Certified Public Accountants or CPAs are more in demand than ever. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. As a result, the industry is bound to get saturated.
Professional accountants need more than just technical expertise to excel in their careers. This is where soft skills come in!
These are traits and abilities that enable accountants to go beyond their role and interact effectively with others. Here’s a short guide explaining six soft skills every accountant should have:
1. Communication
As an accountant, you are tasked with breaking down complex financial terms and concepts for stakeholders, clients, and team members. This is where effective communication becomes important. It allows you to bridge the gap between technical jargon and a non-financial audience.
Effective communication is necessary for leading client meetings and presenting reports. Strong verbal and written communication also helps build trust, which is essential for client retention.
Almost all San Jose CPA jobs check a candidate’s verbal and written communication abilities. Prospective employees can browse available opportunities at Intuit’s San Jose office and find the best fit for your qualifications.
2. Attention to Detail
Accountants need a high degree of attention to detail to ensure accurate financial records. This is necessary to prevent costly errors in financial reports. Attention to detail helps accountants find errors in data entry, calculations, and financial statements.
Here’s how accountants can improve this skill:
- Create and follow checklists for tasks
- Break down complex tasks into manageable parts
- Implement meticulous review processes
3. Time Management
Let’s be real — accounting is a stressful job. You need to prepare multiple client reports, present financials at weekly or monthly stakeholder meetings, and monitor an organization’s overall financial health. Time management is a necessity.
Many accountants also handle taxation tasks, which are, again, deadline-driven. You can’t afford to file even a single document past its due date. Time management is essential for your career growth.
4. Critical Thinking
An accountant does more than just crunch numbers. They are tasked with turning unintelligible figures into easy-to-understand statements. This is where critical thinking plays a part.
Critical thinking allows accountants to go beyond basic calculations to broader business implications. You understand market trends and an organization’s specific financial goals before offering suggestions.
5. Adaptability
In an age driven by rapid technological advancements, adaptability is required to excel as an accountant. The only way to move forward is to quickly adjust to new technologies, regulations, and changing client needs.
The best part? Adaptability can actually make things easier for you. You can learn to automate processes, saving valuable time and resources.
5. Teamwork and Collaboration
While many people think of an accountant as someone who works alone in their office, pouring over financial documents day and night, the truth is somewhat different.
Modern accountancy is highly collaborative. You will work with multiple teams and departments, and partner with clients to enhance cash flow. Teamwork and collaboration are necessary to ensure conflict resolution and active listening.
