JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Improvement in the overall economy has translated into job growth for the accounting and finance sector. Since August 2013, the national unemployment rate has fallen to 6.1 percent. This growth has extended to the finance field where more than 65,000 jobs were added over the same period. Though demand for finance professionals has improved nationally, certain metropolitan areas have experienced higher levels of growth than others. For the fourth consecutive year, Accounting Principals, a leader in finance and accounting staffing, has identified the 10 best cities to find finance and accounting jobs.

Accounting Principals compiled the list based on internal data from its regional branch network across the U.S. The list is based on year-over-year job placement growth, as well as general assessment of the overall economic environment in each market.

San Francisco continues to hold a spot on the list because of the area's large concentration of Fortune 500 companies and the diversity of industries. The start-up community also fosters a healthy demand for finance professionals, and many start-ups that are planning to go public require more financial support to facilitate the process. Among the professionals that are most in demand are mid-to-senior level accountants with public accounting and revenue recognition experience.

"The growth of the technology industry has had a positive impact on the industry, with finance jobs becoming increasingly available in non-financial firms and attracting people with niche backgrounds," said Jodi Chavez, senior vice president at Accounting Principals. "The functions of accounting and finance are crucial to maintaining any company, but it becomes especially important to companies looking to expand."

Another reoccurring city on the list is Chicago, where accountants and financial analysts with two-to-five years' experience are in high demand. Chicago is home to a range of industries including engineering and food processing. It is also a financial hub in the Midwest with many large banks and financial services companies established in the city. In these specific areas, the job market is starting to show pre-recession levels of hiring and more permanent positions are being developed to retain talent for these roles.

Another California city making this year's list is San Mateo, which is increasingly being considered a part of Silicon Valley as start-ups call this area home. However, unlike its neighboring area of San Francisco, San Mateo has found a balance between start-ups and more established boutique companies. The city is a great place for entry-level candidates. Professionals that are most in demand in San Mateo are more basic accounting jobs.

The full list of the Top 10 Cities to Find a Finance Job is below:

Raleigh, NC

Paramus, NJ

Richmond, VA

San Francisco, CA

San Mateo, CA

Chicago, IL

Portland, OR

Los Angeles, CA

Newport Beach, CA

Houston, TX

"This year's list was challenging to narrow down because we're seeing growth across the country in finance related fields. We focused on cities that are home to many companies across a diverse range of industries because they offer the best career and growth potential for finance professionals," said Chavez. "We believe the accounting and finance industry is on a good trajectory and will see this trend continue in the years ahead."

About Accounting Principals

Accounting Principals is a leader in the recruitment and placement of accounting and finance professionals, offering a complete range of workforce solutions in accounting, finance, mortgage and banking. Our nationwide branch network consists of experienced professionals that average five years of real-world accounting experience plus more than five years of finance and accounting recruitment experience. In addition to providing clients with a combination of temporary staffing, temp-to-hire and direct placement services, Accounting Principals also helps clients overcome their challenges through an in-depth understanding of their business needs. For more information, please visit www.accountingprincipals.com.

SOURCE Accounting Principals