Looking for an Accounting Job? 5 Skills in Demand

Gina Deveney
Posted by in Accounting, Auditing & Tax


Many companies need qualified experts available to fill accounting jobs in a variety of fields. Accountants are invaluable assets for businesses of all sizes. If you are a seasoned accountant or a recent college graduate looking to enter the field of accounting, you need to understand what skills make you an in-demand asset at companies and firms nationwide. Whether you are looking for accounting jobs with a dedicated firm or a private or public business, there are five skills that can place you ahead of the pack as a candidate.

Mathematical skills are necessary for accounting jobs. Candidates should be able to easily answer math problems involving basic multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. The ability to work with percentages and markups and understand the differences between them proves you have the basic math skills for the job. The ability to remain focused and pay attention to many different details is paramount to identifying errors quickly.

Analytical skills are invaluable assets for those engaged in an accounting job search. Hiring managers know that they need accountants who can both identify errors and create a plan of action for resolving mistakes before they become serious problems for the business. Analytical skills will let you craft procedures to help catch such errors in the future and ensure they do not crop up again. These skills go hand-in-hand with excellent organizational abilities. In order to assess the data you compile through analysis and mathematics, you will need to use a variety of different accounting systems and methods. The ability to organize these into a cohesive series of projects and goals will help keep your accounting work flowing smoothly.

The final skill needed for accounting jobs in today's marketplace is communication. Skills in communication allow you to bring managers, workers, and company leaders in on your work and keep them informed of your findings and recommendations. Proving your communication skills during the accounting job search process can help you impress potential employers. Salaries for financial advisors and accountants are on the rise, and companies need accounting experts who can translate tables and raw data into clear and easy-to-understand information that they can use as part of their regular business planning sessions.

The field of accounting is constantly changing. New software and methods make accounting jobs a continual process of discovery. Armed with excellent mathematical skills, analytical skills, organizational skills, attention to detail, and communication skills, you have the abilities that hiring managers seek for today's accounting jobs. Identifying and developing these skills can help ensure that you find the job you want at the right salary.

 

(Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)

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