Accounting Advice: Is The Industry Saturated And How Do I Survive?

Accounting is listed among the oldest careers on the employment market. Every business, large or small will always need accountants in good and bad times. Opportunities in the accounting industry always stay abundant.

Someone asked me what are the job prospects of an accountant in Kenya in terms of its saturation and how one can survive. We are going to discuss 3 critical tips on how to survive in this cut-throat industry and hot CV tips for your consideration.

In our years of experience, finance job advertisements always attract a large number of applicants. Recruiters scan your CV for 20-30 seconds and decide if you have what it takes if not, you get trashed. Muthoni Ndegwa, recruitment Manager at Corporate Staffing Services says, “How your CV is tailored to the position you are applying for and how your previous roles align with the job description you are applying for are very crucial”.

How do you survive in the industry?

1.Professional & academic advancement

We’ve all seen how jobs today keep asking for professional certifications such as CPA and CIFA and professional affiliation to different bodies such as The Institute of Certified Investment & Financial Analyst, The Institute of Professional Financial Managers and The Institute of Risk Management. Such additional qualifications and affiliations will facilitate your upward mobility in the industry.

“Those professional and academic qualifications can make the difference between you and that dream job”, adds Muthoni.

2.Be technology savvy

The digital age has made every profession a communication business. Today’s customers have needs that have to be met here and now. It’s hard to cut a niche in the industry if you are not up to date with what technology has to offer in the industry. “Position yourself in such a manner that you have the ability to leverage digital tools effectively to add value to customers and derive a value for the organization from the relationships” advises Melody Mwendwa, Interview Coaching Manager at Corporate Staffing Services.

Highly Recommended>>> The Best Accounting CV Sample and Tips You Will Ever Read!

3.Have a career plan

You cannot go walking blindly in this shark infested waters, you will need a career plan. To succeed, you will need to come up with a long-term career plan of where you see your career heading. List where you see yourself in the next ten years, what are the exit options available within this period and where will they take you. A career plan will be sure to keep you in check with periodic reviews, probably annually, on your progress.

Read Also>>>How To Ace An Accounting Job Interview 

Here are hot tips from our Interview Coaching Manager, Melody Mwendwa for the next phase of your career.

• Your CV should be two pages or less. This is also dependent on your years of work experience.
• Get to the point at the beginning of the CV. Ensure that the most important accounting skills requested by the employer are listed at the top of your professional skills category. You can do this by using the employer’s specific words to ensure you get their attention. for example “Experience in direct involvement of working with ERP systems”
• Appearance counts, be neat. Use readable formats such as Times New Romans, Ariels which is saved in standard Microsoft Word Format (.doc)
• Ensure that your contact information is easy to spot and that your email address contains your names and is professional, not those that read, Joeballer@gmail.com or shirobeautilicious@yahoo.com.
• At the top third of your first page, indicate what industry you are in, your profession and job functions you have held and what you want to do next. For example, you can say “An accountant working in the manufacturing industry with hands-on experience in preparation of monthly and annual financial statements…” on your career profile.
• Showcase critical background, experience, professional affiliations, education and skills directly tied to your work objectives and highlight your most marketable skills and quantifiable results. Instead of general statements, use examples and quantifiable results. for example, Being a CPA K holder or a registered member with ICPAK.
• Ensure that the information in your CV is correct and that your CV is free of spelling and grammar mistakes

Got any CV questions? Speak to a Professional today. Contact: cvwriting@corporatestaffing.co.ke

The Writer is a Communications Officer at Corporate Staffing Services. Email: elizabeth@corporatestaffing.co.ke