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Crafting a powerful skill section on your resume can be a great way to capture a potential employer’s attention and help them see the scope of your abilities.
This is more important than ever before, as our Talent Trends report revealed that over 30% of employers in accounting and finance found it difficult to hire in the last twelve months, citing a lack of sufficiently skilled candidates as the main reason. However, the challenge for many is learning which skills are most important for an accountant to prioritize.
First, let’s identify the difference between hard and soft skills. Hard skills are measurable and tailored to a specific job, mainly acquired through formal education or training. Meanwhile soft skills are often defined as personality traits that apply across all roles and industries. Both skill types work in tandem to elevate your job performance.
Data analysis is one of the most important hard skills for accountants to refine. With a strong understanding of data analysis, accountants can help businesses evaluate performance, mitigate risks, maximize profits, and more. Highlighting such experiences will give you a competitive advantage in job applications.
A business’s financial data is its most sensitive information, so understanding how best to protect it is crucial, especially considering the growing number of digital threats. Top accountants know and follow cybersecurity best practices, including strict access management and routine software maintenance, to reassure employers.
As technology evolves, so should your resume. For example, artificial intelligence remains a growing topic of conversation, resulting in 55% of accounting professionals believing that AI and other generative technologies will impact their careers long-term, according to our Talent Trends survey.
Fortunately, many new technological advancements have been proven to increase productivity for routine accounting tasks. For example, robotic process automation (RPA) can scan invoices and find discrepancies in financial records. So, it would be wise to develop a deep understanding of various accounting programs and software and emphasize your experiences with them on your resume.
Related: Learn what tech skills are most in demand for accountants.
While accountants are best known for their knowledge of numbers and figures, writing is also a significant part of an accountant’s duties. Accounting professionals are responsible for breaking down data or various processes into comprehensible terms for clients, coworkers, and stakeholders.
For this reason, clear, concise writing is necessary, as it prevents significant misunderstandings and trouble down the line, making writing proficiency a sought-after trait.
As an accountant, you have access to various parts of the business and can offer valuable insights as a result. Having the ability to manage projects and routinely meet deadlines while honoring the organization’s goals shows employers that you can significantly contribute to their bottom line.
Accounting has changed drastically over the years and will continue to evolve as technology progresses and clients shift their expectations. Showing you have experiences and techniques of adapting to change will help employers trust your ability to remain flexible in shifting conditions—an increasingly non-negotiable quality in accountants.
In accounting, you handle a large volume of data on a regular basis. The trick is to make sense of that data and reach logical conclusions, highlighting the importance of thinking strategically beyond the spreadsheets. Showcase instances of proposals you made based on information you discovered and how it impacted the business.
Though accounting is not typically considered a highly collaborative profession, accountants must often work with other team members across departments. In those cases, maintaining clear communication to relay data and processes accurately is critical.
On your resume, be sure to share examples of building relationships with others and how such collaboration led to better outcomes.
Accountants who possess and communicate a strong moral code are less likely to participate in fraudulent activities. Following ethical accounting practices makes you a desirable candidate for employers who value honesty and objectivity, no matter the circumstances.
After you’ve updated your resume with these top skills, you’re in an excellent position to brand yourself as a standout accounting professional.
At Michael Page, we have a wide range of accounting roles waiting for you. Browse our open accounting jobs or submit your resume to make yourself visible to employers looking for your qualifications.
