Expect a slight increase in hiring for accounting and finance departments in the final quarter of 2010, according to the Robert Half Financial Hiring Index, released Tuesday.

Eight percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) surveyed are planning to hire full-time accounting and finance staff, while 7% said they plan to reduce staff.

The 1% net increase is the first positive sign in these jobs since the first quarter of 2009, Robert Half said in a news release.

Most CFOs (84%) expect no changes to their personnel levels.

Confidence appears to be on the rise, according to the report, with a majority (86%) of executives interviewed feeling at least somewhat optimistic about the outlook for their businesses, including 39% who are very confident.

The Robert Half Financial Hiring Index is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CFOs across the United States.