It takes four weeks, on average, to fill an open staff-level accounting or finance position and five weeks to hire for a management-level role, according to a survey of CFOs released today by Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

“With the talent shortage in today’s finance and accounting hiring market, employers who accelerate the hiring process put themselves ahead of the competition,” said Paul McDonald, senior executive director at Robert Half. “Companies must allocate time to properly vet candidates with thorough interviews and reference checks, but taking too long to make a decision can cause employers to lose the most in-demand candidates.”

McDonald added that acting swiftly to extend a job offer is especially critical for recruiting candidates who have specialized finance and accounting skills, certifications and credentials, such as a CPA license or MBA degree.

CFOs were asked, “On average, how many weeks does it typically take to hire for an open staff-level accounting or finance position?” The mean response was four weeks.

CFOs were also asked, “On average, how many weeks does it typically take to hire for an open management-level accounting or finance position?” The mean response was five weeks.

The survey was developed by Robert Half Finance & Accounting and conducted by an independent research firm. It is based on telephone interviews with more than 2,200 CFOs from companies in more than 20 of the largest US metropolitan areas.