I'm guessing you missed the accounting department debacle of 2015.
First new Acct Director was relocated from Expat assignment at the end of 2014, because previous one went to one of our peers. Actively looking for a house in Oklahoma (even made offers from what I hear) and then Noble several months later announced complete closure of Ardmore office. Director had no clue the closure was coming.
They anticipated 50-75 of the 100ish accounting staff would relocate to Houston. 20 relocated and most were managers. They sent out letters with employment end dates for those in Ardmore without interviews even taking place for their positions. If they assigned an August 31 end date you had to work through that date to get severance; no negotiations for those receiving job offers to stay through an agreed upon earlier date for modified severance.
For the staff left in Houston and Ardmore hiring was painful. You were lucky to be able to replace someone before their end date because just getting a position posted could take 2 months. The hiring was micromanaged by the top.
Once they announced Rosetta they put most hiring on hold because people from Rosetta would be coming 3 months later. They offered the incorrect people from Rosetta due to HR botching it up. Over 75% of the Rosetta accounting staff that was offered has left.
Now the layoffs. No one was laid off in the Spring due to the office relocation. In the fall at least 5 were laid off. Then another 5 have been quietly laid off in 2016.
In addition at least 5 people have left for new jobs.
So they basically reduced the staff significantly, but they expect more of everything.
In a downturn you have less income but you still have to maintain everything. Still have to pay invoices, government regulations, tax compliance, and everyone wants enhanced reporting and analytics to watch costs.
So the accounting positions are not new but replacement at the non manager levels, as loosing one person in groups already stretched to the bone could delay reporting.
Last year people would work 60 hour weeks during month end to get everything done. Absolutely no flexibility was given to deadlines with most groups having a completely new staff.
If they layoff more accounting staff, more will leave of their own accord to avoid being worked to death.