Accounting is an evergreen field. A strong accounting knowledge, including financial equations, ratios, tax codes, and financial statements, may not be enough to make an impact on clients.
You may count thousands in your mind and help to ones who ask “Please help me to do my accounting homework for me” on the go. But you may be bad at communication and this will make your clients go. We will be discussing the most important skills an accountant should have in order to create financial strategies and make the best client decisions.
1. Communication
An accountant must have communication skills. An accountant who is unable to clearly communicate his/her processes and strategies to clients will not be chosen to manage their business.
A good accountant will be able to translate the data and charts into a simple narrative that is easy to understand.
2. Awareness
People tend to forget about awareness after a while. An accountant must stay up-to-date with all the advancements in the accounting industry.
They may not be aware of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act but their client is. This will make it difficult to establish trust and credibility with accountants. It is important to stay abreast of any technological, economic, or political changes that affect the accounting industry.
3. Numerical Skills
An accountant should have excellent numerical skills. Accounting processes require extensive calculations. It’s not rocket science. A good accountant will be able to perform efficient and quick calculations. An accountant with good numerical skills can be precise in their work on financial budgets, payrolls and audits.
4. Adaptability
Today, accountants use accounting software such as Sage, Xero and QuickBooks. To provide efficient and faster services to their clients, they can use tax software like Drake, Lacerte, and ATX. They are lagging behind their competitors if they continue to use traditional accounting methods.
A good accountant should be able to adapt to new software updates. Clients will appreciate an accountant who is able to adapt to new technology.
5. Leadership
Leaders are those who can help their clients and colleagues through difficult times, motivating them to achieve a common goal. Leaders should be accessible and readily available to their team members.
The accountants must also be able to lead clients. They need to have leadership qualities in order to provide long-term planning, consulting services and business advice. To make a lasting impression on clients, they must have good control and creativity over their work processes.
6. Analytical Skills
Different clients have different financial requirements depending on their industry and the size of their company. An accountant must have the ability to analyze tax data from previous years and draw out key insights to provide the best strategies for their clients.
These strategies can also be used to help clients save more and increase the credibility of the accountant over the long-term.
7. Resilience
It is a good idea to have an accountant who is willing to work hard on the project. It does not guarantee a smooth path to the desired result. An accountant must be resilient in his work.
The real test for accountants is during busy seasons when they have to manage multiple accounting processes simultaneously and deliver efficiency even under tight deadlines. They are able to keep their cool and not allow challenges to get in the way of their work.
8. Proactiveness
Proactivity is the ability to work towards making things happen, rather than waiting for others. Proactivity in accounting means that an accountant is prepared to face any future challenges. This ability also means that an accountant is able to work independently as needed. At this resource, you can read about what it means to be proactive.
An active accountant will engage in meaningful conversations with clients to get all the information they need and to make long-term plans. This will enable the accountant to develop strong relationships with his/her client and allow him/her to grow quickly.
9. Organization
Accountants are often faced with huge amounts of information daily from many clients. Accountants must be able stay organized in order to manage multiple transactions and portfolios. Being organized shows that an accountant is reliable and responsible. You can use apps, day planners, calendars and other tools to organize and access information.
10. Time Management
Time management is essential for completing tasks on time, regardless of what profession you are in. An accountant can handle multiple clients simultaneously. They should be able to multitask and maximize time without losing efficiency.
When accountants have too many clients and must meet strict deadlines, time-management skills are most helpful.
