Half of chief financial officers polled said their organizations do not reimburse staff for the continuing education units required to maintain their professional certifications. CFOs were asked, "Does your company reimburse its employees for the continuing education units needed to maintain their professional designations, such as CPA or CMA?" Their responses:

• Yes, full reimbursement - 29%
• Yes, partial reimbursement - 17%
• No reimbursement provided - 50%
• Don't know/no answer - 4%

"Companies that support continuing education signal they are committed to the professional development of their staff, which could give these firms an edge in their recruitment and retention efforts," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International Inc. "While education benefits rarely are the sole criterion for accepting a position, they can tip the scales in an employer's favor in a competitive hiring environment."

Messmer noted that support of ongoing learning can help businesses beyond their recruiting efforts by helping them to develop a more skilled workforce. "Employees who earn professional accreditations establish themselves as leaders in their field and, in the process, gain insight into industry trends and best practices."