10 Best Cities for Jobs in Financial Services: 2013

If you’re looking to make the next step in your career, or the lackluster economy has left you behind, it would be helpful to know the hottest cities for financial services jobs, wouldn’t it?

Fortunately, Accounting Principals, a job placement service for financial and accounting professionals, recently released its annual list of the 10 Best Cities in Financial Services. The cities in this year’s countdown, like those in 2012 and 2011, represent an eclectic mix of big and small, iconic and offbeat.

(Check out last year’s rankings: 10 Best Cities for Jobs in Financial Services: 2012)

The industries offering opportunities for job seekers were a mix of the old, banking and energy, to the new, tech and aerospace.

The firm devised its list by looking at the economic environment in cities across the United States, combined with internal data from Accounting Principals branches, while taking into account the volume of job openings in the past six months.

“By doing this list annually, we are able to see that there are a variety of opportunities for job seekers outside of the typical ‘finance hubs,’ which is great news for finance and accounting professionals who don’t want to be limited to certain geographic regions,” said Jodi Chavez (left), senior vice president of Accounting Principals, in a statement. “As employers become more confident in hiring, we hope to see continued success across varying industries and states as the economy improves.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in the depths of the recession the finance industry saw an unemployment rate of 7.7%. That rate had fallen to 4.7% in June.

Check out the 10 Best Cities for Jobs in Financial Services: 2013:

10. Phoenix

Overall Unemployment Rate: 6.9%

Like the mythical bird it was named for, the city is rising from the ashes. The ashes in question, of course, are the bursting of the housing bubble and financial crisis. Phoenix was particularly hard hit by the Great Recession, for a time earning it a spot near the bottom of U.S. cities in terms of economic activity.

Now the city that blooms in the Valley of the Sun has plenty of financial services jobs with a mix of startups and large and small employers.

9. Chicago 

Overall Unemployment Rate: 9.6%

The City of Big Shoulders has plenty to offer during leisure hours. There’s boating and hanging out at the beach along the vaunted Lake Michigan shore. There’s shopping on the Miracle Mile. And there are sports of all kinds from college to pro.

And, now, all kinds of opportunity for jobs in financial services, everything from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. In particular, the non-profit, healthcare, financial services and insurance sectors are places with employment opportunities.

8. Richmond, Va.

Overall Unemployment Rate: 6.2%

Richmond has a long, proud history. It rebuilt itself after the Civil War attracting residents seeking mild winters (as long as they didn’t mind the hot, humid summers). There’s a vibrant arts community and for those Nascar fanatics, racing is a draw.

For financial services workers, the big draws are manufacturing, health care and banking.

7. Seattle

Overall Unemployment Rate: 5.8%

The Space Needle, a plethora of coffee and buckets of rain are the iconic popular images of Seattle. It was also home to a certain radio psychologist named Fraser. For those who seek their fun in the great outdoors, the area offers plenty of chance to scratch that itch.

Employment opportunities are ample in the tech and aerospace sectors. Those with public and private accounting experience are in particular demand.