Finance and accounting professionals report feeling less confidence, resulting in a drop to 50.4 for a 2.2 point decline from the second quarter, according to The Mergis Group Finance and Accounting Employee Confidence Index.

 Despite the drop, this is 5.3 points higher than this time last year, the study finds. 

"Over the past two quarters we have seen a decline in the overall confidence levels of finance and accounting professionals," says Steve McMahan, executive vice president of Randstad US, Professionals. "While the current reading is down from the multiyear high recorded in the first quarter, it is worth noting that confidence levels are still running five points higher than at this time last year. It is also noteworthy that this decline in sentiment is occurring alongside a simultaneous decline in the nation's unemployment rate, suggesting the drop in confidence may be based less on actual economic performance and more on recent negative news coverage of economic conditions abroad, especially in Europe.