Solving the Talent Acquisition Dilemma for Government Accounting

Accounting and financial professionals in State and Local Governments (SLGs) are at the heart of efficient government operations, key to effective service delivery to citizens, and essential for accountability to the taxpayers. Attracting and retaining qualified financial professionals is key to the future success of SLGs and to citizen well-being. The market for hiring new financial and accounting talent is currently tight for all employers, even public accounting firms. It is much tighter for SLGs.Recruiting has always been more difficult for SLGs in large part due to the higher paying salaries of public accounting firms and corporations. Now, COVID , the erosion of public pension programs, fewer accounting graduates, and a decreased level of health care benefits are not helping reduce the talent shortage in SLGs. It is essential for the future success of SLGs that they obtain the talent to navigate the management, information, and accounting needs of their entities and the citizens that public officials represent. There are actions that state and local governments can take to help alleviate this problem. This paper examines the talent shortage for SLG accountants, offers potential solutions, and provides organizational resources to help SLGs plan their recruitment strategies and create a pipeline for hiring financial professionals.