, in Q2 of 2011 58 IPOs
were launched or announced.
The results of this survey indicate that companies are once again hiring within
the finance and accounting function and are doing so in a big way with 47.4% of
respondents indicating that they are increasing finance and accounting staff in
2011; a result found surprising by Keith Ordan, staffing partner at The Intersect
Group. “To have 47% of Atlanta CFOs saying that they are hiring is surprising
because that is above both the national and local market levels. However, if this
is the case than it is great news for the Atlanta market as well as the Accounting
and Finance Community.”
The results of the survey suggest that the majority of companies will hire
between one and five employees and these employees will be staffed by senior
level, permanent hire employees as opposed to contract hire or contract-to-
permanent hire. In addition, Q2 2011 was a stronger hiring quarter for finance
and accounting jobs. This proves to be an interesting trend, as May and June
traditionally tend to be slow hiring times in the hiring cycle.
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 5

6. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 6

7. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 7

8. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 8

9. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
FACTORS
As our economy improves, finance and accounting functions are once again
growing because triggers for growth, including transactions are picking up.
Companies are seeing an increased need for staffing that is being driven by
mergers and acquisitions or the upgrading of new talent. Historically, companies
in these situations would increase staff to meet growing needs, however today
some are choosing to meet their needs by building internally and using current
resources, stretching employees thin, rather than hiring or outsourcing.
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 9

10. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 10

11. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
With the increase of telecommuting in recent years, it is important to note how
this trend is affecting the finance and accounting function. Survey results
indicate that most finance and accounting new hires will not work from home.
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 11

12. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
When increasing staffing, companies look at a variety of factors, including the
cost of providing health care to employees; as a result companies sometimes opt
to staff with contract employees rather than hire permanent employees. The
survey suggests that this is not the case within the finance and accounting
function.
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 12

13. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
ORGANIZATION/BUSINESS OUTLOOK
As we come out of the recession companies will increase staffing, requiring
talented and qualified candidates to fill new positions. In this situation,
companies can turn to staffing companies to provide them with the best talent.
However, the valuable resources that staffing companies provide are not being
fully realized, as indicated by survey results. The survey results suggest that the
majority of companies will not spend more money in 2011 on staffing companies
to help them find finance and accounting resources.
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 13

14. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
As indicated by this survey, when choosing to use a staffing company, CFOs are
looking for quality. The Intersect Group is well positioned to provide companies
with the quality employees they seek through The Intersect Group’s Flexible
Delivery Model, providing the right resources, at the right time, and the right
price.
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 14

15. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
FINANCIALS
The 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey also focused on how well respondent
companies are doing financially as we transition out of the economic recession.
The survey found that the majority of respondent companies have seen increased
revenues and profits in 2010 as compared to 2009. Additionally, most companies
will increase their finance and accounting spending and sales budgets in 2011 as
compared to 2010.
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 15

16. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 16

17. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 17

18. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
CONCLUSION
As we continue to see an uptick in our economy and as more companies regain
confidence and begin hiring there will be an increase in the number of jobs
available in all areas, but most specifically in finance and accounting. An increase
in the number of IPOs and mergers and acquisitions is driving this increase and
creating a positive overall picture of the future of the finance and accounting
function.
The Intersect Group found some of the results within this report surprising;
specifically regarding the percentage of companies who are hiring within their
finance and accounting function during 2011. However, The Intersect Group
hopes that the results presented here will spark discussions around finance and
accounting hiring trends and the future of finance and accounting hiring in
Atlanta.
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 18

19. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
METHODOLOGY
OrgPR LLC (www.orgprllc.com), a national communications and research
company, created and conducted The Intersect Group CFO Hiring Trends
Survey. The survey, which was conducted through an online application, was
launched in the field May 2011 and was concluded in June 2011.
Five hundred forty one Atlanta-based CFOs comprised the sample pool, which
was created based on a third-party database. Fifty-eight CFOs responded to the
survey for an 11 percent response rate. The CFOs represented small, medium
and large companies.
We are pleased with this response rate given that CFOs are extremely difficult to
reach and that this is an inaugural study. We anticipate that as the survey is
conducted in future years, more CFOs will look forward to participating.
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 19

20. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
ABOUT THE RESPONDENTS
The survey was distributed among CFOs of some of Georgia’s leading
companies. Most of those companies surveyed were privately held companies
with fewer than 5,000 employees and headquartered in Georgia with a national
focus.
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 20

21. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 21

22. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 22

23. 2011 CFO Hiring Trends Survey | Executive Summary
ABOUT THE INTERSECT GROUP
Founded in 2006, The Intersect Group is a different and better business partner,
creating unparalleled value for clients by combining industry-leading consulting
capabilities with comprehensive staffing and recruitment services. Clients trust
The Intersect Group to deliver results based on deep expertise and proven
resources within finance, accounting, and information technology. Through The
Intersect Group’s flexible delivery approach, clients get the right solution, at the
right time to accelerate success and achieve all mission-critical objectives.
Since inception, The Intersect Group’s revenue has grown 800 percent, posting $3
million in revenue in its first year and a record $27 million in annual revenue at
the end of 2010. The Intersect Group is one of the top 500 fastest growing
privately held companies in the United States, as determined by Inc. magazine.
In addition, The Intersect Group was recently named a Georgia Fast 40 company.
The Intersect Group’s 420 employees serve clients nationwide from offices in
Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, and Dallas, TX.
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The Intersect Group | 10 Glenlake Parkway Suite 300, South | Atlanta, GA 30328 | 770.500.3636 23