30 answers
302
Questions
30 answers
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Jessica identifying the skills that lead to success in accounting will not only increase your job satisfaction, but also make it easier for you to build towards your long-term career goals.
ORGANIZATION – Accountants are important people. They manage a lot of responsibility, which means that they generally stay pretty busy. To be a good accountant you need to have a system to keep track of those responsibilities – such as any portfolios you manage, the transactions you handle, and any important dates and deadlines you need to meet – to ensure that you fulfill all of your duties to the best of your ability. Being well-organized is a great way to demonstrate to your coworkers and manager that you are reliable, competent and able to get the job done. Start honing your organizational skills now and by the time you begin applying for jobs, you’ll be able to discuss your organizational skills with confidence.
TIME MANAGEMENT – Good time-management skills go hand-in-hand in with strong organizational capabilities. A system for managing your workload is only effective if you also know how to budget your time. As an accountant, you’ll need to manage competing priorities and juggle myriad tasks – while completing everything on time. The ability to work within deadlines and to continually re-prioritize your to-do list will take you far. Not only will it impress your boss, co-workers and clients, it will also help you to maintain a healthy work/life balance and keep your day-to-day productive.
ADAPTABILITY – The accounting industry is highly dynamic, so accountants who are able to adapt quickly and easily are at a distinct advantage. In addition to being able to provide better services to their clients, adaptable individuals are more likely to learn and grow in their careers because they see each new challenge as an opportunity to learn and test their skills. Embrace change – learn to make the most of every curveball that your work throws your way. On a related note, it’s also great to be proactive. Although it takes a bit of extra effort to be informed about changes as they happen, it definitely pays off: it will keep you on the cutting edge of the industry, earn you the respect of your peers and ensure that others look to you when planning ahead.
COMMUNICATION – No matter where you work, what your job entails or who you work with, strong communication skills are incredibly valuable. Being able to communicate well in writing and in person will help you to get a job, work as a team with your colleagues, interact with clients and, with time, advance professionally. Well-developed interpersonal skills will also be useful for networking. Whether you have to attend a corporate function or are simply welcoming a new coworker to the office, the ability to assert yourself when meeting new people in order to establish profitable relationships will serve you well. Never underestimate the importance of making a good first impression.
OPENNESS – Honesty and integrity are highly valued in the accounting world. Accountants – and the firms they work for – pride themselves on adhering to the strictest ethical standards. It’s why the public, other businesses and the government know that they can trust accountants to always look out for their best interests. Being transparent when making decisions and giving advice has the added benefit of improving your overall working relationships. It will make teamwork easier and will help you to foster an environment that is respectful and collaborative. Many accountants work on larger teams, so the importance of being trusted can’t be overstated. Get into the habit of thinking about the consequences of your actions each time you have to make a big decision.
LEADERSHIP – Being a good leader means knowing how to mentor and teach, and making yourself approachable and available to the people you’re responsible for. You have to balance being a role model and the person in charge while still being part of the team. It also takes confidence, patience, and the ability to delegate – traits which don’t come easily to most people. In accounting, leadership skills also include strategic thinking and long-term planning. Many accountants provide consulting services, which means that they offer advice and business solutions to help companies improve their operations, so the ability to look ahead is key. The top players in accounting are generally known for being visionary – for making logical decisions that also involve a bit of creativity. To be a successful accountant, you need to be able to show your clients that you’re working to improve their present and future.
Hope this was Helpful Jessica
ORGANIZATION – Accountants are important people. They manage a lot of responsibility, which means that they generally stay pretty busy. To be a good accountant you need to have a system to keep track of those responsibilities – such as any portfolios you manage, the transactions you handle, and any important dates and deadlines you need to meet – to ensure that you fulfill all of your duties to the best of your ability. Being well-organized is a great way to demonstrate to your coworkers and manager that you are reliable, competent and able to get the job done. Start honing your organizational skills now and by the time you begin applying for jobs, you’ll be able to discuss your organizational skills with confidence.
TIME MANAGEMENT – Good time-management skills go hand-in-hand in with strong organizational capabilities. A system for managing your workload is only effective if you also know how to budget your time. As an accountant, you’ll need to manage competing priorities and juggle myriad tasks – while completing everything on time. The ability to work within deadlines and to continually re-prioritize your to-do list will take you far. Not only will it impress your boss, co-workers and clients, it will also help you to maintain a healthy work/life balance and keep your day-to-day productive.
ADAPTABILITY – The accounting industry is highly dynamic, so accountants who are able to adapt quickly and easily are at a distinct advantage. In addition to being able to provide better services to their clients, adaptable individuals are more likely to learn and grow in their careers because they see each new challenge as an opportunity to learn and test their skills. Embrace change – learn to make the most of every curveball that your work throws your way. On a related note, it’s also great to be proactive. Although it takes a bit of extra effort to be informed about changes as they happen, it definitely pays off: it will keep you on the cutting edge of the industry, earn you the respect of your peers and ensure that others look to you when planning ahead.
COMMUNICATION – No matter where you work, what your job entails or who you work with, strong communication skills are incredibly valuable. Being able to communicate well in writing and in person will help you to get a job, work as a team with your colleagues, interact with clients and, with time, advance professionally. Well-developed interpersonal skills will also be useful for networking. Whether you have to attend a corporate function or are simply welcoming a new coworker to the office, the ability to assert yourself when meeting new people in order to establish profitable relationships will serve you well. Never underestimate the importance of making a good first impression.
OPENNESS – Honesty and integrity are highly valued in the accounting world. Accountants – and the firms they work for – pride themselves on adhering to the strictest ethical standards. It’s why the public, other businesses and the government know that they can trust accountants to always look out for their best interests. Being transparent when making decisions and giving advice has the added benefit of improving your overall working relationships. It will make teamwork easier and will help you to foster an environment that is respectful and collaborative. Many accountants work on larger teams, so the importance of being trusted can’t be overstated. Get into the habit of thinking about the consequences of your actions each time you have to make a big decision.
LEADERSHIP – Being a good leader means knowing how to mentor and teach, and making yourself approachable and available to the people you’re responsible for. You have to balance being a role model and the person in charge while still being part of the team. It also takes confidence, patience, and the ability to delegate – traits which don’t come easily to most people. In accounting, leadership skills also include strategic thinking and long-term planning. Many accountants provide consulting services, which means that they offer advice and business solutions to help companies improve their operations, so the ability to look ahead is key. The top players in accounting are generally known for being visionary – for making logical decisions that also involve a bit of creativity. To be a successful accountant, you need to be able to show your clients that you’re working to improve their present and future.
Hope this was Helpful Jessica
Great response John!
Caroline McCarthy, CPA
Thank You Caroline. Alone, we can do so little; together we can do so much.
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Updated
Jacinta’s Answer
Great question. Accounting is the fundamental language of the business world, if you are looking at a company that is larger than a mum and pop stores, you are likely to encounter phrases that is specific to the business world. It is like learning maths vocabulary or any subject matter. Hence accountants would be able to quickly understand how each business operates.
In addition, you will also be able to quickly identify what are some of the issues companies are facing. For example whether the changes in their financial statements make sense and whether they would need to raise any issues to their stakeholders and shareholders.
In addition, you will also be able to quickly identify what are some of the issues companies are facing. For example whether the changes in their financial statements make sense and whether they would need to raise any issues to their stakeholders and shareholders.
Updated
Shiyoung (David)’s Answer
Hi Jessica!
There are lots of good answers from other mentors, so I just want to highlight the biggest strength of accountant I have experienced.
VERSATILITY
For usual college students, it is hard to figure out which industry and job are fit for their characteristics. At this point, accountant could be the best job for business major students. As every company in every field has its accounting/finance department, you could work at every industry company. If you are not sure about the industry you will work after graduation, it could be at least the second best option to be accountant.
There are lots of good answers from other mentors, so I just want to highlight the biggest strength of accountant I have experienced.
VERSATILITY
For usual college students, it is hard to figure out which industry and job are fit for their characteristics. At this point, accountant could be the best job for business major students. As every company in every field has its accounting/finance department, you could work at every industry company. If you are not sure about the industry you will work after graduation, it could be at least the second best option to be accountant.
Updated
Caroline’s Answer
All of the answers above are really great and provide good advice! I would add that having ability to research topics and look through accounting guidance is helpful! When the client or partner has questions for you on different accounting topics it is good to back up your response with answers related to the guidance! I would echo that organizational and time management skills are very helpful and the ability to balance your work on a day to day basis and understanding how to prioritize tasks. Relationships are very important! Most accountants work in teams internally so it is good to foster honest and open relationships with your colleagues as well as with the clients. Please let me know if you have any follow up questions!
Thanks,
Caroline
Thanks,
Caroline
Updated
Mohamed’s Answer
One of the main qualities for accountants are analytical skills, You might just find an error while looking at your laundry invoice for example, this is also translated to understanding how the economy works on both macro and micro scale.
You should be able after certain years of experience to read financial statements of fortune500 company and analyze their performance.
You should be able after certain years of experience to read financial statements of fortune500 company and analyze their performance.
Updated
Samantha’s Answer
Employers often look for accountants who are detail oriented, have strong analytical abilities, and are thorough in their work. Being detail oriented is incredibly important whether you are in tax, audit, or consulting, as small details can have a massive impact. Something as simple as placing a decimal place at the wrong point in a number can result in a massive difference. Accountants must always be searching for potential anomalies and errors, so it's important not to skim over any details. Accountants also have to be very meticulous when creating work papers and must be able to document every step clearly. This helps to ensure that if someone else looks at the working papers, they are able to determine exactly how certain calculations were made and how certain conclusions were reached.
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hi Jessica!
As someone who has just finished their first year in an accounting position I would say an important strength to have at the beginning of your career is determination and patience. The learning curve is steep but after a while everything starts to make sense. It is important to be patient with yourself in the beginning because everything takes time.
As someone who has just finished their first year in an accounting position I would say an important strength to have at the beginning of your career is determination and patience. The learning curve is steep but after a while everything starts to make sense. It is important to be patient with yourself in the beginning because everything takes time.
Updated
noura’s Answer
In my view, an Accountant should have a very good attention to details in addition to good data analysis skills. An accountant needs to be very well organised and will need to have a very high sense of ethics.
Updated
Blake’s Answer
Hey Jessica,
Based on the nature of the job and the importance of accuracy, I would say being very detail oriented. In my opinion.
Thanks,
Blake
Based on the nature of the job and the importance of accuracy, I would say being very detail oriented. In my opinion.
Thanks,
Blake
Updated
KAYLA’s Answer
Strengths of an accountant can include project management, personal relationship building, analytics, financial reporting, journal entries.
Updated
Paula’s Answer
There are several strengths of an accountant. It definitely helps to be good with math with a basic understanding of Algebra always a plus. Analytical skills are always a plus also. An understanding of how business works and how specific industries may influence "business" differently. For example, government and non profits are basically the same but accounted for slightly differently that other industries.
Updated
Karen’s Answer
All of the above answers are true and very insightful. I have been an accountant for many years. My takeways have been that I have always been employed for one. There are many fields that you can persue with an accounting degree. You can go into Finance Analysis, General ledger Accounting, Tax (various types of tax), Forensics. I have done it all and I fell into tax for my long term career. It is sometimes fun, sometimes boring but always challenging. Good luck in your future.
I would suggest interning and learning what you enjoy.
Karen recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
General:
Besides knowledge of accounting rules, it is also important that an accountant be able to communicate his/her findings and advice to a client clearly and in terms that they will understand.
Time Management:
Time managment is also a big piece of being successful in the accounting profession as often times there will be competing deadlines and you have to prioritize projects on a daily basis based on relevant deadlines and client needs. In addition, there can also be recurring deadlines that occur each month or quarter along with more on-off projects that also need to be managed.
Besides knowledge of accounting rules, it is also important that an accountant be able to communicate his/her findings and advice to a client clearly and in terms that they will understand.
Time Management:
Time managment is also a big piece of being successful in the accounting profession as often times there will be competing deadlines and you have to prioritize projects on a daily basis based on relevant deadlines and client needs. In addition, there can also be recurring deadlines that occur each month or quarter along with more on-off projects that also need to be managed.
Updated
Hammad’s Answer
Hi Jessica,
Some of the key strengths for Accountants are:
Organisation
Accountants are important people. They manage a lot of responsibility, which means that they generally stay pretty busy.
To be a good accountant you need to have a system to keep track of those responsibilities – such as any portfolios you manage, the transactions you handle, and any important dates and deadlines you need to meet – to ensure that you fulfill all of your duties to the best of your ability.
Time Management
Good time-management skills go hand-in-hand in with strong organizational capabilities.
A system for managing your workload is only effective if you also know how to budget your time. As an accountant, you’ll need to manage competing priorities and juggle myriad tasks – while completing everything on time.
Adaptability
The accounting industry is highly dynamic, so accountants who are able to adapt quickly and easily are at a distinct advantage.
In addition to being able to provide better services to their clients, adaptable individuals are more likely to learn and grow in their careers because they see each new challenge as an opportunity to learn and test their skills.
Transparency
Honesty and integrity are highly valued in the accounting world.
Accountants – and the firms they work for – pride themselves on adhering to the strictest ethical standards. It’s why the public, other businesses and the government know that they can trust accountants to always look out for their best interests.
Hope this helps.
Hammad Saeed
Some of the key strengths for Accountants are:
Organisation
Accountants are important people. They manage a lot of responsibility, which means that they generally stay pretty busy.
To be a good accountant you need to have a system to keep track of those responsibilities – such as any portfolios you manage, the transactions you handle, and any important dates and deadlines you need to meet – to ensure that you fulfill all of your duties to the best of your ability.
Time Management
Good time-management skills go hand-in-hand in with strong organizational capabilities.
A system for managing your workload is only effective if you also know how to budget your time. As an accountant, you’ll need to manage competing priorities and juggle myriad tasks – while completing everything on time.
Adaptability
The accounting industry is highly dynamic, so accountants who are able to adapt quickly and easily are at a distinct advantage.
In addition to being able to provide better services to their clients, adaptable individuals are more likely to learn and grow in their careers because they see each new challenge as an opportunity to learn and test their skills.
Transparency
Honesty and integrity are highly valued in the accounting world.
Accountants – and the firms they work for – pride themselves on adhering to the strictest ethical standards. It’s why the public, other businesses and the government know that they can trust accountants to always look out for their best interests.
Hope this helps.
Hammad Saeed
Updated
Robin’s Answer
An important skill for an Accountant or any Finance Professional is to have a learning mindset. Staying current with the latest best practices and technologies is critical to remaining relevant throughout your career.
Updated
Cang’s Answer
One of the biggest strengths is having a good understanding of a companies performance in a purely quantitative way. If you really like numbers, this is a huge plus. Also, you would spend a good amount of time working by yourself rather than teams if you like that.
A major weakness is that you have to work on your social skills. that's lacking for many accountants when it comes to getting data or reporting to other non-accounting departments.
A major weakness is that you have to work on your social skills. that's lacking for many accountants when it comes to getting data or reporting to other non-accounting departments.
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