Are you are looking to develop your accountancy career long term? Then there are some key soft skills that you should consider focusing on. These change as your career progresses. So we've arranged them into two levels: Business Partner and Strategic Partner.
Business Partner
Supporting the business
These are the key soft skills for accountants that will set you apart from your colleagues. They also provide evidence that you are ready for the next promotion:
- can communicate effectively with non-finance colleagues
- can be a proactive problem solver
- able to manage a team of people.
Then you can become an effective Business Partner working closely with your non-financial colleagues to help provide effective solutions. Consequently, you help provide effective and efficient solutions that enable your organisation to grow and develop.
Good Communication skills are essential to get your message across effectively.
Learn to deal with problems that have no right answers.
Managing people in your team for improved performance.
Strategic Partner
Leading the business
If you are aiming to be a Finance Director (FD) or Chief Financial Officer (CFO) then the key soft skills for accountants that you need to develop are to:
- be able to think at a strategic level
- lead and inspire others
- influence, persuade and negotiate
- have high levels of political awareness
If you develop your leadership skills then you can become the Strategic Partner that your CEO is looking for – a trusted adviser and thinking partner.
Seeing the big picture, thinking and planning for the long term. Create an inspiring vision.
Leading larger teams, setting the direction and inspiring others to follow.
Influencing and persuading others, selling your solutions and negotiating office politics.
