If your firm typically waits until December or January for tax season staffing, you’re already late. By the time your job ads are published or you contact a staffing agency, the top candidates have already accepted other offers.
The real hiring window for accounting temp staffing opens in September, not January. That’s when experienced accountants and temporary accounting staff are looking to fill their schedules for the upcoming tax season.
Why the Accounting Talent Pool Is Smaller Than It Used to Be
There’s been a shortage of qualified accounting professionals for years, driven mainly by the aging workforce combined with a narrow pipeline of new professionals.
The total number of bachelor’s degrees in accounting fell 10.3% in the 2022-2023 academic year, with an additional 3.3% decline in 2023-2024, continuing the decreasing trajectory since 2016, according to AICPA’s 2025 Trends Report. Additionally, between 2016 and 2024, CPA exam participation fell by about 42%, from 48,004 candidates in 2016 to 28,082 in 2024.
At the same time, the demand for accounting services is rising, according to the same report. Three-quarters of the surveyed firms that hired new graduates in 2024 planned to hire at least the same number of staff members, if not more, in 2025. And the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand for accountants and auditors to grow faster than average between 2024 and 2034.
The bright side is the 12% increase in accounting student enrollments in the 2024-2025 academic year reported by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. But enrollment and graduation rates are not the same. It can take years before the accounting talent pool is replenished.
The data supports what industry experts predict: the shortage of accounting professionals, not just the CPA shortage, will continue in the near future.
What Happens If You Wait Until January to Hire for Tax Season
Delaying your tax season staffing decisions until January means competing with other firms posting jobs and calling temp staff agencies at the same time.
This last-minute tax season hiring timeline is costly. By January, the strongest candidates for CPA and specialized accounting roles are already committed for the next Q1. Selecting from the depleting accounting talent pool means paying premium rates for less-experienced staff who need more training and supervision. Add the stress of tax season deadlines, and you risk burning out your entire team, not just the new staff members.
What September Hiring Looks Like
For proactive firms, the tax season staffing window runs from September through November. During this period, experienced temporary accounting staff and reviewers are looking for contract jobs for the upcoming tax season.
Firms that start searching for candidates early get to choose from a candidate pool that includes highly qualified staff for roles including:
- Temporary accounting staff who can fulfill tax season responsibilities with minimal training
- Accountants and bookkeepers for daily accounting duties
- Administrative tax support staff to manage documentation and communication
Completing tax season staffing early means the new hires have time to master your workflows and establish rapport with your clients so your entire team can be productive by January.
A contract and temp-to-hire staffing agency can help you take advantage of the early hiring window for accounting staff plus the flexibility that comes with this model. You can scale up before tax season without adding permanent employees.
How Snelling Helps Firms Hire Before the January Rush
Snelling’s contract and temp-to-hire staffing model helps you secure temporary accounting staff before the tax season rush. We can help you find the strongest candidates before your competitors begin posting job ads.
At Snelling, we connect firms with vetted accounting professionals for your seasonal accounting hiring needs, whether you need tax preparers, staff accountants, or administrative support staff. We can help you build your accounting pipeline early, so your team walks into the next tax season with staff who are trained and ready for the job.
If you want to fill your accounting temp staffing needs before the January rush, start the hiring process in the fall. Contact your local Snelling office to lock in your tax season hires.
FAQ
How early should a firm start the tax season hiring process with Snelling?
September is the real starting point. Experienced accounting professionals begin looking for tax season placements then, well before most firms start posting job ads in December or January.
Does Snelling screen candidates for tax season-specific skills?
Yes. We match firms with temporary accounting staff, tax preparers, and administrative support who are ready to contribute with minimal training, not general applicants who need to be brought up to speed.
Can Snelling help with both temporary and temp-to-hire accounting placements?
Yes. Our contract and temp-to-hire staffing model gives firms the flexibility to scale up for tax season without committing to permanent headcount right away.
How does Snelling help firms compete for a shrinking accounting talent pool?
By connecting firms with candidates before the September window closes, we help you get ahead of the competition instead of drawing from a smaller, more expensive pool by January.
Does Snelling support firms hiring for roles beyond tax preparers?
Yes. We place staff accountants, bookkeepers, and administrative tax support roles in addition to tax preparers, covering the full seasonal accounting team a firm needs.
