In a competitive job market, basic accounting skills are not enough to set you apart from other applicants. Whether you want to make a lateral move with your current firm or obtain a position with a new firm, you need advanced skills to make yourself a more attractive candidate for the job. If you do not have the accounting skills you need, consider taking continuing education courses or participating in seminars and workshops.
Experts from the American Institute of CPAs say personal financial planning skills will be especially important in the coming years. People are likely to need more information about investing, planning for retirement, and managing financial risk. If you have the right accounting skills, you can attract new clients to your firm and provide them with financial planning services. If you meet the minimum qualifications, consider obtaining the Personal Financial Specialist certification offered by the AICPA. You must have a CPA license in good standing and complete at least seventy-five hours of education in personal financial planning before you can apply for this credential.
If you have advanced auditing skills, you will likely qualify for more opportunities than those who do not. Many companies now have to follow the strict auditing rules of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, so there is great demand for accountants who have experience conducting audits. This is an especially exciting opportunity if you prefer to work as a consultant for several clients instead of working as an in-house auditor for one company. Recruiters are having a tough time filling some accounting jobs because they cannot find candidates with the right qualifications, so this is a great opportunity to enhance your career. Several companies offer SOX training programs, so consider enrolling in one to develop new skills.
Accounting skills are very important, but associates from Robert Walters consider influencing skills necessary for success in the industry. This refers to the ability to influence managers and other key personnel when making decisions that will affect the entire company. If you have excellent influencing skills, you might be able to work your way up the ladder into a management position. Excellent communication skills are also necessary for accountants. You will have to explain financial information to other department members, give presentations to decision makers, and explain accounting policies and procedures to other staff members. This makes it necessary to have excellent writing and public speaking skills.
If you have the right accounting skills, you have a much better chance of succeeding in the accounting industry. These skills are necessary for today's accounting jobs, so consider enrolling in continuing education courses to develop your auditing or personal financial planning skills. Developing new accounting skills will give you many opportunities for advancement, and it may even make you qualified for upper management positions in the future.
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