The world of accounting and bookkeeping is advancing at a rapid rate. New technologies are being introduced, platforms are evolving, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has grown smarter than ever before. Many accountants find themselves wondering whether their skills are, or will be, relevant now and in the years ahead, and what they should work on to remain competitive.
As the required skill sets for accounting corporations are evolving, what does this mean for your career as a successful accountant of tomorrow? As it turns out, the key to employability isn’t about keeping up; it’s about staying ahead.
A new skill set for a new age
The good news is that accountants are, and will continue to be, in high demand for many years to come. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that international accounting positions will experience a 6% spike over the coming decade. In Australia, job opportunities for accountants are also expected to grow by 9.2% by 2026. Accountants will need to keep up with industry developments.
Technology isn’t attempting to replace accountants, far from it. As with the many systems and platforms that accountants have already become familiar with over the years, smart software is simply a tool for accelerating their professional abilities. And it’s here where we start to see the demand from employers shift away from what was traditionally crucial in years past.
While traditional education remains an important factor in the success of an aspiring accountant, university qualifications are just a career starting point in terms of the skills employers are looking for.
It’s time to rethink what ticks an employer’s boxes because 83.5% of recruiters today agree that a CV’s skills section is the key to your employability.
What is meant by “soft skills”?
When we refer to “skills”, we’re talking about hard and soft skills that go beyond your existing accounting qualifications. These are attributes that are more translatable in the larger world of business. We mean resilience, critical thinking, communication, and all the industry technical abilities that pair well with the digital world. These fall into the categories of “Success Skills” and “Software Skills”.
Success skills include important trainable qualities that develop thinking and insights in conjunction with professional efficiency. These commonly include:
- Critical thinking
- Leadership
- Communication skills
- Emotional Intelligence
- Problem-solving
Software skills, or technical skills, deal with the platforms and processes needed to perform your role as an accountant in the digital space. These include certifications for:
- MYOB (popular in Australia and New Zealand)
- QuickBooks (also known as QB)
- Xero
Why are these in demand?
Tech has become an integral part of today’s accounting corporations, but computers are only a component of decision-making processes. They need human input and professional expertise to be enabled. And, just as you can’t program intuition, clients are naturally inclined to trust people over machines.
It’s important to remember that, as an accountant, your main role isn’t to crunch numbers. It’s to provide clients with financial insight and expertise to add value to their lives and the wellbeing of their businesses. That’s why the top skills today’s employers are looking for are:
- Generalized business knowledge
- Specialized experience
- Up-to-date technology expertise
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Communication skills
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Customer service
We’ll help you get there
Achieving these skills, along with traditional accounting certifications, has never been easier or faster than it is with Ab2 Institute of Accounting.
We offer a range of courses that help to either fill skills gaps on your CV or strengthen the ones you already have. Our courses are laser-focused and designed to make the most of your time, with international accreditation and job-ready application.
With Ab2, you can graduate with beginner, advanced, or specialized qualifications in MYOB, QuickBooks and Xero. Or focus on individual success skills and develop the talents you’ll need to stand out on the shortlist. We offer:
- Communicating with Influence
- Critical Thinking
- Customer Centric Mindset
- Developing a Commercial Mindset
- Effective Teamwork
- Mastering the Digital Workplace
- Maximizing Your Wellbeing and Resilience
- Mental Fitness
- Personal Effectiveness & Time Management
- Virtual Presentation Skills
- Working in a Remote Team
Acquire skills faster than ever before
The Ab2 Institute of Accounting offers exceptional opportunities that will help you progress faster than your peers. In our Job Ready Program, you will earn the qualifications needed to succeed in an international accounting role in as little as one, two, or three months. Take your place in this program and you will reach your international career goals sooner.
In conjunction with TOA Global (a division of the Humanverse Group, like Ab2 Institute of Accounting), qualified accountants can get paid while they learn in the Accelerator Program. This fast-tracked program teaches U.S. and Australia based technical skills needed to thrive in today’s competitive global accounting space, The program equips students with understanding of the accounting landscape in Australia and New Zealand, or the United States, with a guaranteed position once you complete the program.
