Finance and accounting in the US is anchored by the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license — a state-issued professional credential that is essential for public accounting (audit, tax, advisory) and highly valued across all corporate finance roles. Robert Half's 2026 Salary Guide identifies public accounting, tax, audit, and assurance roles as seeing above-average starting salary growth (+3.7%), while finance specializations in AI-adjacent data analytics and FP&A are also showing strong demand.
US accounting and finance credentials
| Credential | Issuing body | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| CPA (Certified Public Accountant) | AICPA / State Boards of Accountancy (150 credit hours + exam + experience) | Public accounting (Big 4, regional firms), corporate controller track, CFO pipeline, tax. The essential US credential for professional accountants. |
| CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) | CFA Institute | Investment management, equity research, buy-side/sell-side analysis, corporate finance. Three levels of examinations. |
| CFM (Certified Financial Manager) | IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) | Management accounting, FP&A, corporate finance — CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is the IMA's primary US management accounting credential. |
| CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) | CAIA Association | Alternative investments — hedge funds, private equity, real assets. |
| CFP (Certified Financial Planner) | CFP Board | Personal financial planning, wealth management, retirement planning. |
US finance professional summary
"CPA-licensed Financial Manager (New York) with 10 years in US healthcare and technology finance. Specializing in FP&A, management reporting, and ERP implementation. Reduced month-end close from 14 days to 4 days through Oracle Cloud Financials implementation. Identified $2.8M in unclaimed R&D tax credits across 2 fiscal years. Targeting a Controller or VP Finance role in a growth-stage US company."
Achievement bullets
- Delivered FY2025 10-K filing for NYSE-listed company 3 weeks ahead of prior year — enabling earlier investor call scheduling and improving analyst relationship scores
- Implemented Adaptive Insights FP&A platform across 6 business units — reduced annual budget cycle from 14 weeks to 7 weeks and improved forecast accuracy by 31%
- Renegotiated banking covenants across $85M revolving credit facility — achieved more favourable DSCR terms, freeing $12M in restricted cash
US finance salary benchmarks (2026, USD per year)
| Role | National midpoint | NYC/SF premium |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Accountant (CPA candidate) | $60,000–$75,000 | $70,000–$90,000 |
| Senior Accountant (CPA) | $80,000–$100,000 | $95,000–$120,000 |
| Accounting / Finance Manager | $100,000–$130,000 | $120,000–$160,000 |
| Controller | $140,000–$180,000 | $170,000–$220,000 |
| CFO (mid-market) | $200,000–$300,000 | $250,000–$400,000+ |
Sources: Robert Half 2026 US Finance and Accounting Salary Guide; AICPA CPA licensing requirements; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — Accountants and Auditors 2026
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