Career coach | What employers want
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Stand out from the crowd with our top tips for job hunters
Words Jessica Bown
What makes an employer choose one candidate over another? Clearly, having the right qualifications and experience for the role is critical.
AAT qualifications, for example, are recognised by employers worldwide as a sign of competence in fundamental accounting principles and practices.
So, there’s no doubt having them improves your chances of enjoying a prosperous career in finance.
But once the shortlist of candidates with the hard skills to do the job has been established, it’s often the candidates with soft skills such as communication, critical thinking and teamwork who pip the competition to the post.
As Craig Moore, founder of Cannock-based accountancy practice CJM Associates, says: “In today’s job market, employers seek candidates with a solid mix of hard and soft skills.”
And with tech such as AI emphasising the analytical and advisory elements of the modern accountant’s role, the importance of these skills only looks set to grow.
Recent research from international human resources consultancy Robert Half indicated that teamwork was the number one skill sought by 32% of employers, followed closely by communication skills.
According to recruiter Manpower Group's 2024 Talent Shortage survey, 80% of UK employers claim to have difficulty recruiting high-quality staff. The main skills they are looking for are as follows:
Hard skills
- IT and data
- Engineering
- Sales and marketing
- Operations and logistics
- Customer-facing and front office
Soft skills
- Reliability and self-discipline
- Creativity and originality
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Reasoning and problem-solving
- Resilience and adaptability
“For AAT students, understanding and developing in-demand soft skills can be key to a successful career,” Moore adds.
So, let’s drill down into how you can upskill in these areas to make yourself more attractive to employers and boost your chances of being offered the job you want.
“Accountants must communicate effectively with clients, colleagues and management”
Soft skills
Employers value soft skills such as time management and teamwork abilities and will look for these alongside the hard skills related to the position they need to fill.
When comparing accounting job candidates, employers also tend to favour those with excellent communication skills.
This is indicative of the changing role of accountants, who are now expected to explain real-time business finances to non-financial clients and colleagues in a user-friendly way.
“Communication is perhaps the most critical soft skill to have,” Moore says. “Accountants must communicate effectively with clients, colleagues and management, often explaining complex financial matters in simple terms.”
When preparing for an accounting job interview, it’s therefore vital to find out as much as you can about both the company and the role.
That way, you can demonstrate a genuine interest in what they do and how you will fit in with their culture and values.
Other soft skills to highlight when applying for accounting jobs include your ability to pay attention to detail and work to deadlines.
“Attention to detail is another key requirement; accuracy is paramount in financial reporting, and even small errors can have major consequences,” Moore says.
“Time management and efficiency are also highly valued, as accountants essentially sell their time. Being organised and efficient is essential to meet tight deadlines and client expectations.”
For finance professionals, strong analytical and problem-solving skills are also a boon because of their importance in everyday tasks such as tracking expenses and maintaining financial records.
The key to conveying your soft skills during job interviews is to show rather than tell. Ways to do this include:
- Arrive on time
- Smile and make eye contact
- Communicate your thoughts
- Listen carefully to the questions put to you
If you have yet to enter the workplace, meanwhile, you can improve your soft skills ready for your first job by:
- Volunteering and doing internships
- Getting involved in community projects
- Taking up hobbies that involve being part of a team
Employers want you to adapt quickly to new systems, so overall technological competence is highly valued
Tech skills
From cyber security to AI and cloud accounting, being up to date with the latest technology is becoming ever more important for accounting professionals.
And this trend shows no signs of slowing down in the years to come.
As the latest Future of Jobs Report from the World Economic Forum says: “While AI and big data ranks only 15th as a core skill for mass employment today, it is the number three priority in company training strategies from now until 2027.”
Developing your technology skills is therefore a great way to boost your chances of getting a great job in accounting.
And the good news is that there are lots of easy ways to grow and maintain your tech knowledge both before and during your finance career.
Take the numerous online courses designed to help you master the various accounting software programmes you’re likely to need. These can be a great way to build on the instruction you get as part of your AAT course.
“Proficiency in accounting software such as Sage, QuickBooks or Xero is essential,” says Moore, who also advocates developing “advanced Excel abilities and familiarity with app-based accounting programmes”.
On a more general level, you can also learn more about tech trends such as cyber security by making use of AAT Masterclasses (e.g. Digital Decoded) and using the many other tech-related AAT study materials to expand your knowledge in this area.
“Employers want you to adapt quickly to new systems, so overall technological competence is highly valued,” Moore adds.
Once you get invited for an interview, meanwhile, don’t forget to practise how you want to respond to any questions on technology and accounting software.
As employers want to take on people who can learn quickly on the job, demonstrating adaptability and a willingness to train up on new tech is also a good way to impress at this stage.
IN A NUTSHELL
The main tech skills you should aim to showcase when applying for an accounting job include:
1
Accounting software proficiency
2
Advanced Excel skills
3
An understanding of tech trends such as AI
4
Adaptability and willingness to learn new systems
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Take the next step
Stand out from the crowd with our top tips for job hunters
Words Jessica Bown