Back to basics necessitated by law.

• Position: Accounting

Recent corporate governance mandates and an emphasis on ethics and accurate financial reporting have led to heightened scrutiny and a back-to-basics approach in the accounting profession. Accountants increasingly have become prominent contributors among organizations, and their responsibilities and visibility have risen accordingly.

What does this mean for the next generation of accountants? There will continue to be myriad opportunities for those who can help companies meet compliance requirements and support business expansion projects. This is just one trend identified in "Next Generation Accountant: A New Outlook on a Timeless Profession," a research initiative conducted by Robert Half International, Menlo Park, Calif., a staffing service specializing in accounting and finance.

Among the highlights of the study:

* Pressure to meet compliance deadlines is the biggest impact of increased corporate governance on business, according to 37% of chief financial officers surveyed.

* Fifty-eight percent of CFOs at privately held firms say their organizations are implementing new practices in response to governance mandates for publicly held companies.

* Fifty-three...