Compliance expertise pays for next generation of accountants.

• Position: Survey Says

Expertise in Sarbanes-Oxley compliance looks to unlock myriad opportunities for the next generation of accountants, according to "Next Generation Accountant: A New Outlook on a Timeless Profession," a research initiative conducted by Robert Half International.

Some of the survey's highlights include:

* Pressure to meet compliance deadlines is the biggest impact of increased corporate governance on business, according to 37 percent of CFOs surveyed.

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* 58% of CFOs at privately held firms said their organizations are implementing new practices in response to governance mandates for publicly held companies.

* 53% of CFOs...