Ever wondered how some accountants make it all the way to Partner, yet others who’ve been working for the same amount of time are still stuck at the same level, year after year?
Whilst junior and part qualified accountants can gain promotions based on their technical ability alone, there comes a point where experience simply isn’t enough. To rise to the top and stay there, you need to expand your skillset.
So, if you feel like you’ve hit the ceiling in your career, it may be time to consider other ways you can boost your employability and stand out from your peers. And that’s where soft skills come in!
How will the fluffy stuff help my career prospects?
It might be tempting to ignore the ‘fluffy stuff’ and focus purely on qualifications and technical knowledge, but interpersonal skills are a necessity for all accountancy jobs.
Often, it’s not about what you do, but the way that you do it. You can include all the right words on your CV, but unless an interviewer or your current employer can visualise these qualities, it’s a waste of time.
By polishing up on the following five soft skills and being able to provide examples which illustrate when you have used them, you will super-charge your career progression.
Are you a newly qualified accountant or toying with the idea of retraining? Follow these tried-and-tested tips for kickstarting a career in accountancy.
5 Soft Skills Required in Practice Roles
Verbal Communication skills
Do you have the confidence to converse with people from all walks of life and at every level of seniority?
Nearly every CV we see states that the candidate has “effective communication skills”, but what does this actually look like in practice? But more importantly, how can you back up this claim in an interview situation?
Accountants are increasingly required to influence and direct others – from company owners looking to grow their business, to senior decision makers who represent large corporate entities. Sometimes, accountants have to be the bearer of bad news and pass on information that’s hard to swallow. And this requires solid communication on your part.
Furthermore, to become a leader, you must also be able to communicate in a way that instils passion and confidence in a team. To inspire trust in others, you should listen, interpret and assimilate information. You must articulate clearly and confidently.
Being truly comfortable in communicating will give you credibility not just with clients, but with your peers and employer.
Here are some tips for improving your communication skills.
- Take every opportunity you can to gain experience in speaking publicly
- Focus on creating a confident and steady tone, speaking slowly to add resonance
- Body language and posture is as important as the words themselves
- Gain feedback from others and take any criticism seriously
- Pause before each point you make
- Look for training courses which will improve your verbal communication skills
Lateral Thinking/Problem Solving Skills
At some point in their career, every accountant will be confronted by things that they have never dealt with before.
Can you quickly determine what you don’t know and what you need to learn? Are you able to practice problem-solving skills to create solutions for your clients? Good accountants are researchers by nature and can pick up new skills wherever necessary.
It’s no longer enough just to report information and leave it for someone else to deal with. The difference between an amateur accountant and an exceptional one is the ability to read between the lines. You need to translate financial information in a meaningful way to help clients and think outside the box.
Looking to boost your technical knowledge to enhance your employability? Here’s why you need to widen your skills to secure the best opportunities.
Commercial Acumen
This is often the most difficult soft skill to develop. We understand the struggle to gain an adequate breadth of client exposure is very real and isn’t accessible to everyone.
Things that may help include putting yourself forward for secondments, asking to work with other departments where possible, and taking on extra projects if time allows. Assisting in a community-based project, charity or simply helping a friend with their accounting needs will add additional skills and exposure.
Have a thirst for knowledge and always dig deep with your questioning – whether that’s on the job with a client or in the office with partners. By asking pertinent and in-depth questions, you’ll position yourself as someone who is astute and ambitious.
Business Development/Sales skills
If you can win new clients or sell additional services, you’ll become an asset to the practice.
Those who can create additional fee income have a highly desirable skill set and will move more quickly through the ranks. To become a Partner, this skillset is essential. All equity level Partners will be expected to bring in additional fee income and grow their own portfolio.
Start small by getting involved in local networking events and learn how to build rapport with other professionals. If you can, shadow a senior member of the team who’s heavily involved in business development.
Think it’s time to up your interview game? Learn about the importance of body language, the research that backs it, and our top tips for acing your next interview.
Leadership
To get a head start in your own career progression, it’s important that you can demonstrate your capability to lead others.
Demonstrating good team management and interpersonal skills is a requirement for managerial positions across every industry. A leader must be zealous, enthusiastic, and someone that junior staff can look up to and depend on.
Gaining leadership experience initially can be tricky but seize any opportunity to show that you can influence and manage others to create a desired outcome. This may include volunteering to take charge of smaller projects to help a more senior member of staff.
Other potential opportunities to demonstrate and develop leadership skills could also be organising social gatherings, setting up charity events and taking the lead in meetings/discussions.
Feel like you may be self-sabotaging your own professional prospects? Explore these subtle career traps and outline strategies to escape them.
Final Thoughts
Honing your soft skills is a great way to attract a diverse set of clients and become more adaptable to new situations and environments. Not only do they look great on your CV, but they will also become instrumental in your professional development.
Here at Public Practice Recruitment Ltd, we’ set candidates on the pathway to career progression. If you’re keen to learn new skills and nurture a progressive practice career, we want to hear from you!
To discuss your career options call us on 0333 577 7787 or email info@publicpracticerecruitment.co.uk to speak to one of our dedicated consultants.
