An accountant is primarily responsible for recording, analyzing, and scrutinizing transactions for a company or an employer. Using their findings, they create performance and management reports organizations use to improve business operations and productivity. As an accountant, you can choose to work in any specialization of your choice ranging from taxation and bookkeeping to auditing and forensics accounting.
Studies show that accountants rank among the top most trusted occupations, alongside nurses and doctors. Since this profession requires a high standard of morals and ethics, it’s not a career choice for just anyone.
However, those who pursue this path receive the job’s prestige, glory, and financial benefits. Therefore, it continues to be a popular employment track for most individuals looking to kickstart their careers.
But if potential employers and clients want to be noticed, you must stand out from other candidates applying for the same position. And so, to help you, here’s a list of 7 tips that will make you a pro at accounting and land you that dream job in no time.
- Advance your education
Earning an advanced professional degree goes a long way in helping you succeed in your career. Besides providing you with theoretical knowledge about your chosen field, it allows you to develop the skills and experience required to operate in the corporate sector. Even without an accounting background, you can still transition into this industry by enrolling in a relevant program.
Luckily, the internet allows candidates to pursue degrees like online masters of accounting without worrying about traditional schooling concerns. You can continue to advance your education while working and gain all the relevant information needed to become a certified accountant.
- Gain work experience
While education is crucial for working in the field, it’s useless if you don’t have the skills to show for it. And the only way to develop said skills is to work in the industry and gain the appropriate experience. Companies and employers value candidates who know the goings on in the field and properly understand it. Every job, regardless of how insignificant it may seem, is crucial. What’s important is you learn to work around the corporate sector and see how your theoretical knowledge can translate to real-world applications.
Work experience isn’t just crucial for potential employers. Instead, this experience provides insight into your future so you’ll have a clearer picture of what to expect from this profession in the coming years.
- Find your field-specific niche.
There are several accounting fields and specializations you can choose to work in. Each discipline has a particular set of rules, principles, or techniques based on which everyday practices get conducted. These may vary depending on your skills, knowledge, and interest, so finding one may take time and effort. For instance, if you have sound business awareness and good analytical skills, specializing in commercial finance might be it for you. In contrast, working in forensic accounting or audit might be more up your alley if you have a curious mind and are good at solving puzzles.
Whatever field you pick, it’s wise to play close to your strengths and personal interest. This way, you’re more likely to succeed professionally and enjoy your work as you move along.
Although finding a niche you work best in is beneficial, it also helps to expand your expertise beyond one specific subject. Don’t limit your knowledge or skills; keep an open mind, ready to grasp new information. Doing so keeps your options open and makes applying for jobs in different industries or fields more versatile.
- Grow your network
Networking is the practice of actively engaging and interacting with others to exchange information and form meaningful professional connections. It’s a process commonly adopted by professionals across various industries, including accounting.
When you meet new people, you create opportunities to cultivate lifelong relationships that can benefit your career. Besides learning from more experienced and qualified professionals in your field, you can also open doors to potential clients. Your commitment and qualifications will speak for themselves when you invest the time and energy in nurturing these relationships. Additionally, you’ll become part of exclusive professional circles, making you more likely and eligible for top-tier industry jobs.
- Find a mentor
Finding your space in the industry takes time. Going through several challenges, obstacles, and ups and downs is part of the profession, but it doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Mentors or industrial professionals who have worked in accounting for decades understand the unwritten rules and tricks of operating the industry. And who better to learn from than a veteran in the field?
Mentors can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to growing professionally and ensuring your choices move you forward instead of backward. Their invaluable knowledge and experience can help you develop achievable and relevant career goals, regardless of your own experience.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest technology.
Every industry is making big changes and transforming daily thanks to technological advancements and modernization. The accounting sector is no different. The evolution of machine learning, artificial intelligence, automation, and robots is only the beginning of what’s to come ahead. This technology is here to make your job easier; therefore, getting on board and embracing these technologies head-on is the quickest way to guarantee success.
Currently, most technical tools aim to minimize repetitive and laborious tasks so the workforce can be more productive. Therefore, to better understand and assess this data, you must incorporate the latest software and digital tools into your work to improve outcomes. This means you’ll have to deal with more of the data analysis aspect and become a critical link between numbers and clients.
- Work on developing soft skills
Besides technical skills, employers give particular importance to those with soft skills listed on their resumes. While machines and technology are quickly replacing tasks that require hard skills, the gap in communicating and forming interpersonal connections still exists. For instance, if you’re only competent at crunching numbers, you can be just as easily replaced by the next accountant who comes looking for a job. However, if you can build rapport with your client and help them understand their statements—you’ll likely have a life-long customer.
Conclusion
Becoming a pro at accounting is a continuous improvement, growth, and learning process. If you build on your knowledge, expand networks, and develop new skills—employers will approach you instead of the other way around. Just remember, as long as you put in the time and effort, it won’t be long before you bear the fruit of your hard work. Read also: Everything You Need To Know About ZEC For A Beginner