3 Key Skills That Will Get You An Accounting Job

By Ruoro Kairu 

What do you need to boost your accounting career?

With the number of accountants on the rise, getting an accounting job is no easy task. There being competition from other qualified professionals, you need to stay ahead of the pack if you wish to get a job, or a promotion.

To excel in the field, you ought to look at the skills employers are in search for. Developing these skills will increase your chances of succeeding in accounting.

What skills are employers are on the lookout for?

I spent the weekend at a networking event. The event had top managers from different companies and sectors.

I spoke to a few, in regards to the accounting profession. Most of them agreed it is hard to find a competent accountant in today’s job market.

“While the job market is full of accountants, many of them do not have the skills and experience we are looking for.” comments a senior manager from a production company.

Also Read>>> 4 Accounting Skills You Won’t Learn In College

This then leads to a conversation of how you can position yourself to be more employable or to get a promotion.

Here are the skills employers are looking for when hiring accountants.

1. Practical skills

Most employers feel that professionals do not possess the right practical accounting skills to succeed in the workplace.

For instance, some shared that even though they had an accountant working for them, they had to occasionally hire an additional accountant –on a temporary basis, when they needed to file taxes.

This means that as an accountant, if you have these practical skills –such as tax filing knowledge, navigating your way through payroll, and can effectively operate major accounting software such as Quickbooks, you have greater chances of getting an accounting job.

Develop job-relevant and applicable accounting skills by enrolling in the upcoming Practical Accounting Training.

2. Professionalism and ethics

Another major complaint from top executives is professionals –especially recent graduates, lack work ethic.

One manager spoke of how an accounting intern would be thirty minutes late to work and be the first to leave. This intern was later disappointed when she was not absorbed into the company.

A general manager from a logistics company also shared her experience of an accountant they had hired. The accountant would show up to work in jeans and would address colleagues and his supervisor casually.

He too did not last in the company.

As an accountant, you may feel since your work is in the back office, you’re exempt from the norms of the company. This, however, is not the case.

Regardless of the position you hold, you should always adhere to the culture and norms of the organization.

3. Communication and organization skills

Irrespective of the field you’re in, effective communication and organization skills will not only help you communicate better with your colleagues and supervisors, but it will also help you to grow your career.

For example, when your boss asks for a report, they shouldn’t have to call you endless times to help them find a part of the report or to explain what something means.

Quick read>>> Major Reasons To Update Your Accounting Skills Today

To improve your effective accounting skills, join our Practical Accounting Course today. You’ll get to learn how to file taxes on the new iTax platform, definitively use QuickBooks, online payroll processing and more lessons.