Just 3 percent of the 1,400 CFOs surveyed by staffing company Robert Half International plan to bring in financial advisors and accounting consultants in the third quarter of this year. A total of 4 percent expect to decrease their staff over the same time period, while the lion's share - 93 percent - anticipate maintaining current staff levels.

Contributing factors to firms' reluctance to hire include Europe's continuing debt crisis and the economic uncertainty still being observed stateside, according to Robert Half International chairman and CEO Max Messmer.

Responses varied slightly across regions, with those in the West South Central area of the United States anticipating the most active hiring. Specifically, a net 1 percent of CFOs who took part in the survey indicated that they planned to hire full-time accounting and finance workers, and 2 percent expected to add staff.

Accounting consultants can benefit companies in a number of ways, including ensuring accounting compliance and making sure businesses are up to date with the latest accounting legislation. 

For more insights from the study, click here.