If you’re an accountant aiming for a successful and rewarding career, there are seven skills that you’ll need to develop and fine-tune on an ongoing basis. To keep you on track for brilliance, we share those key skills with you below.
- Robust analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills – Accountants must be able to aggregate and analyse complex financial information quickly and effectively. You have to spot emerging trends and identify anomalies. Your critical thinking and problem-solving skills equip you to ask the right questions and find solutions to issues, often within tight timeframes.
- Meticulous attention to detail and a natural flair for maths – With so much at stake, there is no room for error in financial reporting, analysis, and forecasting. A strong attention to detail and a well-developed talent for maths are therefore essential skills for this role.
- Solid organisation and time management skills – The ability to multitask numerous projects and ensure the timely delivery of financial reports is essential.
- Strong communication and presentation skills – Accountants have to gather, share and deliver financial information with their colleagues, C-suite level executives, clients, and investors. This requires excellent spoken and written communication and presentation skills. You may be responsible for obliging departments to reign in their spending so diplomacy is also vital.
- Up-to-date, robust technical skills – Accountants need to be able to perform tasks using specialised accountancy software – such as FreshBooks, Xero, and QuickBooks – and Enterprise Resource planning programmes. This reduces the opportunity for human error and optimises process efficiencies.
- Up-to-the-minute expertise on accountancy regulations and standards, plus a strong sense of integrity – Your compliance with professional standards, laws, and regulations has to be constant and faultless. You must also have a strong code of ethics.
- Flexibility – The ability to adapt quickly to changes in regulations, client needs and accounting software is equally important for this demanding role.
Constantly striving to improve your skill set will serve you well in your current accountancy role and when you decide it’s time to move on. If you’re considering your next career move and would appreciate a steer on how to showcase your fantastic skill set, qualifications, and experience on your CV and LinkedIn profile, please get in touch. We’ll be happy to share all our expert tips with you. We’ll also quickly find fantastic, best-fit job opportunities for you and help you ace the interview.
Please get in touch at info@ablrecruitment.com or on 020 7092 3911 to brainstorm the options today!
