Most Important Skills

Accountants Must Have Today

The5

With the continued evolution of the relevant

software, many of the tasks accountants have

typically handled have become increasingly

automated.

As a result, accountants are being called upon to

be more strategic and analytic than in the past.

This presents the profession with a great

opportunity to evolve their role from "bean

counter" to a real partner in their organization's

and client's businesses.

In order to ensure this, accountants must master

some new skills to fit this new role.

Communication

Accountants deal with arcane

subject matter so it's best that

they be able to translate this for

co-workers.

But now they find themselves

having to present to C-level

executives and larger groups.

So it's imperative that they be

able to convey ideas and be

comfortable with public

speaking.

WhatGeneral Business Knowledge

The Great Recessiom and

the Enron scandal gave a

renewed focus to

accounting and corporate

governance.

Employers want people

who understand good

business practice and

strategy.

You need to know the

larger implications of

your work on the

company.

Think of yourself as a

business advisor or financial

consultant rather than

simply an accountant.

Strategic Thinking

Employers are looking to accountants' financial

expertise to help them chart the course for the

company.

They are also wanting more concrete support for

key business decisions.

Put roughly, the successful accountant’s

work will be more story problems than

multiple choice.

Customer

Service

You think: “I turn in the work on time with a smile.

What else is there really?”

A lot.

This is probably the softest of the soft skills and

toughest to train – if it can be trained at all.

You have to be a good listener.

It’s the basis for establishing

rapport. You’ll understand

problems better and provide better

solutions as a result.

You’re much more likely to spot

opportunities, too.

Tech Savvy

It's no longer just about being a wiz at

Excel.

New software comes along all the time

that affects the job. You need to be open

and willing to learning it or you'll be left

behind.

It's even more important now because this

tech will free up your time do more of the

high-level thinking that will make you

really valuable.

Like everything else, accounting is moving into the

cloud for all the efficiencies it offers.

This brings security concerns as well. Which require

technical know-how or at least outsourced IT.

SQL, ERP, and business intelligence programs are being

used more and more. Becoming fluent in these will

definitely help you stand out and increase your value as

an employee.

The point of all this is to be seen as a partner, a member

of the team, as opposed to just a vendor.

You and your firm won’t be as vulnerable to being

undercut on price because your capabilities are no

longer seen as commodities.

Clients have a hard time

letting firms like this go.

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