Useful Skills Needed for a Career in Accounting

It's important to remember that with any job, "soft skills" can help assist you in the workplace as well as more specialized, technical skills required to carry out specific job duties. The soft skills are basic, professional skill sets worth developing as you work through more specific accounting-based curriculum, and they may be helpful in improving workplace communication and helping to effectively lead a team of other employees.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*Net Online list the following as important soft skills for accountants:2,3,4,5

• Strong written and oral communication
• Organization and attention to detail
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Time management
• Systems analysis
• Mathematical and deductive reasoning
• Critical thinking
• Active learning
• Clerical knowledge
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite

Specialized Accounting Skills

Accountants and auditors work with financial documents and efficiently and accurately organize large data sets; therefore, they must have a familiarity with a range of financial management and budgeting software, as well as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and accounting processes.

Important technical skills for those pursuing a career in accounting include:6,7,8

• Financial reporting and analysis (Brentmark Estate Planning Quickview, Delphi Technology, and Oracle E-Business Suite Financials software platforms)
• Financial statements and tax preparation software (ATX Total Tax Office, CCH ProSystem fx TAX, Intuit Lacerte, and Orrtax Software IntelliTax Classic)
• Account reconciliation (Intuit QuickBooks, Sage 50 Accounting, and Sageworks ProfitCents)
• Compliance software (ACCUCert, FLS eDP PAYROLLtax, Intrax ProcedureNet, and Paisley Cardmap)
• Spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets)
• Project management software (Microsoft SharePoint, Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management)
• Enterprise resource planning software (Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite ERP, Oracle PeopleSoft Financials, and SAP Business Objects)
• Database reporting software (ADP Super Report Writer, SAP Crystal Reports, and FileMaker Pro)

Courses to Take in an Accounting Degree Program

Courses may offer both the knowledge and training necessary to develop your accounting skills and the time to practice and sharpen your existing skill set. Core accounting courses in a bachelor's program may include topics like:

• Micro/Macroeconomics
• Principles of financial accounting
• Managerial accounting
• Quantitative methods and analysis
• Financial management

If you know you want to pursue a specialized accounting career, investigate whether your college or university offers courses in subjects like forensic accounting, internal auditing, or accounting information systems.

Having an awareness of the skills employers want from their accounting professionals may help you to focus on working to develop those skills to better position yourself for future success. Begin by seeking entry-level jobs to grow your skill set, find a mentor to guide you in setting and achieving your goals, and, if you haven't already, enroll in a degree program designed to establish a foundation as you work toward your goals.